About Homemade Corn Dogs
Being the foodie that I am, it probably comes as no surprise that my fondest memories are built entirely around food. I could easily build whole vacations around finding iconic eats to try. In fact, even when I went to Disneyland, I only had eyes for one goal:
To hit every booth, stall, and food cart I could find.
And on one of these trips to the magic kingdom, I found myself standing in front of a little red food cart, ordering what was fabled to be “the best hand dipped corn dogs ever. ”
Which, of course, they totally were the best corn dogs I had ever had. Nothing beats that golden brown breading fresh out of the fryer.
So, naturally, once I had returned from the happiest place on earth, I knew I had to find a way to recreate a similar experience at home.
What are Disneyland corn dogs?
Made famous by the Little Red Wagon food cart on Main Street USA in Disneyland, this carnival classic is a must-try for newcomers and a can’t-miss for regulars. The hand dipped breading has a slightly sweet taste and is typically served with mustard, apple slices, and a bag of chips.
What tools you’ll need for this corn dog recipe
- A wide skillet that’s at least four inches deep.
- Sturdy wooden sticks. I used these: Sturdy Bamboo Sticks.
- A tall drinking glass. This will make coating the hot dogs in the batter a whole lot easier.
- Two quarts of vegetable oil (or another oil of your choice) and a method to properly dispose of it (or reuse it) once you’re done.
Can you freeze homemade corn dogs?
Yes, you totally can!
Once the corn dogs are fried, let them cool to room temperature, then transfer them to a freezer container or bag.
For best quality, corn dogs can be frozen for one to two months.
When ready to eat, preheat oven to 350 degrees F and arrange corn dogs on a baking sheet. If corn dogs are still frozen, bake for 15-18 minutes. If corn dogs have been thawed, bake for 10 minutes.
How long will corn dogs last in the refrigerator?
Once made, corn dogs can be kept in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to four to six days.
Notes & tips for hand dipped corn dogs
- As mentioned above, this recipe requires about two quarts of vegetable oil to get the depth you need for frying corn dogs. But with that much oil, that also begs the question: Once you’re done frying, what do you do with it? You can either safely dispose of it (check out this article: How to Properly Dispose of Grease and Oil.) or store it for future fried goods (check out this article: How to Deal with Leftover Frying Oil.)
How do you make corn dogs?
This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. If you’re looking for the full recipe measurements and instructions, scroll down to Recipe Details.
Step 1 – Make a creamy batter by mixing cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt, buttermilk, an egg, honey, and vegetable oil.
Step 2 – Thread hot dogs on sturdy wooden sticks, leaving enough room for a handle at the bottom.
Step 3 – Dip the corn dogs in the batter, coating them all the way to the stick. I’ve found it’s easier (and way less messy) to pour the batter in a drinking glass and then dip the hot dog inside. This way you get a nice even coating of batter without getting any on your fingers.
Step 4 – Drop the hot dog into a large, wide skillet full of hot oil. Let the hot dogs cook until golden brown and puffy. Once ready, use some tongs to transfer the corn dogs to a paper towel-lined plate to drain and cool slightly.
Step 5 – Serve and enjoy!
This post first appeared on The Slow Roasted Italian website (where I am a monthly contributor) and has been syndicated here.
Recipe Details
Disney Corn Dogs
Made famous by the Little Red Wagon food truck, these hand dipped Disneyland corn dogs are iconic for a reason. With a light, puffy breading flavored with a hint of sweetness and fried to a perfect golden brown, you'll be surprised how easy they are to make at home!
Ingredients
Instructions
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In a large bowl, whisk together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
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Add buttermilk, egg, honey, and 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil to bowl and whisk until thoroughly combined with the dry ingredients. Set bowl aside and let batter rest 10 minutes.
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While batter rests, heat the remaining vegetable oil in a wide, deep skillet up to 350 degrees F (using a candy thermometer helps!)
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Thread hot dogs on to wooden popsicle sticks, leaving enough room to hold the bottom of the sticks while also securely keeping the hot dog in place. If needed, use a paper towel to pat the hot dogs dry.
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Give the corn dog batter a stir. The batter should be able to thickly coat a spoon while also be fluid enough to slowly drip off. If batter is too thick, add 1 tablespoon of buttermilk and stir, then do another drip test. You can add up to 3 tablespoons of buttermilk to help even out the consistency.
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Pour corn dog batter into a tall drinking glass, filling to about 3/4 full. Dip a threaded hot dog into the batter, gently twisting to coat the hot dog up to the stick. Slowly pull hot dog out of the batter, shaking off any excess.
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Holding the coated hot dog by the stick, gently drop it into the oil, letting go before the oil touches your fingers. Cook corn dog for 3-5 minutes, using tongs to turn the corn dog as needed. Use tongs to transfer corn dogs to a paper towel-lined plate. Repeat this step until all corn dogs are cooked. To speed things along, fry corn dogs in batches.
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Serve corn dogs immediately with condiments of your choice.
Hey, I’m trying to make these in a rural area that doesn’t sell buttermilk. Do you think plain yogurt or milk with added vinegar would be a better substitute?
How ironic that you can’t access buttermilk because you live in a rural area! Buttermilk is a traditionally rural food ingredient meant to use the by-products of butter churning.
I tried this recipe last night and I have to say it IS the BEST corndog recipe I’ve ever tried! My hubs enjoyed them so much that we’re having them again for supper tonight! Easy recipe well written and a solid keeper for us!
How much oil do you put in the actual batter? I didn’t see where it gave an amount.
2 tablespoons to batter rest goes for frying. See instructions #2
These are delicious! Can I freeze the batter?
Nice one
Followed the directions and batter was way too thick even with extra buttermilk
They tasted pretty good but didn’t really taste like the Disney ones
Delish!
Is that normal cornmeal or fine cornmeal ?
Best corndogs I’ve ever made! The glass method makes it so much easier.
Tried it for the first time, it is the best. Perfect.