Name: Mini Corn Dogs
Yield: Makes 24
Ingredients: 1 quart vegetable oil, for frying; 24 toothpicks or cocktail sticks; 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal; 1/4 cup all-purpose flour; 1 tablespoon sugar; 1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper; 1 teaspoon chili powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon white pepper; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 1/8 teaspoon baking soda; 1/3 cup buttermilk; 1 egg; 1 tablespoon honey; 1 cup crumbled cooked bacon (about 9 strips); 24 cocktail wieners (such as Lit'l Smokies), or 6 hot dogs cut into 4 pieces each

Photo by Teri Lyn Fisher

These are no ordinary corn dogs. The fragrant buttermilk-cornmeal batter is laced with a hint of honey, spices, and delicious crumbles of bacon.

Cooks' Note

Serve trays of warm corn dogs with a side of ketchup, stone ground mustard, and hot sauce or a selection of your favorite condiments.

Recipe information

Yield
Makes 24

Ingredients

1 quart vegetable oil, for frying

24 toothpicks or cocktail sticks

Corn Dogs

1/2 cup yellow cornmeal

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon white pepper

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon baking soda

1/3 cup buttermilk

1 egg

1 tablespoon honey

1 cup crumbled cooked bacon (about 9 strips)

24 cocktail wieners (such as Lit'l Smokies), or 6 hot dogs cut into 4 pieces each

Preparation

Step 1
1. In a medium pot, preheat oil to 365°F.
Step 2
2. In a mixing bowl, stir together cornmeal, flour, sugar, cayenne pepper, chili powder, salt, white pepper, baking powder, and baking soda. {Tip: If you prefer a smoother batter, pulse the cornmeal and flour together in a food processor before stirring in the remaining dry ingredients.} Stir in buttermilk, egg, and honey and gently whisk until no lumps remain. Fold in bacon.
Step 3
3. Skewer 1 cocktail wiener on each toothpick. Working in small batches, dip and roll wieners in batter until fully coated and then quickly and carefully drop them, toothpick and all, into the hot oil. Fry for 3 to 4 minutes, until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.