Easy homemade corn dog batter recipe swirled with peach habanero jam brings this childhood favorite into the grown-up realm. Sweet, hot, and spicy it is a culinary roller coaster of flavors.
“It never occurred to me you could make corn dogs at home! Throw some peach habanero jam into the batter – and you have a very grown up taste sensation. Who knew?” Joyce Pinson, Friends Drift Inn
Corn Dog Recipe At-A- Glance
Prep Time – 10 minutes Cook Time – 25 minutes Total Time -35 minutes
Yield 12
Ingredients Peach Habanero Jam – Buttermilk – Egg – Cornmeal – Flour – Baking Powder – Baking Soda – Salt – White Pepper – Hot Dogs – Oil for Fryer
Equipment Fryer – Tray – Sticks to skew, Tongs
Homemade Corn Dogs – Be Still My Heart!
Can you really count corn dogs as a hot dog recipe? I am going with “Yes.” Giggles
Growing up on a farm, we always looked forward to the Kentucky State Fair. There were 4-H exhibits, live demonstrations and musical performances, plus a midway full of carnival rides. But my favorite, was the festival foods.
A corn dog with mustard sure hit the spot on a warm August evening!
Hot dogs were not something momma served often; so, a corn dog was a special treat. I loved the crispness of the sweet cornbread coating that gave way to a fluffy crumble of bread followed by the “snap” as you took a big bite of wiener.
It never occurred to me in all these years, that you could make corn dogs at home! What have I been missing?
Stirring Up Corn Dog Batter – So Simple!
Coating hot dog with flour before adding corn dog batter
The trick to making the batter stick to the hot dog is rolling the meat in a little flour. This gives the batter something to cling to.
We lost a little coating on the first corn dog we fried. That made us skeptical. But we learned to put the dog in the fryer flat, not vertical.
We cannot always find organic hot dogs here in the mountains. We hope you can.
Shop for wieners labeled “uncured” or “no added nitrates.” Nitrates can extend shelf-life for meat products, but do not do you the same favor.
I like hot dogs with “snap.” Snap is from natural casings that hold the ground product together. Look for hot dogs that use natural casings.
Quality beef dogs will also be labelled “hormone free.” According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council hormones are illegal to be fed to chickens, turkeys and pigs.
If you are thinking of substituting a turkey or chicken dog for beef or pork hot dog be sure you check the sodium levels. You will be surprised how much more sodium they contain.
Peach Habanero Jam in Homemade Corn Dog Batter?
Spooning corn dog batter over floured hot dog before frying.
Well yeah! Why not!
Sweet and spicy peach habanero jam adds an unexpected component to corn dog batter. It certainly magnifies the already simmering romance between peaches and pork or beef.
Appalachian foodways troubadour Ronni Lundy takes a hardline stance on cornbread.
No flour. No sweetening.
I respect that, even though I grew up with a little sugar in the cornbread.
Chef Sean Brock shared a recipe making corn bread with no flour or sugar in several interviews. His take produced a cornbread where corn was the reason for the party. We celebrate that!
When serving soup beans and cornbread I want savory – corn meal and no sugar or flour!
But this corm meal batter is technically not cornbread – it is corn dog coating. Right?
Work with me here!
Stirring in More Flavor – And a Few Surprises
Stirring in a few tablespoons of habanero jam into cornbread batter is not like breaking the law.
Can we just have fun?
Friends Drift Inn Farm Habanero Peppers
Habaneros are what farmers call a “long-season” pepper crop. It takes about eight weeks to get them from seed to transplant status. It takes 120 days (another 17 weeks) for the fruit to bear. That translates into almost six months!
We sometimes are forced to purchase habanero peppers to keep up with our jam orders.
Here in Appalachia, Habaneros are retailing for $6.99 a pound.
To keep your costs down, and to manage quality assurance, we started growing our own habanero peppers at Friends Drift Inn Farm. Time will tell if this is a smart decision, but we are working on it!
