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Home » Recipes » Snacks

Homemade Corn Dogs

Published: May 10, 2023 by Kate

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Cut open corn dog, plus a pile of corndogs on a plate, with text: Sonic Copycat Homemade Corn Dogs.
Plates of corn dogs, and ingredients on a table, with text: How to make homemade corn dogs.

Make the American classic right at home! In these homemade Corn Dogs, dogs are wrapped in delicious sweet cornmeal batter, then fried to crispy golden-brown perfection.

Close up of a cut open homemade corn dog.
Homemade Corn Dogs

Making homemade Corn Dogs is not as difficult as you might think!

With just a few simple ingredients, you can make delicious corndogs that are just as good as the ones you get from the fair or the ones you buy at Sonic Drive-In. Let us show you how!

Corn dogs are a classic American snack food that I'm sure you know and love. So why not make them from scratch at home?

This recipe is perfect for a backyard BBQ, a party, or even a quick and easy dinner for the family.

Plus, making your own corn dogs at home is a great way to control the ingredients and avoid any unwanted additives or preservatives that may be present in store-bought versions.

This particular corn dog recipe is our restaurant copycat of Sonic Drive-in! We love their 'dogs, but since there isn't one near me, we have to make our own.

We tweaked this recipe until we hit on just the right balance of ingredients to make it a great Sonic copycat.

Corn dogs are typically served with ketchup or mustard, but they can also be enjoyed with other dipping sauces, such as ranch dressing or honey mustard.

We love serving a big pile of homemade corn dogs with a selection of sauces, like Arby's Horsey Sauce (copycat), Chipotle Southwest Sauce (Subway copycat), Taco Bell Chipotle Sauce, or Bacon Aioli!

A delicious dog wrapped in sweet corn batter fried to a crispy golden-brown. Don't forget the ketchup or mustard!

Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • How to make
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Variations
  • Recipe Tips
  • More Game Day Recipes
  • Homemade Corn Dog Dipping Sauces
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Homemade corn dogs are healthier than store-bought corn dogs. They are made with fresh ingredients and there are no added preservatives.
  • They are fun to make from scratch!
  • You can customizable them with added seasonings or your favorite toppings, such as cheese, bacon, or chili.
  • There's no Sonic near me, so I like to make this copycat version of Sonic Corn Dogs! You can also try these other Copycat Sonic Recipes.
Ingredients on a table.

Ingredients

You only need simple pantry ingredients for this recipe!

  • Wooden skewers: These will be used to insert into the hot dogs, making them easier to dip into the batter and fry. I use 6.5-inch skewers.
  • Hot dogs: Use your favorite: regular, jumbo, chicken etc... If yours are long, you may need to cut them in half so they will fit in your pan, with the skewers.
  • Cornmeal: Cornmeal is a key ingredient in the batter that gives the corn dogs their signature flavor and texture. You'll need fine yellow cornmeal.
  • All-purpose flour: Flour is used to help bind the batter together and create a crispy exterior.
  • Sugar: A small amount of regular granulated white sugar adds that classic corndog sweetness.
  • Baking powder: It is used to help the batter rise and create a light and fluffy texture.
  • Salt is added to bring out the flavors.
  • Milk is used as the liquid component in the batter. You can swap it for buttermilk for a tangier taste.
  • Egg: The egg acts as a binder in the batter, helping to hold everything together.
  • Oil: Vegetable oil is added for moisture and flavor.
  • Oil, for frying: You'll need enough oil to fill a large deep pot to a depth of 3 inches. You can use any neutral-tasting oil, such as vegetable or canola oil.

See the recipe card for quantities and method.

How to make

Follow these step-by-step instructions, then scroll down for the full ingredients list and method.

Heat 3 inches of oil in a large deep pot to 350°F measured with a food thermometer.

Putting wooden skewers into hot dogs.

Dry each hot dog with paper towels (this will help the batter to stick). Insert a wooden skewer into each hot dog.
TIP: Make sure that the hot dog and skewer will fit into your pot. If necessary, you can cut each hot dog in half, or leave less of the skewer sticking out.

Making the corn dog batter.

In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, and oil.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk until just combined. Do not overmix.

Coating the corn dogs in batter.

Pour the corn dog batter into a tall glass (do this in batches).

Dip each hot dog down into the batter, then slowly pull it out while gently twirling the stick, making sure to coat it evenly. Re-dip if it’s not completely coated.

Pot of oil with corn dogs cooking.

Fry the corn dogs in batches for 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through.

Cooked corn dogs draining on a dish lined with paper towels.

Remove with tongs, drain on paper towels, and serve immediately.

Scroll down for the full ingredients list and method.

Serving Suggestions

Try these tasty Toppings for Corn Dogs.

Have a 'dog party and serve these corn dogs alongside some Air Fryer Hot Dogs and Crescent Roll Hot Dogs!

Serve your corn dogs with your favorite dipping sauce, such as ketchup, mustard, or ranch dressing.

