Honey-battered, hand-dipped Corn Dogs are a real treat. Watch the video tutorial and see how easy it is to make homemade corn dogs from scratch.

homemade corn dogs on a serving plate with ketchup and mustard

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We love hand-dipped corn dogs at fairs, carnivals, and of course Disney, but some of our favorite carnival foods like Churros, sweet Corn on the Cob and of course these corn dogs, are so easy to re-create at home. If you’re looking for fun, family-friendly recipes, these Corn Dogs are a must-try!

Corn Dog Video Tutorial:

Corn dogs are essentially cornbread batter + hot dogs. This homemade Corn Dog Recipe has the best honey batter. They are fried to perfection with a crisp exterior and a soft cornbread inside that keeps the sausage juicy.

If you enjoyed this video for corndogs, please  (P.S. Click the BELL icon so you can be the first to know when we post a new video). Thank you for subscribing!

bitten corn dog showing sausage and corn bread center

Why You will Love These Corn Dogs:

  • Simple batter – no waiting for the batter to chill. You can use it right away.
  • Make-ahead option – you can make the batter 1 to 2 days ahead if you want to. You can also store extra batter to fry something fresh the next day.
  • Skip the corn starch – dipping the hot dogs in corn starch is an unnecessary step. Drying the corn dogs with paper towels is enough to make the batter stick.
  • Freezer friendly – you can make these, cool to room temperature then freeze in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag.
  • Reheats well – You can defrost in the refrigerator or for 30 seconds in the microwave then pop them in the air fryer or sautee on a skillet until crisp on the outside.
corn dogs cooling on a wire rack

Ingredients for Homemade Corndogs:

Since this recipe doesn’t have many ingredients, so buy the best quality hot dogs (get your favorites).

  • Hot Dogs – We highly recommend using simple hot dogs – either beef, chicken or turkey hot dogs will do. If using longer-sized hot dogs, keep in mind they will need to fit the diameter of your pot to fry once your stick is on. Also, very thick hot dogs won’t heat through as well.
  • Corn Meal – get “finely ground”
  • Flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt – pantry basics that help form the batter and make it fluffy.
  • Buttermilk and oil – adds flavor and moisture to the batter
  • Egg – helps batter hold together.
  • Honey – adds sweetness to create a honey batter
ingredients for corn dogs with corn meal, hot dogs and batter ingredients

How to Make Corn Dogs:

Making corn dogs is easier and takes less time than you think! Here is a visual reference for the process. Watch the video recipe above and you’ll have this recipe memorized in no time.

  1. Pat Dry Hot Dogs with paper towels to help the batter to stick better.
  2. Insert Sticks – skewer hot dogs make sure the length fits your pot)
  3. Dry Ingredients – whisk together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  4. Wet Ingredients – whisk together buttermilk, egg, olive oil, and honey.
  5. Combine Batter – pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and whisk until blended.
  6. Dip Hot Dogs and Fry – Batter the corn dogs to completely cover the hot dog, let excess drip off at the edge then Fry 2-3 at a time at 350˚F for 3 minutes until golden brown.
Step by step process for making corn dogs and batter

Pro Tip: Use a tall drinking glass and a funnel to keep things tidy while filling with batter. Fill it almost full, leaving enough room to dip the corn dog without overflowing the cup.

step by step how to dip corn dogs and fry in oil

The Best Sticks for Corn Dogs:

You can use a variety of sticks (even popsicle sticks). The most important thing is to make sure the skewered corn dog will fit easily into your frying pot. Avoid sticks that have sharp points or are too long. You can use:

different types of corn dog sticks

How to Keep Corn Dogs from Cracking:

Air bubbles cause corn dogs to crack and burst. The right technique is important. Dip straight down until hot dog is fully coated. Twirl in the glass and swirl as you pull up. If you see gaps in the dough or big bubbles then re-dip. Also, make sure to maintain the right oil temperature at 350˚F.

a cracked corn dog next to a perfect corn dog

Common Questions:

Which cornmeal should I buy?

