Make crispy, golden corn dogs at home with this easy Corn Dog Recipe that delivers fair-quality results using simple ingredients. Perfect for family fun, it's like having yummy carnival food in the comfort of your own home!
Remove the hotdogs from the package and cut them in half. (See photos for orientation of cut.)
Poke a popsicle or sucker stick into the cut end of each hotdog, pushing it at least half way into the hot dog. Place them on a paper towel-lined, rimmed baking sheet.
Add your oil to a large Dutch oven or high-walled cast iron skillet, and place it over medium-high heat to start heating. If you have a paddle thermometer, you can clip it to the side to see the temperature. I do recommend using a thermometer for best results!
In a medium mixing bowl, add the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Whisk to combine.
Add the eggs and milk and stir to combine well.
Place part of the cornmeal batter in a tall drinking cup.
When the oil has reached 350° to 375°F, grab the corndog by the stick and dip it into the cup of batter. Remove it from the batter and place it in the hot oil.
Repeat with a few more hotdogs so that you have 4-6 in your pan, depending on the size. Don't crowd the pan or add too many!
Let the corndogs cook for 4-6 minute or until they are a deep golden brown. Use a spider strainer or a wire skimmer to remove the corndogs from the oil and place them on a paper towel-lined baking sheet.
Repeat with remaining hotdogs until they are all cooked, adjusting your burner temperature as needed to help maintain a steady oil temperature.
Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauces.
Notes
Hot Dog Size: I like using half a hotdog for corndogs. They are an easier size to work with, a good size for my kids to eat, and I just prefer them. You can use a whole hot dog if you like. Honey Drizzle: Sometimes, I drizzle the hot corndogs with a bit of honey, and it's so good!Pat Hotdogs Completely Dry: Moisture is the enemy of good batter adhesion. After cutting your hotdogs, pat them thoroughly dry with paper towels. Any surface moisture will cause the batter to slide off during frying, leaving you with naked hotdogs.Cornmeal Love: I love a good cornmeal batter! Cornmeal adds great color, texture, and flavor to the corndog batter and really makes it replicate that fair-type food.