Who will be crowned this year’s king or queen of fried fair goodness?

Maybe it will be a cook who whips up something sweet, like the Fried Banana Split or Texas Fried Jelly Bellys or Fire & Ice, a deep-fried pineapple ring.

Or something chocolate, like the Fried Chocolate Truffles or Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Waffle Balls or Deep Fried S’mores.

Then again, it could be something savory, like Chicken Fried Bacon or Fernie’s All-American Fried Grilled Cheese Sandwich.

These are the eight items vying for Monday’s fourth annual Big Tex Choice Awards, when the best new foods of the upcoming State Fair of Texas are judged.

Just thinking about the new concoctions makes your mouth water and your arteries harden.

All eyes will likely be on Abel Gonzales Jr., who created Fire & Ice. He’s the reigning fried food champ, having won three previous Big Tex awards for his Texas Fried Cookie Dough, Fried Coke and Fried Peanut Butter, Jelly and Banana Sandwich, a tribute to Elvis Presley.

He hopes his latest creation is a winner.

“It would be great,” Mr. Gonzales said Wednesday. “I’m not going to lie and say, ‘Oh, I don’t really care.’ Of course I care. ... Whoever tries it, I hope they like it. If it’s a hit, whoa, that’s even better.”

About 45 foods were submitted for this year’s competition. Fair employees did a taste test of 16 items and then chose the eight finalists, all of which will be sold at the fair, spokeswoman Sue Gooding said.

A panel of three judges on Labor Day will pick winning entries in two categories: best taste and most creative.

Foods don’t have to be fried to compete in the Big Tex awards, but any State Fair foodie knows that just about anything can be dunked in batter and subjected to the deep fryer.

After all, batter makes everything better.

Mr. Gonzales’ deep-fried pineapple — the fire — is topped with banana-flavored whipped cream that’s been frozen in liquid nitrogen — the ice. The concoction is then covered with syrupy strawberries.

It’s safe to eat, and Mr. Gonzales said kids will enjoy a fun side effect: After placing the frozen whipped cream in your mouth, you can blow smoke out of your nose and mouth when you exhale.

It’s half tasty treat, half science experiment.

Mr. Gonzales had tried frying pineapple a while ago, but couldn’t come up with something to complement the flavor. But this summer he saw a chef use liquid nitrogen on a TV show. He started playing with liquid nitrogen and figured this would be pineapple’s perfect partner.

He’ll be selling the Fire & Ice at this year’s fair, along with its fried friends — the cookie dough, coke,Ö and peanut butter, jelly and banana sandwich. The fair starts Sept. 26 and runs through Oct. 19.

“I am constantly thinking of the fair. That’s all I want to do,” Mr. Gonzales said. “I wish the fair was year-round so I could keep coming up with stuff.”

Here are the Big Tex Award competitors:

Fernie’s All-American Fried Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Creator: Christi Erpillo

What is it? Two slices of white bread filled with American and cheddar cheeses, dipped in a egg and milk batter and lightly coated with bread crumbs. Served with a side of shoestring potato sticks, a pickle spear and tomato soup dipping sauce.

Chicken Fried Bacon

Creator: Glen Kusak

What is it? Thick and peppery bacon seasoned, double-dipped in a batter and breading and deep-fried. Served with a side of ranch or honey mustard sauce.

Fried Banana Split

Creator: Shirley Weiss

What is it? Banana and honey peanut butter rolled in balls, battered and deep-fried. Topped with powdered sugar, caramel and chocolate syrups, chopped peanuts, whipped cream, banana split-flavored ice cream bites, and a cherry.

Texas Fried Jelly Bellys

Creator: Justin Martinez

What is it? Jelly Bellys rolled in funnel cake batter and fried. Try to guess the Jelly Belly flavors as you bite into this treat.

Deep Fried S’mores

Creator: Tami Stiffler

What is it? Marshmallow cream and chocolate chips sandwiched between two graham crackers, dipped in batter, fried and dusted in powdered sugar.

Fire & Ice

Creator: Abel Gonzales

What is it? A pineapple ring battered and deep-fried, topped with banana-flavored whipped cream that’s been frozen in liquid nitrogen. The smoking concoction is covered in strawberries and syrup.

Fried Chocolate Truffles

Creator: Nick Bert Jr.

What is it? A handmade dark chocolate truffle rolled in cocoa powder, battered and deep-fried. The truffle is then dusted in cinnamon, sugar and more cocoa powder.

Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Waffle Balls

Creator: Mark Zable

What is it? Fresh strawberries covered in a thick chocolate shell, dipped in a waffle batter and deep-fried. Dusted with powdered sugar and served on a stick.