Y’all I am not a Pepper Head. I like a little spicy heat, but not enough to blow out my palate.
We think Friends Drift Inn Peach Habanero Jam makes a great hot dog topping. It is warm. It is spicy. We think the heat is balanced with jam sweetness which makes this corn dog recipe truly unique.
Explaining the flavor of Habaneros, Martinez says:
Habaneros grow best in really hot climates like the Yucatán where they’re stewed, fried, pickled and fermented, or eaten raw. They’re sweet and floral, and without sounding too wine snobbish about it, they have apricot, pear, and apple flavors.
Habaneros are hotter than jalapenos, but not as hot as a ghost pepper or a Carolina Reaper. Balanced with sweet peaches, you are going to love our Peach Habanero Jam.
Peaches, habanero peppers, cornbread, and a hot dog on a stick – what is not to love?
True Pepper Heads say there is a euphoria that comes from eating hot peppers. I don’t know if that is true, but that little bit of sweet, spicy, and hot homemade corn dog makes me smile every time.
Can I Freeze Corn Dogs for Later?
Yes. Let cool after frying so they are not giving off steam. Suggest you wrap each one individually (I used waxed paper) then put all together in a freezer bag. Should keep for several weeks.
These do have considerable moisture. For best results when reheating, warm in the oven not the microwave.
Follow manufacturer’s directions to fill fryer with oil. Heat to 365; medium high.
Line a baking tray with parchment paper, set aside.
In medium bowl, whisk together jam, buttermilk, and eggs.
Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl, whisk to evenly distribute the leavening agents.
Make a well in the dry ingredients, and gently fold in the wet ingredients. Work only enough to moisten and walk away.
Let the leavening agents work for a few minutes.
Put hot dogs on skewers. Make sure they are straight to avoid losing batter.
Dredge hot dogs through the ¼ cup of flour to coat evenly.
Dip hot dogs in batter. Use a large spoon to make sure all surface area is covered.
Lay the battered corn dogs flat onto the surface of the fryer oil. (Make sure to lay the corn dogs away from you to avoid splatter burns)
Do not cook more than two at a time or the grease will lose temperature.
Cook until golden brown – about 4 minutes. Recipe Process Photo- Using tongs to move corn dogs to cooling tray
Carefully remove corn dogs from fryer with tongs. Place on lined tray to drain and cool.
Serving Suggestions
With the popularity of hot dog bars, peach habanero corn dogs make for a fun spin on the traditional weiner. Keep it casual and fun! Great for tailgating!
We like these with Bourbon Peach Sweet Tea. They are also good with lime-aide, or a strawberry margarita.
Notes
Do not eat these straight out of fryer. They are piping hot!
Anytime you are using a deep fryer make sure you exercise caution! Keep the kids out of the way.
Don’t cook barefooted or in thongs. Make sure your feet are protected!
These can be frozen and reheated in the oven.
The corn dog coating really has too much moisture to reheat in the microwave.
This recipe was formulated to work with Friends Drift Inn Peach Habanero Jam.
Keywords: homemade corn dog, corn dog batter, hot dog recipe, corn dog recipes, peach habanero jam, hot dog, corn dog,
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About Joyce Pinson
Joyce Friend Pinson is a farmer, jam maker, writer, entrepreneur, and advocate for building an Appalachian food economy. Joyce is certified as a Better Processor for specialty food manufacturing. Her background includes food writing, media, marketing, public relations and Agricultural Economics. An avid heirloom seed saver, she is co-founder of the Appalachian Heirloom Seed Swap established in 2012. She likes Kentucky bourbon and chefs with swagger. She is designated “The Crazy Aunt” an honor she relishes. Known for her pointy toed shoes, giggles, and big red hats, Joyce delivers a message of hope for Kentucky’s Coalfields. Through Friends Drift Inn, Joyce and her husband Charlie, are determined to set the stage for the next generation to grow a good life in Appalachia.
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Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that
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