Deep-fried flan, chocolate corn dogs vie for Texas State Fair food awards

Deep-fried flan. Buffalo-ranche tater tots shaped into a taco shell. A boozy peach soft-serve float. This year's most creative State Fair of Texasfood isn't on the midway yet — but the finalists are set.

The state fair on Aug. 6 announced 15 finalists for its 22nd Annual Big-Tex Choice Awards in four categories: Best Taste – Savory, Best Taste – Sweet, Best Taste – Sipper and Most Creative. The field was chosen from a record 77 entries submitted by 46 concessionaries.

A panel of 35 judges — hometown celebrities, television personalities, food experts and well-known creators — will score each dish on taste, value, creativity and fairgoer appeal. The winners will be announced on Aug. 18.

Here's a look at what's being dished up.

Savory finalists: burgers, brisket and buffalo everything

Here's a look at the

savory category of the Best Taste Award, who created it, and a brief description of the dish, according to the state fair.

• Burger Chop Tater Tacos (Tom Grace) — A fresh burger patty is seared to perfection, chopped, and combined with sautéed onions and jalapeños. Topped with mozzarella and American cheese, the mixture is placed atop a bed of cheddar cheese tater tots formed into a taco shell and finished with buffalo buttermilk ranch coleslaw, garlic-parmesan buffalo sauce, and more tots, making for the ultimate Burger Chop Tater Tacos!
• Dickel's Texas Two Step Tacos (Dickel's Smokehouse) — The Dickel's Texas Two Step Tacos are a bold, delicious taco duo that brings pure backyard flavor to every bite. The first taco features a fire-roasted jalapeño stuffed with juicy pineapple pork sausage and melted mozzarella, tucked into a warm blue corn tortilla with rich, charred flavor. The second taco brings the smoke, with tender-sliced brisket wrapped around a roasted jalapeño, layered with melted mozzarella, and served on a heat-kissed yellow corn tortilla finished with crisp purple pickled onion and a drizzle of sweet, smoky barbecue sauce or house made Lone Star Habanero Fuego.
• Flamin’ Crunch Pizza (Tom Grace) — TheFlamin’ Crunch Pizzaconsists of hand-tossed, fresh-made pizza dough topped with a jalapeño cheddar queso base and covered with a freshly grated blend of mozzarella and cheddar cheese. After baking to perfection, the pizza is topped with handfuls of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos®, a drizzle of jalapeño queso blanco and house-made buffalo buttermilk ranch dressing, and a hefty sprinkle of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos® dust over the entire pizza! Can you handle the heat?
• Golden Crunch Melt (Tony & Terry Bednar) — Get ready for the ultimate Texas fair-food crunch! A tortilla brushed in a signature seasoned butter oil and grilled to a crispy golden finish is packed with juicy marinated chicken pastor, fire-roasted peppers, caramelized onions, smoky chipotle mayonnaise, melted three-cheese blend, and crispy potato strings in every bite and finished with a signature smoky chipotle crema. The result is the perfect combination of crunch, creamy heat, and cheesy goodness – the Golden Crunch Melt!
• Nacho Wings (Cody & Lauren Hays) — Get ready for the ultimate flavor explosion! Nacho Wings are crispy chicken wings tossed in zesty taco seasoning, smothered in creamy nacho cheese, and piled high with cilantro, green onions, cotija cheese, tomatoes, pickled red onions, and jalapeños. Served on a bed of hot, golden fries and drizzled with ranch, this larger-than-life creation brings together Fair-food classics: nachos, wings, and loaded fries in one wildly delicious bite!

Sweet finalists: cheesecake, corny dogs and a fried flan

Here's a look at the sweet category of the Best Taste Award, who created it, and a brief description of the dish, according to the state fair.

