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Corn Dog Muffin Bites take this classic American food and make it even more fun!
One of the original meals-on-a-stick, corn dogs are something I associate with childhood, mall shopping, and summertime. I have a lot of nostalgia surrounding corn dogs, but they’re one of the foods I was hesitant to introduce to my own kids.
Putting a big pot of sizzling oil on the stove to deep fry hot dogs in batter while I have little ones running around the kitchen was enough to make me dare not try a homemade version. I don’t exactly love deep-frying anything, but I do love sharing my childhood favorites with my kids.
Spooning the cornbread batter into mini muffin cups, adding a slice of hot dog, and baking them is a great way to share the nostalgia with your kid! Make your own basic cornbread batter as I do in the recipe below or use your favorite mix.
Any hot dogs or sausage will work here, so choose your own adventure! You can easily find healthier hot dogs in any grocery these days, even vegetarian options. Serve with an array of dips to add to the fun of this childhood classic!
Corn Dog Muffin Bites are a fun change of pace for school lunch or even a quick dinner! Tag me @weelicious on social media so I can see your kiddos enjoying this recipe.
Corn Dog Muffin Bites
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups cornmeal
- 3/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 3 veggie hot dogs, c ut into 1/2-inch coins (you can also use turkey or beef)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425F degrees.
- Mix the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the honey, buttermilk, eggs and oil.
- Pour the dry cornmeal mixture into the wet ingredients and thoroughly combine with a whisk.*
- Grease muffin cups with cooking spray, softened butter or oil on a paper towel and then pour one tablespoon batter into greased mini muffin cups. I use two 24-cup mini muffins pans!
- Lay hot dog slices cut-side down in the center of each batter-filled muffin cup.
- Top with an additional tablespoon of batter.
- Bake until starting to turn golden, about 14 minutes.
- Add popsicle sticks after baked and serve.
Notes
- * Boxed cornbread mix also works great in this recipe. Follow the directions of the boxed mix, prepare enough batter to yield at least 40 mini muffins and skip to step 5 to continue making the bites.
I’ve frozen these before, in mini- or regular-size versions. I also cut the hot dogs into smaller pieces for smaller kids to avoid the choking hazard, plus then every bite has hot dog in it!
Yay! Hello lunch!
They contain high fructose corn syrup
If you would like to use a regular (or beef) hot dog without the nitrates, Oscar Mayer makes a nitrate-free hotdog that you can find in almost any store. I think they are labeled “Premium Selects”. They taste just like a regular hot dog!
Great recipe!
Nope! Put them in as is. They will warm in the oven, and hot dogs are pre-cooked so that makes it even easier!
Do you “cook” the hotdogs first?
Since it makes so many, do you think these would freeze well? I’ve had good luck freezing plain cornbread in the past.
This is brilliant! Can’t wait to try it.
Oscar Meyer makes a turkey hotdog nitrate free that I pick up at Safeway.
Applegate Farms makes hot dogs that are nitrate/nitrite free, too.
I get veggie dogs from Trader Joe’s!
I buy Garrett Valley Natural Turkey Hotdogs. They are Nitrate free. I buy mine at my farmers market, but I am sure you can find Nitrate Free hotdogs at Whole foods (specialty grocers), or maybe the Natural Foods section of the grocery store?
I am not a huge fan of hot dogs for kids because they contain nitrates. Do you recommend a brand of veggie hot dogs? I’ve never tried them before.
Everything is better with whole wheat flour!!!
These are a great idea. Can whole wheat flour or wheat pastry flou be substituted for the white flour? Or will that effect the consistency?
Awesome! These are for dinner tonight!!! Kids are going to love eating these on their picnic table.