Ingredients and Substitutions
Corn dogs have a crispy coating and juicy inside.
Making them at home is easy once you know the key ingredients and how to make adjustments based on what’s available.
- Hot Dogs: 8 hot dogs
- Wooden Skewers:
- Yellow Cornmeal: 1 cup
- All-Purpose Flour: 1 cup
- Baking Powder: 1 teaspoon
- Salt: 1/4 teaspoon
- Granulated Sugar: 1/4 cup
- Buttermilk: 1 cup
- Whole Milk: Optional, for a thinner batter
- Honey: 1 tablespoon for sweetness (optional)
- Oil for Frying: Peanut or vegetable oil
The Essential Corn Dog Components
The primary component is the hot dog.
Choose your favorite brand or type, whether it’s beef, chicken, or pork.
Insert wooden skewers into each hot dog to make dipping in batter and frying easier.
Selecting the right skewer length ensures safety and ease of use during frying.
Batter Basics and Variations
The batter is the star here, made from a blend of yellow cornmeal and all-purpose flour.
Baking powder is added to help the coating puff up when fried.
A mix of buttermilk and granulated sugar gives the batter its perfect blend of flavor and texture.
For a sweeter finish, consider adding a bit of honey.
If you want a thinner batter, mix in some whole milk.
Oil Options for Frying
The choice of oil can affect the flavor and texture of your corn dogs.
Peanut oil is commonly used because of its high smoke point, making it ideal for deep frying.
It also adds a slight nutty flavor.
Vegetable oil is a great alternative as it is more neutral and readily available.
Heat oil to about 350°F for seriously crispy corn dogs without absorbing too much grease.