Carnival Corn Dogs

We love love love going to carnivals, festivals and fairs, and you probably already guessed that it’s in large part because of the foods we can only get there! Felix and I are huge Disneyland fans, and one of our favorite things to eat there is the classic corn dog. If you’ve ever had the Disneyland corn dogs, you know that they are big, crispy and crazy good. This is our version, created because our summer plans can’t include a trip to see Mickey and friends this year. Oh well, we can always dream and make some tasty eats to keep us smiling and happy until we’re able to go again.

Making the corn dogs

Here are some tips for making these quickly and without much of a mess: We found that using a tall glass filled with the wet batter to dunk the hot dogs into is the best way to get complete and even coverage – and don’t skip the dusting of corn starch first! This helps the batter adhere and not slip off the dog. The amount of oil we recommend may seem like a lot, but you really need a fairly deep well of oil for the corn dogs to fry evenly. You can strain the oil and let it cool, to be used for frying again (it will take on some of the flavor of the batter, so use it for similar foods like French fries, etc.). Also note that the oil needs to be at 350° in order to cook the batter on contact, so use a deep fat fryer or heavy pot with a fryer thermometer. Or simply drop a spoonful of batter into the hot oil and see if it immediately bubbles and cooks to a golden brown in a few minutes without scorching. (You may need to adjust the heat during cooking once or twice if the oil cools a bit or starts to get too hot.)

The great thing is that these cook in about 3 minutes, so just have everything ready to go next to the hot oil and drop them in a few at a time. Avoid overcrowding the pot, as they need a bit of room between each one to keep them from sticking together. Have fun with this recipe, and may you be whisked away to the happiest place on earth as you enjoy them!