These Mini Corn Dogs are super easy and fun to make! A delicious little treat on a stick, these are guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser no matter the occasion!
Mini Corn Dogs
Some of my favorite memories in life involve corn dogs, how is that you may ask? Well think of being a kid at the fair or cheering in the stands at the game, holding one of these puppies in your hand just seemed to make it all the more memorable! If you’d like to feel all that nostalgia at home, then my super easy and wickedly fun Mini Corn Dog recipe is for you!
A Mini History Of Corn Dogs
This little delicacy was supposedly first invented at the Minnesota State Fair in 1941. Since then it has been enjoyed by generations of North Americans at games, fairs, and drive thrus alike. Even the city I live in now pumps them out once a year in the craziest combinations, at the Calgary Stampede.
I for one, can probably count on one hand the number of times I’ve actually had a corn dog in my life. I do remember buying the prepackaged ones a long time ago and although I hate to admit it, I did love them. But a fresh corn dog is always better, especially a mini one!
Ingredients In Mini Corn Dogs
Detailed measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Corn dogs
- Hot dogs – Cut in half, feel free to use any hot dog you’d like. You can even make this dish vegetarian with a little faux dog!
- Sticks – Lollipop sticks, we need something that can handle being so close to hot oil. Wooden skewers will also work if that’s what you have on hand.
- Vegetable oil – We’re looking for something neutral tasting that holds up well to high heat, such as Canola oil.
Batter
- Dry ingredients – Cornmeal, all purpose flour, baking powder, sugar. You can use gluten free flour and cornmeal as long as you use 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum to bind.
- Wet ingredients – Milk, feel free to use any kind of milk you’d like.
- Seasoning – Salt and pepper.
How To Make Mini Corn Dogs
Detailed measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Prepare the oil: In a large Dutch oven, pour the vegetable oil to a depth of 4 inches. Heat the oil to 350 F degrees.
- Get the hot dogs ready: Stick each half hot dog onto the lollipop sticks. You can use wooden skewers as well.
- Prepare the corn dogs: In a bowl, combine all the batter ingredients and whisk. I found it easier to pour the batter in a long glass. Dip each hot dog into the cornmeal batter to completely cover the hot dog.
- Finish the corn dogs: Carefully place the hot dogs into the hot oil. Fry until golden brown, about 2 or 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels. I fried about 2 or 3 at a time. Repeat with remaining hot dogs and batter. Serve with ketchup and mustard.
What Else Can I Put In My Corn Dogs?
The fun doesn’t end here! Since these little Corn Dogs are so easy to make, why not play around with them some more? Try some of these fun twists:
- Chop up some jalapeños right in the batter for a spicy kick!
- Wrap your little hot dog in some American Cheese before dipping it in the batter and frying.
- Add some curry powder to your batter and garam masala to your ketchup for a curry kick!
- Get creative with your hot dog base, feel free to substitute your favorite sausage or smokey in its place.
- The Calgary Stampede features a hot dog stuffed in a hollowed out pickle dipped in batter and fried, this is a delicious treat that I encourage you to try!
Can I Bake My Mini Corn Dogs?
While I do recommend frying these treats for the absolute best results, you can also make them in the oven.
Preheat your oven to 375 F degrees and batter your hot dogs as usual. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes before removing from the oven. Spoon the batter that has collected on the parchment paper back onto the dogs and place back in the oven. Bake until golden for about 20 minutes.
Can I Make This Recipe Ahead?
This recipe is best enjoyed fresh so I do recommend enjoying them right away, but if you’re in a time crunch or have leftovers, they also store just fine.
Fridge
These mini corn dogs can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for 2 – 3 days. You may find they get a bit soggy so I don’t recommend storing them for much longer than that. Just zap in the microwave when ready to enjoy.
Freezer
You can freeze these treats! Just freeze them individually on a baking sheet till frozen through, around 2 hours, then store in an airtight container for up to 1 month. Pop them in the oven at 350 F degrees till heated through when ready to eat, please don’t put them in a fryer to reheat as it is not safe and could cause the oil to spit back violently.
Craving More Game Day Snacks? Try These Delicious Recipes:
- Bacon Corn Dip
- Banana Fritters
- Antojitos
- Crispy Baked Parmesan Wings
- Sweet Chicken Bacon Bites
- Crockpot Sweet And Tangy Asian Meatballs
- Loaded Pub Fries
- Cheesy Guacamole
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Mini Corn Dogs
Ingredients
- 6 hot dogs cut in half
- 12 lollipop sticks
- vegetable oil for frying
For batter
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornmeal
- 2 tablespoon sugar
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper or to taste
Instructions
- In a large Dutch oven, pour the vegetable oil to a depth of 4 inches. Heat the oil to 350 degrees F.
- Stick each half hot dog onto the lollipop sticks. You can use wooden skewers as well.
- In a bowl, combine all the batter ingredients and whisk.
- I found it easier to pour the batter in a long glass. Dip each hot dog into the cornmeal batter to completely cover the hot dog. Carefully place the hot dogs into the hot oil. Fry until golden brown, about 2 or 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels. I fried about 2 or 3 at a time. Repeat with remaining hot dogs and batter.
- Serve with ketchup and/or mustard.
I made those tonight for dinner and they were pretty good, the question I have is: After lowering the corndogs into the oil some of the batters start to flare up and it was hard to turn them to get the other side brown, what did I do wrong?
You didn’t do anything wrong, they’re probably just floating to the top, use a pair of tongs to hold them on the other side so they properly fry.
Is it possible to use an air fryer?
Not for this recipe as the batter is too liquidy!
Can these be made without cornmeal?Christ
They are corn dogs, so it wouldn’t quite be the same. We’ve never done this recipe without the cornmeal but you are free to give it a try.
Can corn dogs be frozen for later use?
Yes, absolutely. I would probably wrap each one individually in plastic wrap and they would probably last for up to 1 month in the freezer.
This recipe is making me drool all over my computer screen! Yummmmm! Thank you so much for sharing this awesome recipe! Pinning it to my Yummy Recipes Board! 😀
Also I want to tell you that your food photography is Stunning!!!
Thank you for the compliment, means a lot to me!