Classic American Corn Dogs (Printable)

Juicy hot dogs coated in sweet cornmeal batter, fried golden and served on sticks for a classic snack.

# What You'll Need:

→ Corn Dogs

01 - 8 beef hot dogs
02 - 8 wooden sticks (popsicle or bamboo skewers)

→ Batter

03 - 1 cup yellow cornmeal (120 g)
04 - 1 cup all-purpose flour (125 g)
05 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar (50 g)
06 - 1 tablespoon baking powder
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1 cup whole milk (240 ml)
09 - 2 large eggs
10 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

→ For Frying

11 - 6 cups vegetable oil for deep frying

# How To Make:

01 - Pat hot dogs dry with paper towels and insert one wooden stick into each, leaving sufficient handle length.
02 - Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or large heavy pot to 350°F (180°C).
03 - Whisk together cornmeal, all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
04 - In a separate bowl, beat milk, eggs, and vegetable oil. Add to dry ingredients and whisk until batter is smooth and thick.
05 - Transfer batter into a tall glass for easy dipping.
06 - Dip each hot dog into the batter, turning to ensure even coating.
07 - Carefully lower 2 to 3 battered hot dogs into hot oil. Fry for 3 to 4 minutes, turning as needed, until golden brown.
08 - Remove hot dogs with tongs and drain on paper towels. Serve immediately with optional ketchup and mustard.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They taste better homemade because you control how crispy or tender the batter gets, and the oil never sits around long enough to make them greasy.
  • It's the kind of food that brings people together without pretension, turning ordinary hot dogs into something that feels like a small celebration.
02 -
  • The batter needs to be thick enough to cling to the hot dog but still pourable—if it feels like concrete, add milk one tablespoon at a time until it flows.
  • Don't crowd the fryer or the oil temperature will drop and you'll end up with greasy, soggy corn dogs instead of crispy ones.
03 -
  • Keep a tall glass of batter nearby so you can re-dip any corn dog that didn't get full coverage—a second, lighter coat creates the best texture.
  • Save a tiny bit of batter and use it to test the oil temperature before committing your first batch, so you know exactly how it behaves.
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