Learn to make homemade corn dogs with a simple buttermilk batter and your favorite brand of hot dogs. These fun fried snacks are even better than the ones at the fair!
Easy Homemade Corn Dogs
One of the best things about fairs, carnivals, and amusement parks is the assortment of fried foods! And while I can’t help you recreate the rides and games at home, I can help you with homemade churros, homemade funnel cake, and now homemade corn dogs!
Juicy hot dogs on a stick are dipped in a buttermilk cornmeal batter and fried until golden. They’re a fun, family-friendly way to prepare this nostalgic food in your kitchen!
Why I Love This Recipe
- Made in just over 30 minutes with a mere 15 minutes prep time!
- They’re better than the kind you’d find in the freezer section at the grocery store.
Ingredients Notes
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Dry ingredients: Yellow cornmeal, all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt come together to form a fluffy coating for the hot dogs.
- Egg: As with any batter, the eggs help to bind everything together.
- Honey and buttermilk: Both add a sweet and tangy flavor to the corn dog batter. The acid from the buttermilk reacts with the baking powder, making it extra fluffy. I have an easy buttermilk substitute recipe if you don’t have any on hand.
- Vegetable oil: We’ll use a bit for the batter, but most of it will be used to fry these homemade corn dogs. Canola oil or peanut oil can also be used for frying.
- Hot dogs and skewers: Use all beef or chicken hot dogs; it’s up to you. Wooden skewers or wooden sticks that are long enough to fit into the hot dog and leave enough hanging out to hold onto.
How to Make Corn Dogs
- Pat the hot dogs with a paper towel so the batter sticks better, and insert a skewer into the end of each one, halfway through the dog.
- Whisk dry ingredients in a medium mixing bowl. Then, mix in the honey, egg, buttermilk, and vegetable oil and whisk until well combined. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes to foam up.
- Pour the batter into a tall drinking glass and dip each skewered hot dog into the batter, making sure the entire thing is covered.
- Heat oil in Dutch oven or large pot until it reaches 350°F. Hold the bottom of the skewer and submerge the coated corn dog into the oil. Hold for 5 seconds before letting it fall to the bottom and fry for 3 minutes. Remove to to a paper towel-lined plate to drain and cool slightly.
Homemade Corndog Recipe Tips
- Serve with your favorite condiments. Yellow mustard and ketchup are popular choices, but hot sauce, a spicy mayo, or honey mustard sauce go well, too.
- Only add the corn dogs to the oil once it is HOT. You want to hear that sizzle.
- If you add them to oil before it’s hot, it’ll soak up too much waiting for it to heat up and make them soggy.
- Work in batches. Only fry up to 3 at a time; otherwise, the temperature of the oil will drop too much.
- Use a thermometer to let you know the temperature of the oil is always where it should be.
- Use leftover hot dogs and batter to make easy corn dog muffins. You can also follow my instructions on how to boil hot dogs for a classic hot dog on a bun!
Try these other carnival and fair recipes including birria tacos, crispy fried zucchini and fried mac and cheese.
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Homemade Corn Dogs Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- ¾ cup yellow cornmeal
- ¾ cup all purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 egg , slightly beaten
- 3 Tablespoons honey
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 10 hot dogs
- 10 wooden sticks or skewers
- Vegetable oil , for frying
Instructions
- Heat oil: In a large dutch oven or pot, heat the vegetable oil for frying until it reaches 350°F.
- Whisk dry ingredients: In a medium sized mixing bowl, whisk together 3/4 cup cornmeal, 3/4 cup flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder.
- Whisk in wet ingredients: Add the 3 Tablespoons honey, 1 egg, 3/4 cup buttermilk and 2 teaspoons vegetable oil and whisk again until well combined. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes.
- Insert skewers: Meanwhile, pat the hot dogs dry with a paper towel and put a stick or skewer in each one, about half way through the hot dog vertically.
- Dip and cook: Pour the cornmeal batter in a tall drinking glass. Dip a hot dog in the batter, making sure the entire hot dog is covered in batter. Gently place in the hot oil, starting by hold the stick for about 5 seconds and then letting go. It will fall to the bottom of the pot. Fry for 3 minutes, or until golden brown. You can cook 2 or three at a time. Remove and let drain and cool slightly on a paper towel or wire rack. Repeat with all 10 hot dogs.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Recipe FAQs
There are a number of options. I use wooden or bamboo skewers, but you can also use popsicle sticks. First thing, you want to make sure that they can withstand the heat of the oil without burning.
Next, make sure they fit halfway up the hot dog while leaving enough hanging out that you can hold onto them. With that being said, make sure they’re not too long, or the weight of the dog might snap the stick.
Cracks in the batter are caused by air bubbles. And air gets in when there isn’t enough coating all over. If you notice parts without enough batter, re-dip! Dunk, dip, and swirl as you lift it back out of the glass.
Keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a couple of days. Yes, they will be soggy, but once reheated in the air fryer, they should crisp back up again. You can also use the oven. The microwave works, but the outer coating will be soft.
Yes! When they have cooled completely, transfer them to a freezer bag. Keep them frozen for up to a month. You can reheat them straight from frozen for a fun after school snack the kids will love.
Categorized as: American, Dinner, Kid-Friendly
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
These corn dogs were fantastic. Classic corn dog flavors with a touch of sweetness from the honey. My kids absolutely loved them! Plus, they were so easy to make. – Alisha, recipe tester
So glad your family loved them!