State Fair Corn Dog Cooking Instructions

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Now you don't have to wait to enjoy State Fair Corn Dogs! Skewered hot dogs are dipped in a cornmeal batter then fried to a golden brown.

corn dogs stacked on plate with a bite taken out of the top one

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Corn Dogs

This is one of my kids' favorite recipes! Although store-bought corn dogs will do in a pinch, these corn dogs are soooo much better!

It may not surprise you that corn dogs are a very American cuisine. It is said that the name comes from the fact that the fried batter looks like an ear of corn. There are several claims about who to credit the invention to – regardless, my family (and many others) thank them for their delicious discovery!

Whether you serve this recipe for a quick lunch or dinner, note that the batter is best the day it is made – so plan on using it up within 24 hours or discard any leftover batter.

Now that you don't have to wait for the state or county fair to indulge in this deliciousness, let me show you how easy these corn dogs are to make …

Corn Dogs Recipe

yellow cornmeal
all-purpose flour
granulated sugar
baking powder
salt
large egg
milk
oil for frying
hot dogs

How to make Corn Dogs

Time needed:20 minutes.

How to make Corn Dogs

Prepare batter.
In a medium bowl combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir in eggs and milk.
Preheat oil and skewer hot dogs.
Preheat oil in a fryer or deep saucepan until it reaches 375°F. Insert wooden skewers into one end of the hot dog, leaving enough of the skewer to hold onto.
Coat hot dogs.
Place about 1/4 cup of flour in a pie plate or zip-top bag and roll the hot dogs in flour to coat. Shake off excess flour. Put the cornmeal mixture in a tall glass and dip the hot dogs into the batter, coating well. Let excess batter drip back into the cup.
Fry.
Fry 2-3 corn dogs at a time until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Flip if necessary to get even browning.
Serve.
To serve, dip in ketchup, mustard – or your favorite condiments!

Recipe Notes

You can also make these corn dogs ahead and freeze them. Place them on a baking sheet in a single layer in the freezer until completely frozen, then transfer them to an air-tight freezer-safe container or a zip-top bag. Freeze for up to two months.

How to reheat from FROZEN

MICROWAVE – Heat on HIGH for 55-60 seconds or until heated through.
OVEN – Put the corn dogs on a baking sheet in a preheated 400°F oven for about 20 minutes, or until heated through.
AIR FRYER – Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Cook corn dogs for 10-12 minutes or until heated through.

How to reheat from THAWED

MICROWAVE – Heat on HIGH for 30-35 seconds or until heated through.
OVEN – Put the corn dogs on a baking sheet in a preheated 400°F oven for about 10 minutes, or until heated through.
AIR FRYER – Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Cook corn dogs for 3-5 minutes or until heated through.

Corn Dogs: FAQ

If you run into any problems or if you would like some suggestions, be sure to read this section before leaving a comment.

Can corn dogs be made ahead and frozen?

You can also make these corn dogs ahead and freeze them. After preparing them according to the recipe directions, Allow them to cool completely. Place them on a baking sheet in a single layer in the freezer until completely frozen, then transfer them to an air-tight freezer-safe container or a zip-top bag. Freeze for up to two months.

Best way to reheat from FROZEN

MICROWAVE – Heat on HIGH for 55-60 seconds or until heated through.
OVEN – Put the corn dogs on a baking sheet in a preheated 400°F oven for about 20 minutes, or until heated through.
AIR FRYER – Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Cook corn dogs for 10-12 minutes or until heated through.

Best way to reheat from THAWED

MICROWAVE – Heat on HIGH for 30-35 seconds or until heated through.
OVEN – Put the corn dogs on a baking sheet in a preheated 400°F oven for about 10 minutes, or until heated through.
AIR FRYER – Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Cook corn dogs for 3-5 minutes or until heated through.

How long does corn dog batter last in the fridge?

A batter with baking powder shouldn't be kept for more than 24 hours. Any longer than that, the baking powder will lose its leavening power.

However, you can combine the dry mix for longer storage – just don't mix in the wet ingredients until you are ready to make the recipe.

How did you like this recipe

If you gave this recipe a try, I would love to hear your feedback. Please drop a comment down below letting me know how it went with your family and friends! If you run into any problems, let me know that too so I can help!

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dipping the hot dog into the cornmeal batter

skewered hot dog coated in cornmeal batter

Ingredients

1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1 cup milk
1 qt. oil for frying
16 oz. pkg. hot dogs
flour for dusting
wooden skewers

Instructions

In a medium bowl combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir in eggs and milk.
Preheat oil in a fryer or deep saucepan until it reaches 375°F. Insert wooden skewers into one end of the hot dog, leaving enough of the skewer to hold onto.
Place about 1/4 cup of flour in a pie plate or zip-top bag and roll the hot dogs in flour to coat. Shake off excess flour. Put the cornmeal mixture in a tall glass and dip the hot dogs into the batter, coating well. Let excess batter drip back into the cup.
Fry 2-3 corn dogs at a time until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Flip if necessary to get even browning.
To serve, dip in ketchup, mustard - or your favorite condiments!

Notes

You can also make these corn dogs ahead and freeze them. Place them on a baking sheet in a single layer until completely frozen then transfer them to an air-tight freezer-safe container or a zip-top bag. Freeze for up to two months.

To reheat from FROZEN

MICROWAVE - Heat on HIGH for 55-60 seconds or until heated through.

OVEN - Put the corn dogs on a baking sheet in a preheated 400°F oven for about 20 minutes, or until heated through.

AIR FRYER - Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Cook corn dogs for 10-12 minutes or until heated through.

To reheat from THAWED

MICROWAVE - Heat on HIGH for 30-35 seconds or until heated through.

OVEN - Put the corn dogs on a baking sheet in a preheated 400°F oven for about 10 minutes, or until heated through.

AIR FRYER - Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Cook corn dogs for 3-5 minutes or until heated through.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1 corn dog
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 417 Total Fat: 20g Saturated Fat: 7g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 10g Cholesterol: 59mg Sodium: 824mg Carbohydrates: 46g Fiber: 2g Sugar: 7g Protein: 13g

Please note that the nutritional information listed on this page is an estimation based on the products I used. Ingredients and nutritional information can vary greatly between brands. Always be sure to read labels.

Originally published on May 9, 2012. Updated on February 6, 2021.

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