How many calories did YOU eat at your state fair? This year's most decadent deep-fried dishes revealed

• Some of the most outrageous treats include deep fried maple bacon brownies and a barbecue pork and potato parfait

By Margot Peppers for MailOnline and Associated Press

Published: 12:21 EST, 25 August 2014 | Updated: 16:24 EST, 25 August 2014

A Twinx. It's a Twinkie - stuffed with a Twix candy bar - wrapped in bacon - deep-fried - and drizzled with chocolate-caramel sauce, adding up to an estimated 1,000 calories.

And its existence can mean only one thing: This is fair season, the time of year when over-the-top food somehow finds higher peaks to conquer.

This is the time for funnel cake-flavored beer, deep-fried jumbo gummy bears and the 18-inch Dogzilla bacon corn dog, of deep-fried butter, of volcanic rivers of melted cheese and marshmallow Fluff.

Dig in: It's state and county fair season, and the foods this year have been as impressive as ever. Pictured is the deep fried maple bacon brownie, which was served at the Iowa State Fair

The creators of fair concoctions say they work all year to outdo themselves and the other vendors vying for the attention of an ever more expectant public.

Here are some of the other offerings seen at this year's crop of fairs:

PORK AND POTATO PARFAIT - about 550 calories

At the fairgrounds' Tikki Turtle, the idea is to 'go after something sensory, their smell or their eyesight,' said Jim Kerwin.

He is serving a 'pig and potato parfait' of mashed potatoes and barbecued pulled pork this year, along with deep-fried macaroni and cheese, his perennial best-seller.

Decadent delight: The pork and potato parfait at Tikki Turtle, a stand at the New York State Fair, consists of mashed potatoes and barbecued pulled pork

'We do the norm, too, the hot dogs, fries ... but there's always a big market that says "what's new, what's different?"' he said.

The parfait is 14-ounces of hot beef, barbecue sauce, mashed potatoes and a cherry tomato on top.

FRIED SWEET TEXAS - about 560 calories

The Fried Sweet Texas is one of two creations by Justin Martinez to be named a finalist for the Big Tex Choice Awards at the State Fair of Texas, which opens September 26.

Mr Martinez was leafing through a cookbook when the inspiration struck.

'I came across three of the most popular desserts in Texas: peach cobbler, pecan pie and buttermilk pie,' he said.

Three in one: The Fried Sweet Texas, a finalist at the State Fair of Texas, is a combination of peach cobbler, pecan pie and buttermilk pie

'I thought to myself, "Wouldn't it be something if I was able to combine all three of those and fry it?"'

The resulting dish consists of fresh pie dough filled with crunchy pecan pie, peach cobbler and creamy buttermilk pie, which is then deep-fried until crispy, with a scoop of Blue Bell Vanilla Ice Cream on the side.

CRAZY TATER ON A STICK - about 230 calories

Concessionaires at the Iowa State Fair served up more than 70 varieties of creative fried foods on a stick.

One of the most visually intriguing of these is the Crazy Tater on a Stick - created by Brenda Smith Concessions.

Portable: At the Iowa State Fair, concessionaires compete to come up with most creative foods on a stick. Pictured is Judge Joel Novak enjoying the Crazy Tater on a Stick - created by Brenda Smith Concessions

Modern fries: The popular one-foot-long creation consisted of a stack of thinly sliced potato slices, served with dipping sauces

Production: An employee at the Brenda Smith Concessions stand works on creating a Crazy Tater on a stick

The popular one-foot-long creation consists of a stack of thinly sliced potato slices, served with dipping sauces.

FUNNEL CAKE ALE - about 240 calories

Mr Martinez, whose fried Thanksgiving dinner took last year's Texas prize, also has developed funnel cake ale, served in a powdered sugar-rimmed mug.

'I strive for three things,' said Mr Martinez, whose food is served at the fairgrounds' Lone Star Roadhouse.

Take a sip: Justin Martinez, whose fried Thanksgiving dinner took last year's Texas prize, also has developed funnel cake ale, served in a powdered sugar-rimmed mug

'I want to pique their interest first with the name, then the presentation, and obviously, it has to taste amazing.'

The ale was brewed with English malts and aged over vanilla beans, making for a light and airy drink - much like a funnel cake.

TWINX - about 1,000 calories

'People come to fairs to eat, and they look for the weirdest,' said Jim Hasbrouck, of Fried Specialties, home of the Twinx being served at the New York State Fair, which opened Thursday in Syracuse. 'Before we even open, they're lining up outside my booth.'

Mr Hasbrouck said the Twinx works because 'it's the cream from the Twinkie with the caramel from the Twix, and you've got the salty bacon.'

FRIED KOOL-AID - about 450 calories

These are doughnut hole-like cakes flavored with the children's soft drink and dusted with powdered sugar.

'It tastes like strawberry,' said fairgoer Ben Tripp, of Hudson Falls, during the Washington County Fair north of Albany, New York, this week.

