Corn Dog Recipe
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Homemade corn dogs are a delicious treat made with hot dogs, corn meal, buttermilk and honey for nostalgic perfection.
This homemade corndog recipe gives you perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside corn dogs every time! We like to make them with some air fryer french fries, BBQ chicken pasta salad, and churro cheesecake bars.
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Corn Dog Recipe
Corn Dog Recipe
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Why you’ll love this recipe!
✅ Made simple ingredients.
✅ Perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
✅ Use whatever brand of hot dog you enjoy most!
Corn Dog Recipe Ingredients
- Oil – Vegetable oil.
- Cornmeal – Yellow cornmeal.
- Flour – All-purpose flour.
- Sugar – White granulated.
- Baking powder – For leavening. (Not the same as baking soda).
- Buttermilk – Low fat or non-fat.
- Egg – Large.
- Honey – For that little pop of sweetness.
- Cornstarch – For coating the hotdogs (Optional).
- Wooden sticks – To create the traditional corn dog.
How do you make corn dogs at home? (step-by-step directions)
⭐ First, pour the vegetable oil into a large high walled skillet or dutch oven and heat over medium heat. Pat the hotdogs dry and skewer with the wooden sticks. Sprinkle and rub the hotdogs with cornstarch.
⭐ Next, in a large bowl, mix the cornmeal, flour, sugar, and baking powder. In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, egg and honey. Combine the wet and dry ingredients and whisk until smooth. Transfer the batter to a tall glass or jar.
⭐ Then, dip the hot dogs into the batter to coat, twisting back and forth to ensure the batter adheres evenly.
⭐ Finally, carefully lower the corn dogs into the hot oil and let cook until golden brown, flipping halfway if necessary. Carefully remove from the oil and let drain on a paper towel lined plate.
Scroll down to the printable recipe card toward the bottom of this article for ingredient measurements and detailed cooking instructions.
Preparation
Can you make homemade corn dogs ahead of time?
These are SO delicious when enjoyed right after frying but you can store these in the fridge or freezer and reheat them in the oven, air fryer or microwave. So yes, these could be made in advance.
Why coat the hotdog in cornstarch before dipping in the batter?
This helps the batter stick to the hotdog but we actually gave it a try without the cornstarch and the batter still stuck pretty well. If you wanted to skip the cornstarch step, you could.
Do I need to skewer the hotdogs with the wooden sticks?
For a traditional corn dog, yes the wooden skewer is necessary. However if you wanted to skip this step and make the corn dogs without the stick, that would be fine as well.
Storage and leftovers
How long do leftover homemade corn dogs last?
These will keep in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3-5 days. Reheat using the air fryer or oven for best results. You can also reheat in the microwave but you’ll lose the crisp outside.
Can homemade corn dogs be frozen?
Yes! These work great to freeze for later. Let cool completely and store in an airtight container or ziploc bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat in the air fryer or oven from frozen.
What is the best way to reheat homemade corn dogs?
Reheat from the fridge or from frozen in the air fryer at 350 degrees F. Cook for 8-10 minutes from frozen, 5-8 minutes from the fridge. Remember that all air fryers are different so keep an eye on the corn dogs so they don’t get too crispy.
You can also reheat in the oven at 350 degrees F for 10-15 minutes.
Tips and tricks
✅ Double the recipe and make extra to store in the freezer for easy grab and go suppers.
✅ Make sure to check the temperature of the oil before frying the homemade corn dogs. Oil too hot will burn them, oil too cool will leave you with doughy corn dogs.
✅ The cornstarch step is optional, the batter sticks well to the hotdogs without the layer of cornstarch. Leave it out if desired.
✅ Make sure to buy fine yellow cornmeal, coarse or medium cornmeal will be too grainy to get the right texture for the corndog batter.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a different type of oil for frying?
Yes, you can use other high smoke point oils such as canola oil or peanut oil.
Can I make the batter gluten-free?
Yes, you can substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
Can I use a different type of milk instead of buttermilk?
Yes, you can use regular milk with a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to mimic buttermilk. Plant-based milks can also be used.
Can I use different types of sausages or hot dogs?
Yes, you can use any type of sausage or hot dog, including chicken, turkey, or vegetarian options.
What if my batter is too thick or too thin?
If the batter is too thick, add a little more buttermilk. If it’s too thin, add a bit more flour.
What to enjoy with your homemade corn dogs (serving suggestions)
This is a simple and delicious way to enjoy your favorite carnival food with basic ingredients at hone. We love making these in the summer with nacho fries, instant pot popcorn, and air fryer spinach mozzarella sticks!
More delicious copycat recipes
- Seasoned pretzels
- Cool whip candy
- Chicken gnocchi soup
- Bang bang cauliflower
- Lofthouse cookies
- Wendy’s chili
- Peanut butter cups
- Hostess cupcakes
- See all our easy copycat recipes!
More fun hot dog recipes
Tools we love
- Enameled cast iron pot – This is a great and super versatile pot that can be used in both the oven and on the stove top.
- Silicone whisk – This whisk set has all the sizes you need for your cooking and baking. And it’s cute!
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How to Make Homemade Corn Dogs
Corn Dog Recipe
Ingredients
- vegetable oil enough for frying
- 12 beef hot dogs
- 1 cup fine yellow cornmeal
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons white granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1½ cups buttermilk
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon honey
- cornstarch*
- wooden sticks
Instructions
- Pour the vegetable oil 2" deep into a large high walled skillet or dutch oven and heat over medium low heat until it reaches 350℉.
- While the oil is heating, pat the hot dogs dry, skewer with the wooden sticks, then sprinkle and rub with cornstarch.
- In one bowl, mix together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, and baking powder. In a second bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, egg, and honey. Combine the wet ingredients into the dry and whisk until smooth and well combined. Transfer the batter to a tall glass or jar.
- Dip the hot dogs into the batter to coat, twisting back and forth to ensure that the batter adheres evenly.
- Carefully lower the corn dogs into the hot oil and let cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes, flipping halfway if necessary. Carefully remove and let drain on a paper towel lined plate.
Notes
Nutrition
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I’ve loved corndogs since I was a kid, but I never knew how truly good they could be. Making them batter from scratch gives them such a fantastic flavor.
I personally love corn dogs! And this recipe made me love them even more. I tried making it and it turned out so good.
Made these over the weekend and the kids really loved them! The leftovers were still good the next day! Definitely will be making them again soon!
My kids said these were their favorite corn dogs ever. Big win, haha!
This recipe is so good. I absolutely love corndogs. We had great time making them at home.
I tried your Corn Dog Recipe for our family game night, and they were a hit! The batter was perfectly crispy and flavorful. It brought back so many nostalgic memories of fairs and carnivals!
Homemade corn dogs are an amazing treat, blending savory hot dogs with a crispy, sweet cornmeal batter for a nostalgic taste sensation that’s hard to resist. They’re a must-try for anyone craving a taste of childhood joy.