The Batter Swap That Transforms Corn Dogs Into The Ultimate Comfort Meal

Corn dogs don't have to just be a state fair treat, they're surprisingly easy to make at home. While we've recommended some alternate batter options in the past, like this Korean twist to amp up the flavor, the best way to transform corn dogs into cozy comfort food is by frying them in hushpuppy batter.

Swapping out that familiar smooth coating for hushpuppy batter makes corn dogs heartier, craggier, and more Southern. You get a golden fritter crust flecked with onions around a soft, rich cornmeal interior and a perfectly juicy dog.

As you'd expect, the cornmeal itself is the key. You'll want to balance about two parts cornmeal to one part all-purpose flour, then add egg, buttermilk (or regular milk if you don't have buttermilk in the fridge), salt, baking powder, and some finely grated onion. One important tip that we've covered before is to ensure that your hot dogs are patted dry when you apply the batter or it won't adhere as well.

A handy tip for applying the batter is to first pour it into a Mason jar. Then just skewer the dogs and dip, coating them in a single plunge. You also need to bear in mind that hushpuppy batter will change the cooking process a bit.

First, you'll want to ensure there are no bare spots, and then chill the dogs briefly so that the batter has time to set before you fry. For mini dogs, roll each piece in the batter and let the excess fall away, then chill until the coating starts to feel tacky.

A thicker coating means you'll want to hit all sides evenly, so fry in a deep, heavy pot rather than a shallow layer of oil. Try to keep your oil around the 350 degrees Fahrenheit mark. You want to stay at the lower end of the standard deep frying temp range to give the thicker cornmeal crust time to crisp up while ensuring you're getting heat all the way through the interior and the dog itself. Fry until you get a deep, golden brown color, turning as needed, and then set the dogs on a rack to drain.

To mix things up, you can add some minced jalapeño, kernels of corn, or a pinch of cayenne or smoked paprika to the batter. Serve alongside some rich honey butter, a remoulade, or even some comeback sauce for a Southern comfort plate well-complemented by slaw or a side of fried okra.