Unusual: April Apodaca pours Kool-Aid into water and flour in order to prepare deep-fried Kool-Aid - doughnut hole-like cakes flavored with the children's soft drink and dusted with powdered sugar

Try it out: A sign advertises deep-fried Kool-Aid at a food vendor at the Washington County Fair on Thursday, August 21,in Greenwich, New York

The fair is ideal for trying new foods, Mr Tripp said, because there are always people to split it with, just in case. 'But usually,' he said, 'you end up having to order more.'

But the sweet treat comes at a price; some websites estimate that a serving of deep fried Kool-Aid will set you back about 450 calories.

MAPLE BACON BROWNIE ON A STICK - about 400 calories

This sweet treat is the brainchild of veteran Iowa State Fair concessionaire Larry Fyfe, 72, who initially launched into state fair fame by popularizing deep fried butter on a stick.

It consists of a chocolate brownie blended with and wrapped in bacon, all drizzled in maple syrup. All in all, it likely adds up to about 400 calories per brownie.

Rich: The maple bacon brownie on a stick is the brainchild of Iowa State Fair concessionaire Larry Fyfe, 72, who is also responsible for popularizing deep fried butter on a stick

Experimental: A sign advertises the sweet and sugary dessert at the Iowa State Fair

Delicious: It consists of a chocolate brownie blended with and wrapped in bacon, all drizzled in maple syrup

Mr Fyfe operates four concession stands at the fairgrounds, with his topseller being deep-fried Oreos.

Indeed, he estimates he and his team sold about 1,400 of them each day while the fair was in operation from August 7th to 17th.

The Oreos are sold in trays of five, with each cookie consisting of about 154 calories.

New take on a classic: Mr Fyfe's topseller are his deep-fried Oreos

Get them while they're hot: He estimates he and his team sold about 1,400 deep fried Oreos each day while the fair was in operation from August 7th to 17th

BEER GELATO - about 180 calories

This creamy dessert, made by Mancini's Al Fresco at the Minnesota State Fair, is described as rich gelato blended with local craft beer.

Created by local restaurateur Pat Mancini, it's made with craft beer from Summit Brewing Company, which he says he chose for its 'chocolate and caramel notes'.

Dessert meets drinks: Beer Gelato, which is made by Mancini's Al Fresco at the Minnesota State Fair, is described as rich gelato blended with local craft beer

Five-ounce cups of the treat, which will only be available to festival-goers who are 21 and over, cost $5 each.

Also present at the fair, which runs from August 21 to September 1, is a snack called dessert salami: chocolate, butter, almonds and walnuts shaped to look like the lunch meat.

CHOCOLATE COVERED NUT ROLL ON A STICK - about 600 calories

Yet another food from the Iowa State Fair is Colonial's Nut Roll on a Stick, which is fresh, tasty and extremely decadent.

It's made by spreading a wad of chewy nougat on a stick, dipping it in caramel, rolling the whole thing in cashews and then dipping it in dark chocolate.

Going nutty: Yet another food from the Iowa State Fair is Colonial's Nut Roll on a Stick, which is fresh, tasty and extremely decadent

The perfect bite: It's made by spreading a wad of chewy nougat on a stick, dipping it in caramel, rolling the whole thing in cashews and then dipping it in dark chocolate

BACONADE - about 160 calories

G's Mobile Kitchen poured fresh-squeezed lemonade over cooked bacon at the recently wrapped Erie County Fair near Buffalo, New York.

A cup of the salty beverage costs $5.

DEEP FRIED PINEAPPLE - about 300 calories

For Iowa State Fair-goers who crave something slightly less indulgent, a perfect option is the deep fried pineapple - also served on a stick, of course.

Healthier alternative? For Iowa State Fair goers who crave something slightly less indulgent, a perfect option is the deep fried pineapple - also served on a stick, of course

On the go: This fruity treat, which looks similar to a corn dog, is made by sticking a slice of fresh pineapple on a skewer, dipping it in funnel cake batter, deep frying the concoction and then drizzling it with frosting

This fruity treat, which looks similar to a corn dog, is made by sticking a slice of fresh pineapple on a skewer, dipping it in funnel cake batter, deep frying the concoction and then drizzling it with frosting.

MENTAL HEALTH FOOD?

What makes it taste even better? Lucy Long, director of the Center for Food and Culture in Bowling Green, Ohio, said occasionally indulging can help satisfy the craving for novelty.

'Plus, it offers a time when people can psychologically get a little bit of relief from the day-to-day rules,' she said.

Breakfast food: Concessionaires at Iowa State Fair serve up boiled egg on a stick

Packed with protein: A festival-goer gets to grips with three pork chops on a stick

CONQUERORS

'Part of it is being able to say you did it, you had the experience. You had a bite of a deep-fried Snickers. It's for bragging rights,' said Eric Eliason, a professor of folklore at Brigham Young University in Utah.

'We all want to be part of rituals and things that bind us together and make us feel like you're part of something larger than yourself.'

Comments (40)

Share what you think

• Newest
• Oldest
• Best rated
• Worst rated

 View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Add your comment

Enter your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Submit Comment Clear

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now