Corn dogs are a classic fair food. Unfortunately, they are neither kosher nor dairy free. However, these corn dogs are not only easy to make, but are perfect whether you keep kosher or are dairy free.

The first time I had a corn dog was the same day I saw Barnum and Bailey, and as it turned out, it was also the last time I’d get to see them.
It was five or so years before the circus closed and I had seen a poster on the train (subway to those not from New York).
That year the show was to take place at Coney Island instead of Madison Square Garden.
I never went to the circus before because I didn’t know when it was in, and knowing it was Madison Square Garden, I assumed it would be expensive.
However, seeing that it was at Coney Island made it seem in reach. So, to my excitement, I went with my friend.
On the way, my friend told me about a sandwich shop he used to love as a kid living in Brooklyn.
We had time before the show, so we went in search of it near Avenue J.
I’m not sure if we found that same shop, or another one, but on the menu I saw corn dogs.
I just had to have one!
I had never eaten a corn dog before and it seemed perfect for the circus.
So, we bought two kosher corn dogs and drove to Coney Island, where we ate them while walking down the boardwalk.
Years later, my mother decided to try to make corn dogs for the family. They were better than I had remembered the one I had that day.
Since then, these corn dogs have been one of my favorite fun foods.
They are right up there with Southern fried chicken wings and Buffalo wings.
Equipment
wooden skewers
a pot, preferably an asparagus pot
tall or 8 ounce cup
HOW TO MEASURE FLOUR AND OTHER DRY INGREDIENTS
Using a dry measuring cup, scoop ingredients from the bag or spoon them into the cup.
Next, level off the ingredient by removing the excess with an upside-down butter knife.
The one exception to this is brown sugar. Brown sugar should be packed down, and then any excess should be scraped off as well.
DRY VS LIQUID MEASURING CUP
Ever wonder why measuring spoons often come with a set of measuring cups? I used to. I didn’t see why we need a set when we could have one large measuring cup.
After a quick search, I had my answer. I discovered that the large measuring cup is used for liquids, whereas the set is used for dry ingredients.
As it turns out, if you try to measure dry ingredients with a liquid cup, the measurements get messed up.
First, you pour the flour or cocoa in, next you shake it around to get it level, and then you add more.
By shaking it, you are causing the powder to settle, and when you add more, you end up using more than called for.
WHY SIFT FLOUR and Other Powder Ingredients
There are a number of benefits to sifting flour and other ingredients like cocoa:
It removes any unwanted debris and you can get a more accurate measurement than when packed tightly in a bag.
It also removes any lumps that can get into the batter and be hard to break up later, or be missed altogether before baking.
If you sift the powdered ingredients together, it helps combine them and mix more evenly with other dry ingredients like sugar.
Understanding Sugar
Sugar may seem very basic if you’ve baked before, but I’ve been asked about it in the past – so I’ll explain.
There are many different types of sugar, including white sugar, brown sugar, vanilla sugar, powdered sugar, turbinado sugar, and demerara sugar.
When a recipe (any recipe, not just mine) says “sugar” without specifying anything else, it is regular white sugar.
White Sugar
White sugar (sometimes called granulated sugar, table sugar, or white granulated sugar) is made of either beet sugar or cane sugar, which has undergone a refining process.
It is the easiest to find and most commonly used.
Brown Sugar
Brown sugar is white sugar with molasses added to it.
It is commonly used in chocolate chip cookie recipes, and it’s rare for a recipe that calls for brown sugar not to also call for white sugar as well.
When a recipe calls for “brown sugar” but doesn’t specify what type (light or dark), it is referring to light brown sugar.
In my recipes, you can use whatever type of brown sugar you have on hand, whether it is dark brown sugar, light brown sugar, or demerara sugar – which is very common in Israel.
Just keep in mind that the flavor and color will be slightly different, depending on what you choose to use.
Turbinado Sugar
Turbinado sugar is better known as “raw sugar”. But, despite this name, the sugar is not really “raw.”
Instead, it’s partially refined sugar that retains some of the original molasses.
The term “raw sugar” may also give off the impression that it is somehow healthier.
In reality, turbinado sugar is nutritionally similar to white sugar.
Demerara Sugar
Demerara sugar is very popular in Israel and is especially delicious in tea, but is also used for baking.
Unlike white sugar, demerara sugar undergoes minimal processing and retains some vitamins and mineral.
However, it is still not much healthier than white sugar.
Vanilla Sugar
Vanilla sugar is not very common in the States. However, it is common in Israel and parts of Europe.
This is sugar that sat for an extended period of time with vanilla beans, giving it a vanilla flavor.
Caster Sugar
This type of sugar is common in the United Kingdom.
It has a grain finer than white (granulated) sugar and larger than powdered sugar.
Caster sugar is often called for in recipes for delicate baked goods like meringues, souffles, and sponge cakes.
You can use a 1:1 conversion rate between caster sugar and white (granulated) sugar.
Powdered sugar
Powdered sugar, sometimes known as confectioners’ sugar, is a sugar with a powdered texture.
This sugar is rarely, if ever, used for baking. Instead, it is used for dusting desserts and making frosting and icings.
In some countries, you can also find powdered vanilla sugar.
It is made the exact same way regular vanilla sugar is made. However, the sugar used is powdered instead of granulated.
Vanilla Extract vs Vanilla sugar
In my recipes, I don’t specify what kind of vanilla to use.
The reason for this is that in the States, vanilla extract is exclusively used.
Meanwhile in Israel, along with many European countries, vanilla sugar is common.
In most, if not all recipes, both vanilla extract and vanilla sugar can be used.
In recipes where vanilla sugar can be used instead of extract, you can replace them 1:1.
Replacing Sugar with Honey
If you’d prefer to use honey instead of sugar, you can do so with pretty good results.