Look for fine yellow corn meal. Avoid “coarse” or “medium” ground cornmeal as that will be too large of granules and won’t work. I have found that if the cornmeal packaging doesn’t say what texture it is, most often it is finely ground.

Can I make this in a deep fryer?

A deep fryer can be tricky because the corn dogs are more likely to stick to the fryer basket. Make sure you carefully hold the corn dog in the oil at an angle for 5-7 seconds to seal the exterior before dropping them into the basket. Watch the video to see this in action.

Do I need to coat in corn starch?

Nope. Coating in starch is an unnecessary and messy step. Patting the hot dogs thoroughly is enough to help the batter stick to the hot dogs.

What is the Right Oil Temperature for Frying?

We heat the oil to 350˚F and use a clip-on thermometer to maintain a steady temperature. You want to keep the oil between 340˚-360˚ while frying.

What is the best oil for frying?

Our favorite oil for frying is peanut oil. Canola oil is also a great option.

How to serve corn dogs?

Serve as a main course or snack with the classic dipping sauces of ketchup and mustard.

corn dogs on a platter served

Have Extra Batter Left Over?

Use the extra batter to dip mini sausages, little smokies or cocktail sausages to make mini corndogs. Use a toothpick to dip and fry then remove the toothpicks before serving.

mini corn dogs on a plate

Hand dipped corn dogs satisfy the craving for carnival food when you aren’t able to get to the carnival or state fair to enjoy it. They are also really fun to make!

More Kid-Friendly Recipes to try:

If you love this Corn Dog Recipe, then you won’t want to miss these family-friendly recipes.

Homemade Corn Dogs Recipe

4.98 from 289 votes
Author: Natasha Kravchuk
homemade corn dogs on a serving plate with ketchup and mustard
This homemade Corn Dog Recipe has the best honey batter. They are fried to perfection with a crisp exterior and a soft cornbread inside that keeps the sausage juicy.
Prep Time: 18 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 12 corn dogs

For the Corn Dogs:

  • 12 hot dogs, we used turkey hot dogs
  • 12 sticks
  • Peanut oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil for frying
  • Ketchup and mustard to serve

Batter Ingredients:

Instructions

  • Pour 2-3” of oil in a large pot or dutch oven and heat to 350˚F over medium heat.
  • Pat dry with paper towels. Insert sticks into hot dogs.
  • Whisk together dry ingredients (corn meal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt). Whisk together wet ingredients (buttermilk, egg, 1 Tbsp oil and honey). Combine wet and dry ingredients and whisk to combine.
  • Pour batter into a drinking glass almost to the top and dip hot dogs. Put corndog straight down into batter and give it a little twirl to fully coat the hot dogs then swirl as you lift up. Let excess drip off.
  • Hold corn dog at an angle in the hot oil for 5-7 seconds to let it seal then drop into oil (this keeps them from sticking to the bottom of the pot).
  • Fry 3 minutes or until golden brown. Fry up to 2-3 at a time (so you don’t drop the temperature), turning them as needed to brown evenly. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Notes

*Nutrition label is only an estimate. We calculated 1 tsp of peanut oil per corn dog. 

Nutrition Per Serving

335kcal Calories41g Carbs10g Protein15g Fat4g Saturated Fat38mg Cholesterol403mg Sodium307mg Potassium2g Fiber8g Sugar96IU Vitamin A1mg Vitamin C101mg Calcium2mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Homemade Corn Dogs Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
335
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
15
g
23
%
Saturated Fat
 
4
g
25
%
Cholesterol
 
38
mg
13
%
Sodium
 
403
mg
18
%
Potassium
 
307
mg
9
%
Carbohydrates
 
41
g
14
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
8
g
9
%
Protein
 
10
g
20
%
Vitamin A
 
96
IU
2
%
Vitamin C
 
1
mg
1
%
Calcium
 
101
mg
10
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: corn dog, corn dogs recipe
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $
Calories: 335
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the creator behind Natasha's Kitchen (established in 2009), and I share family-friendly, authentic recipes. I am a New York Times Best-Selling cookbook author and a trusted video personality in the culinary world. My husband, Vadim, and I run this blog together, ensuring every recipe we share is thoroughly tested and approved. Our mission is to provide you with delicious, reliable recipes you can count on. Thanks for stopping by! I am so happy you are here.

