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Vegan Corn Dog Recipes: Plant-Based Comfort Food

vegan corn dogs recipe
Photo:CC0 Public Domain / Unsplash - Blake Guidry

Corn dogs are an American classic. Chances are you grew up eating them at carnivals, state fairs, amusement parks, or even as an after-school snack. You don’t need to give up this nostalgic treat just because you’ve switched to a plant-based diet. We’ll show you two vegan corn dog recipes you can make at home! 

There’s no doubt about it, Americans love their fried food. Go to any state fair and you will find more fried food than you ever knew existed, which happens to be exactly where the corn dog became the popular snack it is today. In the North, the invention of the corn dog is often credited to George Boyington, who called it the “Pronto Pup”. In the South however, it’s often credited to the Fletcher brothers in Texas, with the creation of the Corny Dog. Although the actual origins of corn dogs are still hotly debated, one thing is for certain: they are quintessentially American. 

Why not enjoy a plant-based twist on the American classic? Let’s take a look at two vegan corn dog recipes you can easily make yourself.

Fried Vegan Corn Dog Recipe

vegan corn dog recipe
Frying is the way corn dogs are meant to be enjoyed (Photo: CC0 Public Domain / Pixabay - ivabalk)

You’ll need:

  • Wooden skewers
  • Vegan hot dogs 
  • ½ cup cornmeal
  • ½ cup flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ¾ tsp salt
  • 1 cup vegan buttermilk (1 cup plant-based milk + 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar)
  • Vegan egg substitute (1 tbsp flaxseed + 3 tbsp water)
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 qt canola oil for frying

Instructions:

  1. Remove hotdogs from packaging and pat them dry. Then carefully skewer them and set aside.
  2. Make your vegan buttermilk and vegan egg replacement by whisking together the ingredients in small bowls and letting them set for a few minutes. 
  3. In a medium bowl, mix the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and salt.
  4. Add the vegetable oil, vegan buttermilk & vegan egg substitute together with the dry ingredients and whisk to combine. 
  5. Heat the oil in a deep skillet until it reaches 350°F. 
  6. Pour the batter into a tall cup and dip the hot dog in, making sure to cover the whole hotdog in plenty of batter.
  7. Place the corndog into the hot oil, and fry for 2-3 minute per side. 
  8. Remove from the oil once it’s golden brown all over, and place on a rack to drain off the excess oil. 
  9. Repeat with the other corndogs — there’s enough batter for approximately 6 corndogs. 

Recipe for Baked Vegan Corn Dogs

vegan corn dog recipe
You don’t need to fry corn dogs in order to enjoy them – you can bake them in the oven too!
(Photo: CC0 Public Domain / Pexels - cottonbro)

Ingredients

  • 6 vegan hot dogs 
  • ⅔ cup cornmeal 
  • ⅓ cup flour 
  • 1 tsp baking powder 
  • ½ tsp salt 
  • 1 tbsp sugar 
  • spice mix (¼ tsp each of paprika, dry mustard, garlic powder, onion powder & black pepper) 
  • 1 tsp. vegan egg replacer 
  • ⅔ cup plant-based milk 

Instructions

  1. Mix the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, spice mix, vegan egg substitute, and ⅓ cup non dairy milk together in a bowl.
  2. Add additional non-dairy milk until the batter is thick.
  3. Dip your vegan hot dogs in the batter and roll them around to ensure they are coated well. 
  4. Add them to a lined cookie sheet and cook them in the oven at 450F for approximately 15 minutes (to save on waste, try using a parchment paper alternative).
  5. Once the corn dogs are golden brown and crispy, remove them from the oven and allow to cool slightly before serving. 

Corn Dog Tips & Tricks

Depending on the part of the country you’re from, you might have certain thoughts about which condiments you deem appropriate to put on your corn dog. In Texas, for example, many people consider it a cardinal sin to put ketchup on a corn dog; only mustard is appropriate. It’s also common for corn dog vendors to bring only mustard with them because the sugar in ketchup attracts wasps. When making them at home, feel free to use whichever type of condiment you like (check out our tips for keeping wasps away if your ketchup is creating a problem). A vegan-honey mustard sauce makes a nice addition, as do condiments like plant-based aioli.

If you want to make a big batch of vegan corn dogs at home, you can also freeze them for later. Once you’ve fried them, let them cool down to room temperature and then pop them into a airtight container and place them in the freezer. They’ll keep for approximately 2 months!

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