You can also serve your corn dogs with a side of fries, onion rings, or a salad.

A plate of corn dogs, with mustard and ketchup drizzled on, with one cut open to show the hot dog inside.

Variations

If you're feeling adventurous, there are also many ways to customize this recipe. Here are a few variations you can try:

  • Cheese Corn Dogs: Add a slice of American cheese inside each of your hot dogs before you dip it into the batter for a cheesy twist.
  • Spicy Corn Dogs: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce to your batter for a spicy kick.
  • Korean Corn Dogs: On the skewer, use half a hot dog and a stick of mozzarella. They should be coated in a rice batter, or try them with the cornmeal batter below, and top them with some spicy gochujang sauce.

Recipe Tips

  • For a crispy batter, use cold milk and eggs.
  • To prevent the batter from falling off the hot dogs, make sure to pat them dry with paper towels, and coat them evenly in the batter.
  • If your hot dogs won't fit into the pot along with the skewers sticking out, you can cut your hot dogs in half and make lots of shorter ones.

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Homemade Corn Dog Dipping Sauces

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Be sure to subscribe to my free Newsletter and follow me on Facebook and Pinterest for more tasty recipes!

📖 Recipe

A plate of corn dogs with one cut open to show the hot dog inside.

Homemade Corn Dogs

Making homemade Corn Dogs is not as difficult as you might think! With just a few simple ingredients, you can make tasty corndogs in no time.
5 from 7 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: homemade corn dog
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
Servings: 12 corn dogs
Calories: 226kcal
Author: Kate | You Say Potatoes
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Equipment

  • wooden skewers approx 6 inches
  • Bowl
  • glass
  • large pot
  • food thermometer

Ingredients

  • 12 hot dogs
  • Wooden skewers
  • 1 cup fine yellow cornmeal
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons white sugar
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • Oil for frying

Instructions

  • Heat 3 inches of oil in a large deep pot to 350°F measured with a food thermometer.
  • Dry each hot dog with paper towels (this will help the batter to stick). Insert a wooden skewer into each hot dog.
  • TIP: Make sure that the hot dog and skewer will fit into your pot. If necessary, you can cut each hot dog in half, or leave less of the skewer sticking out.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, and oil.
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk until just combined. Do not overmix.
  • Pour the corn dog batter into a tall glass (do this in batches).
  • Dip each hot dog down into the batter, then slowly pull it out while gently twirling the stick, making sure to coat it evenly. Re-dip if it’s not completely coated.
  • Fry the corn dogs in batches for 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through.
  • Remove with tongs, drain on paper towels, and serve immediately.
Tried this recipe?Head down to the comments and give it a star rating!

Notes

  • For a crispy batter, use cold milk and eggs.
  • To prevent the batter from falling off the hot dogs, make sure to coat them evenly and press down on the batter after dipping them.
  • If you don't have a deep fryer, you can fry the corn dogs in a large skillet with enough oil to cover them halfway.
  • Serve the corn dogs with your favorite dipping sauce, such as ketchup, mustard, or ranch dressing.

Nutrition

Calories: 226kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 524mg | Potassium: 153mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 53IU | Vitamin C: 0.05mg | Calcium: 99mg | Iron: 2mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    5 from 7 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Ali

    May 10, 2023 at 3:16 pm

    5 stars
    Such a great idea! I normally never eat corn dogs because they are so processed, but making them at home makes them so much healthier! Great recipe for kids.

    Reply
  2. dina and bruce miller

    May 11, 2023 at 3:11 am

    5 stars
    My first job out of high school was at a mall that had a corn dog stand. Now we can make these at home. So excited!

    Reply
  3. Nerissa R

    May 15, 2023 at 2:26 pm

    5 stars
    Oh these corn dogs turned out perfect!

    Reply
  4. Sal

    May 20, 2023 at 2:28 pm

    5 stars
    I was trying to find a good corn dog recipe, finally found it. It turned out perfectly! I cut the hot dogs in half, like you suggested, so they fit in the pot and I could cook a few at once. Everyone loved it!

    Reply
  5. Vicky

    May 25, 2023 at 3:03 pm

    5 stars
    This has always been one of my kids favorite things when we are at a festival or theme park. I hesitated to make them at home because I imagined them to be a lot more work. but your recipe was actually super easy. My kids were thrilled with fresh hot corndogs! I have a deep fryer that I don't use very often, but it's perfect for this recipe!

    Reply
  6. Michelle

    June 01, 2023 at 2:48 am

    5 stars
    I saw this recipe on pinterest and at first I thought that i'd rather just buy some at Costco ha ha. But it looked fun and I had most of the ingredients so I got the kids to help me make them (the dipping, not the frying!). Love being able to make these at home for my kids. They're definitely a new family favorite.

    Reply

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Kate cooking.

Hi, I'm Kate! You Say Potatoes, I say, well, potatoes. I'm a cookbook author and journalist from the Pacific Northwest. Here you'll find easy, budget-friendly recipes made from scratch.

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