Read more posts by Natasha

4.98 from 289 votes (180 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Damien
    January 11, 2025

    This recipe is SO easy and gave me a whole new appreciation for corn dogs! My wife loves them and I will keep this recipe for years to come, thank you so much🙂

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 11, 2025

      You’re welcome! I’m so happy you all enjoyed it, Damien!

      Reply

  • Suzanne Newell
    December 2, 2024

    Making tonight. Sounds wonderful. But we have so much leftover batter. Can I freeze it?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      December 2, 2024

      Hi Suzanne! To be honest, I haven’t tried freezing the batter to advise. Let us know if you experiment.
      Some of my readers have used the leftover batter to dip and fry veggies. One other reader states she added half a can of kernel corn and it made delicous corn fritters!

      Reply

    • Mary
      December 12, 2024

      I made a double batch of this and froze the cooked corn dogs. My boys enjoyed them reheated in the microwave but next time I will undercook a few just by a minute or two so I can reheat in the air fryer without browning too much.

      Reply

  • Brooke Sanford
    November 26, 2024

    This recipe was so easy and soooo tasty! Will be making them again. Quick question:

    I have a lot of left over batter. What is the best way to store it and how long do you think it’ll keep for?

    Thank you in advance!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      November 26, 2024

      Hi Brooke! I’m so glad you enjoyed this. The batter holds up for 1-2 days refrigerated.

      Reply

  • Kim
    November 23, 2024

    If you don’t have buttermilk can you use 2% milk or 2% milk with lemon juice and let sit until it curdles??
    Want to make these!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      November 23, 2024

      Hi Kim,v if you don’t have buttermilk, you can make your own by mixing milk and lemon. Here’s an example for reference, 1 cup buttermilk = 1 Tablespoon lemon juice + enough milk to measure 1 cup. I hope that helps!

      Reply

      • Kim
        November 23, 2024

        Thankyou so much for the quick reply, I’m impressed 😊
        I will be sure to comment when I have made them😊 Mmmm corn dogs 🤤

        Reply

        • Natashas Kitchen
          November 23, 2024

          You’re so welcome! Enjoy!

          Reply

  • Nunha
    November 17, 2024

    Just finished making these for my family and the kids sure love them. 1st time making corn dog and it was a success hugely thanks to you and your recipe.

    Sending love from 🇧🇳

    Reply

  • Andy C.
    November 17, 2024

    While I’ve made your Corn Dog recipe more than once, today I used the batter for something wacky — and it was perfect. Instead of a hot dog, I used Cherry Smoked Pork Belly in the shape of a (flat) hot dog. Served with some KC BBQ Dipping Sauce. I followed the recipe for the batter exactly, and it came out perfectly.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      November 17, 2024

      That sounds very interesting, Andy!

      Reply

  • Mercedy Banks
    November 9, 2024

    Made these with mergez sausage was sooo good

    Reply

  • Tania Kelly
    October 20, 2024

    What can I use instead of cornmeal please?

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      October 21, 2024

      Hi Tania! I have not tried any substitutions to advise.

      Reply

  • Hoshi
    October 12, 2024

    Made these per my husband’s request tonight, fantastic!!! I omitted the sugar, and increased the honey to 3Tbs, (health benefits of honey far outweigh those of sugar) and used a habanero hot honey. Served with spicy ketchup (ketchup + cayenne) and honey mustard (dijon+honey). The recipe is written very well, and the timing is right on, thanks Natasha!
    I served a cider vinegar coleslaw alongside, to balance the flavors and textures. Adult Kid’s meal – We all need one sometimes:)

    Reply

  • Diane Mathews
    October 1, 2024

    Nailed it! After changing the corn meal and using buttermilk, turned out amazing! Thank you for your advice!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 1, 2024

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

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