• Berry Me in Matcha (Stephen El Gidi) — A luxurious flavor experience that fuses creamy cheesecake indulgence with bold Japanese-inspired flair. This rich New York-style cheesecake is hand-dipped in silky Belgian white chocolate, rolled in crushed matcha cookies for a delicate earthy crunch, then drizzled with luscious white chocolate and sweet strawberry jam. Finished with a fresh strawberry slice on top, every bite delivers the perfect balance of creamy, crunchy, fruity, and sweet matcha bliss.
• Fernie's Frozen Espresso-tini Bar (Christi Erpillo & Johnna McKee) — This espresso martini popsicle delivers rich, divine indulgence in a perfectly frozen form. Robust cold-brew espresso is blended with a spirited kick of Fernie's Funnel Cake Cream Cocktail™, creating layers of deep coffee flavors and hints of vanilla. Each Fernie's Frozen Espresso-tini Bar is artfully drizzled with ribbons of chocolate shell coating, hardening into a delicate, crackable bite, making for the ultimate pick-me-up on a stick!
• Fletcher's Chocolate Corny Dog (Beck Fletcher) — It consists of smooth milk chocolate fudge hand dipped in Fletcher's famous Original Corny Dog batter and is deep fried until golden perfection. Topped with a drizzle of yellow vanilla icing and served with raspberry compote for a sweet twist on the iconic Corny Dog. One bite and you'll taste why this sweet treat is top dog! 
• Holy Flan! Buñueloco (The Garza Family) — Indulge in a sweet celebration of tradition and creativity with Holy Flan! Buñueloco. This sweet treat starts with a warm, crispy buñuelo bowl filled with creamy, homemade arroz con leche and a scoop of premium cinnamon Blue Bell® Ice Cream. The highlight is a decadent, deep-fried flan encased in a delicate puff pastry shell, topped with fluffy whipped cream topping and a rich caramel sauce drizzle for a perfect harmony of textures. 
• Texas Pecan Praline Cheesecake Cone (Brad Weiss) — A warm waffle cone fresh off the iron is dipped in white chocolate, rolled in buttery Texas pecan praline, crushed Biscoff® cookies, and freeze-dried strawberries, and filled with homemade, creamy scoopable cookie butter cheesecake. The Texas Pecan Praline Cheesecake Cone is topped with a pinch of sea salt, whipped cream, Biscoff® crumble, warm cookie butter drizzle, white chocolate sauce, and finished with a signature Biscoff® cookie, making for one unforgettable State Fair bite.

Sipper finalists: from spiked floats to bacon-jam cider

Here's a look at the finalists for the Best Sipper Award, who created it, and a brief description of the drink, according to the state fair.

• Corn Flake Shappé (Milton & Gracie Whitley) — Forget the bowl and grab a straw — the creamy Corn Flake Shappé blends toasted corn flakes into a rich creation with silky dulce de leche, buttery Texas pecan notes, and a signature blend of warm spices. Finished with whipped cream, golden corn flake crunch, sweet strawberry crumble, and a dusting of powdered sugar, this creamy-and-crunchy sip is ready to cereal-ously two-step its way into your favorites.
• Nevins Soft Serve Peach Bellini Float (Tami & Josey Nevins Mayes) — Feeling nostalgic? Revisit this childhood classic—now with a boozy twist! The Nevins Soft Serve Peach Bellini Float featuring rich, creamy peach bellini soft serve infused with sparkling wine, topped with sparkling sugar and grated frozen peach for the perfect balance of sweet, creamy, and bubbly flavors. Finished with a sugary-sweet golden topping, this boozy float is a sophisticated spin on a childhood favorite that's sure to raise a glass to Fair fun.
• Rousso's Bacon Jam Caramel Apple Hard Cider (Rousso's Concessions) — Straight from Deep Ellum, the Rousso's Bacon Jam Caramel Apple Hard Cider is crafted with hints of apples, caramel, churros, cinnamon sugar, and a smoky bacon jam twist for bold Texas flavors that hit your sweet, salty, and smooth cravings all at once. 
• Sunset Soft Serve Rita (Dwania Morris) — The Sunset Soft Serve Rita combines a strawberry and mango margarita with vanilla soft-serve ice cream, a bold Tajín® rim, rich chamoy drizzle, and a crunchy hot honey Tajín® topping for the perfect balance of sweet-heat indulgence. This over-the-top frozen creation blends creamy tropical flavors with spice and irresistible texture in every bite.
• Tropical Coco Fresca (Fruteria Cano) — The Tropical Coco Fresca is a layered pineapple-watermelon agua fresca with chamoy lava Tajin® rim, paired with a scoop of icy coconut snow that melts into a creamy tropical explosion of flavors, sure to keep you cool in the Texas heat!

Who won last year?

Last year's winners were:

• Best Taste – Savory: crab and mozzarella arancini
• Best Taste – Sweet: Chill and thrill delight
• Best Taste – Sipper: Cookie chaos milkshake
• Most Creative: Wagyu bacon cheeseburger deviled egg sliders

When is the Texas State Fair?

The fair will run from Sept. 25 to Oct. 18 at the historic Fair Park in Dallas.

In honor of the U.S. celebrating its 250th birthday and the State Fair of Texas celebrating its 140th birthday, this year's theme is “Stars, Stripes. And Howdies.”

Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him at [e-mail].

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Deep-fried flan, chocolate corn dogs vie for Texas State Fair food awards