A sweet, deep-fried tradition at Johnson County Fair

This year at the Iowa State Fair, patrons can snack on deep-fried Snickers bars, Twinkies and Ho-Hos.

But deep-fried Oreos? Only at the Johnson County Fair.

Terrence Neuzil, chairman of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors, and his brother, John, have been making the free treats at the fair for 19 years and say they consider it a tradition.

This year, Terrence Neuzil said, he bought 1,000 regular and golden Oreos, giving away 600 on Tuesday and the rest on Wednesday.

The Oreos are dipped in a pancake, nutmeg and vanilla batter before they are fried and drizzled with homemade frosting.

“We've experimented with all kinds of fried stuff,” Neuzil said. “But the sweet tooth wins in Johnson County.”

Although Helen Hubler, 89, has been an Iowa City resident for many years and frequently visits the fair, she'd never had a deep-fried Oreo before Wednesday.

“It's wonderful. It's delicious,” Hubler said. “I would never have imagined it would be that good.”

The fair continues through Friday. It features animals and 4-H events, a talent show, tractor pull, carnival rides, psychic, and pie and beef chili contests.

Kalona resident Austin Slavaugh, 12, said he was enjoying the fair and came back for seconds on the Oreos - especially the chocolate ones.

Some described the creation as tasting like a doughnut on the outside and melted chocolate on the inside.

“This is so Iowan,” Robin Anderson, 47, of West Branch, said of the sweets.