Corn Dogs

Corn Dogs are a variety of sausage, usually hot dogs, coated in a corn batter and fried. A wooden stick is stuck into one end of the hot dog before the frying process.

Fast Facts

1. Invented: Between 1938 and 1942
2. Both Louisiana and Texas state fairs claim origination of the corn dog
3. In Japan, called American Dogs
4. 1946: First Hot Dog on a Stick™
5. First Saturday of March Madness: National Corn Dog Day
6. Some variations come with cheese cooked inside the batter

Corn Dogs in American Culture

Corn Dogs were first served at American state fairs and are a uniquely American carnival food, though variations are occasionally eaten in Canada. The California-based Hot Dog on a Stick chain was founded in 1946, and serves primarily corn dogs and lemonade. In recent years, National Corn Dog Day has been more widely celebrated on the first Saturday of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.

Recipes and Variations

Corn dog batter is made of a base of cornmeal and flour. The mix is supplemented with baking soda or powder, milk and eggs. It is important that the hot dog be fully cooked, as the frying process is only to brown the breaded mixture. Cornbrats, or corn dogs using bratwursts, are also common. Corn dogs can be made using almost any sausage.

Categories