Honey can be two or even three times as sweet depending on the honey, so for every 1 cup of sugar, you can use 1/2 to 2/3 cup honey.
Since honey adds liquid, you need to remove some to balance it out. For every cup of honey, remove a 1/4 cup of liquid.
Also, it burns faster than granulated sugar, so you want to lower the baking temperature by 25 F or 14 C. In addition, check it early and often to avoid burning or overbaking.
BAKING POWDER VS BAKING SODA
I’ve had a number of comments asking me questions about baking soda and baking powder.
I’ve also noticed that if the wrong one is used, things don’t come out as they should.
Using baking soda instead of baking powder can give your recipe a terrible metallic taste, while using baking powder instead of baking soda leaves your baked goods looking flat.
BAKING SODA
Baking soda is a leavening agent, which means it helps things rise.
It does this by creating carbon dioxide when it reacts to an acid, such as cream of tartar, lemon juice, yogurt, buttermilk, cocoa, and vinegar.
When the carbon dioxide is released, it causes the familiar texture and crumb in pancakes, cakes, quick breads, soda bread, and other baked and fried foods.
Baking soda works well with sourdough because sourdough is acidic. When combined, it makes a lighter product with a less acidic taste, since baking soda is alkaline.
A good rule of thumb is to use around 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda per 1 cup of flour.
BAKING POWDER
Baking powder is also a leavening agent and it’s a mixture of baking soda, cream of tartar, and sometimes cornstarch.
Most baking powder sold is double-acting. This means that the leavening occurs in two steps.
The first time it’s activated is when baking powder gets wet, which is why you cannot prepare some batters ahead of time to bake later.
The second time is when the baking powder is exposed to heat. This happens when the batter is being baked or fried.
Since baking powder already contains an acid, it’s most often used when a recipe does not call for an additional acidic ingredient or too little of one.
A good rule of thumb is to use around 1 teaspoon of baking powder per 1 cup of flour.
WHY SOME RECIPES CALL FOR BOTH
Some recipes call for both baking powder and baking soda when the carbon dioxide created from the acid and baking soda is not enough to leaven the volume of batter in the recipe.
Too much baking soda gives a terrible metallic taste, so baking powder is added to give it more lift.
WHICH ONE IS STRONGER?
You may have already guessed the answer since baking soda is used to make baking powder, and you need more baking powder per cup of flour. But I’ll tell you anyway.
Baking soda is four times stronger than baking powder.
That’s why you will more often than not see recipes that only call for baking soda rather than recipes that only call for baking powder.
HOW LONG DO THEY LAST?
BAKING SODA
Baking soda is good indefinitely past its best by date, although it can lose potency over time.
A rule of thumb is two years for an unopened package and six months for an opened package.
However, to be honest, I’ve used very old baking soda with good results.
BAKING POWDER
Like baking soda, baking powder is good indefinitely past its best by date, and can lose its potency over time.
For both opened and unopened, it’s ideal to use it within nine months to a year.
While storing it, make sure to keep it in a dry place and away from humidity.
HOW TO TEST IF IT’S STILL GOOD
BAKING POWDER
To test baking powder, pour 3 tablespoons of warm water into a small bowl, add 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder, and stir.
If the baking powder is good to use, it should fizz a little.
BAKING SODA
To test baking soda, pour 3 tablespoons of white distilled vinegar into a small bowl, add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, and stir.
The mixture should rapidly bubble if the soda is fresh.
Recipe Tip:
If you plan on making corn dogs often enough, it is worthwhile to invest in an asparagus pot. These pots are tall and narrow, allowing you to use less oil.
Kosher Corn Dog

These corn dogs are easy to make and delicious with just a touch of sweetness.
Ingredients
- 1 cup cornmeal (150 grams)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (120 grams)
- ¼ cup white sugar (50 grams)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 1 cup water
- 8 kosher hotdogs
- Oil for frying
Instructions
- Fill a(n ideally tall and narrow) pot up most of the way with oil. Heat.
- Whisk together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl. Then, add the egg and water and mix until a smooth batter forms.
- Pour batter into a tall cup. Fill about ¾ high.
- Lightly coat each hotdog with flour. Shake off the excess and put the hotdog on a skewer.
- Dip in the batter. Remove and let the excess drip off. Then, slowly put the hotdog in oil. Repeat with the next hotdog. Make sure not to crowd the pot.
- Remove each hotdog when it becomes golden brown.
Notes
*If you are making this recipe because you are dairy free rather than because you keep kosher, still make sure to use kosher hotdogs. Some non-kosher hotdog companies add dairy to their hotdogs.
Recommended Products
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 300Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 51mgSodium: 679mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 2gSugar: 7gProtein: 9g
Marc
Wednesday 25th of January 2023
Being in South Africa corn dogs are not really seen, but the kids saw them in various media and asked for them. I used this recipe and they loved them! I didn't have a tall pot(and no shops here seen to have them) but found using a loafntin and laying them into it worked great.
ElissaBeth
Sunday 12th of February 2023
Oh I am so glad to hear that! Thanks for sharing :)
Chaya
Tuesday 21st of December 2021
Should the hotdogs be cooked before you put them in the batter or they will be cooked once coated?
ElissaBeth
Thursday 23rd of December 2021
They cook once they are coated
Lisa
Sunday 16th of May 2021
Can these be frozen?
ElissaBeth
Thursday 20th of May 2021
Yes, and then just bake them to reheat
Sivi
Sunday 6th of September 2020
Wow thank you for a great recipe! The corndogs came out PERFECT. Never thought making corndogs could be so easy, especially ones that are dairy-free.
ElissaBeth
Tuesday 8th of September 2020
You're welcome! I'm really glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe so much, it's definitely one of my favorites :)