Hush Puppies
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With a fluffy center and crisp, golden shell, these heavenly hush puppies are hard to resist. Serve them up with your favorite meal or enjoy them straight from the basket. Bet you can’t eat just one!
Hush puppies are a beloved Southern dish that pair perfectly with seafood recipes or BBQ. These crispy, bite-sized fritters are made from a cornmeal-based batter, similar to cornbread, that’s deep-fried until perfectly crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. There are many theories about how they got their adorable name, but one popular story suggests that hunters and fishermen would fry up cornmeal batter to “hush the puppies” during cookouts and fish-fries.
For a hush puppy recipe, the right ratio of cornmeal to flour is essential to achieve a light and crispy texture. Too much cornmeal can result in gritty and heavy fritters. I also like to add melted butter for richness, buttermilk for tang, and a hint of Cajun spice to kick up the flavor. Of all the variations I’ve tried and tested, these hush puppies stand out as the absolute best.
“They were perfect!!! Crispy on the outside, fluffy inside. Huge hit at dinner.”
What You’ll Need To Make Hush Puppies
- Cornmeal: The base of hush puppies, providing a slightly gritty texture and subtle corn flavor.
- All-Purpose Flour: Helps bind the ingredients, softening the cornmeal’s grittiness and giving the hush puppies a lighter, fluffier texture.
- Baking Powder And Baking Soda: Leavening agents that help the hush puppies puff up when fried, giving them a light and airy texture.
- Cajun Spice And Cayenne Pepper: Add a kick of heat and flavor.
- Buttermilk: Adds moisture and a slight tanginess. If you don’t want to buy a whole carton of buttermilk for this recipe, see my instructions for how to make buttermilk using milk and lemon juice or vinegar.
- Eggs: Act as a binder and also contribute richness and structure.
- Butter: Adds fat for moisture and richness.
- Grated Onion: Adds depth of flavor, a hint of sweetness, and moisture to the batter.
- Oil: Used for deep-frying, it’s the key to getting that crisp, golden-brown outside while keeping the inside soft and fluffy. Go with a neutral oil that can handle high heat, like canola, vegetable, or peanut oil. These work best because they fry evenly without adding any extra flavor.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Key Equipment
- A Dutch oven, or enameled cast iron pot, is ideal for frying because it conducts heat evenly and keeps the oil temperature even and consistent. In addition, its high sides prevent splatters, and its light-colored interior allows you to clearly see the color changes when frying.
- A deep-fry/candy thermometer takes all the guesswork out of frying and enables you to maintain the perfect oil temperature throughout the cooking process. (If the oil gets too hot, the outside of the hush puppies will burn before the interior is cooked. Conversely, if the oil gets too cool, the hush puppies will take longer to cook and be greasy.)
- 1-tablespoon scooper makes for evenly sized hush puppies, and the wire scraper makes quick work of dropping the batter into the oil. (You can also use this scooper for scooping cookie batter.)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Make the hush puppy batter. In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, salt, Cajun spice, and cayenne.
Add the buttermilk, eggs, melted butter, and onion, and whisk until evenly combined. Let the batter rest for 10 minutes to thicken—this helps the hush puppies hold their shape when fried.
Step 2: Fry the hush puppies. Heat about 2 inches of oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F to 375°F (177°C to 190°C). While it’s very helpful to attach a deep-fry/candy thermometer to the pot to monitor the temperature throughout the cooking process, if you don’t have one, test the oil by dropping in a small amount of batter—it should sizzle and float to the top without burning.
Drop heaping tablespoons of batter into the oil. Be sure not to crowd the pot—if you add too many at once, the oil temperature will drop and the hush puppies won’t cook evenly or get that nice, crispy crust.
Fry for 2 to 3 minutes, turning halfway, until the hush puppies are a deep golden brown color. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the hush puppies to the paper towel-lined baking sheet, then keep going with the rest of the batter.
Keep an eye on the oil and adjust the heat if needed—you want it to stay close to 350°F so everything cooks evenly and comes out golden and crisp. Serve warm and enjoy! (Leftover hush puppies can be refrigerated in an airtight container for 2 days, or frozen for up to 3 months.)
More Southern Recipes You May Like
Hush Puppies
These crispy hush puppies are full of rich corn flavor. Serve them hot and watch them disappear!
Ingredients
- 1 cup cornmeal
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon Cajun spice
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted and slightly cooled
- ¼ cup grated yellow onion, from 1 small onion
- About 2 quarts peanut or vegetable oil, for frying
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, salt, Cajun spice, and cayenne pepper. Add the buttermilk, eggs, melted butter, and onion and whisk until evenly combined. Let the batter rest for about 10 minutes to thicken.
- Heat about 2 inches of oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat to 350°F. (It's very helpful to attach a deep-fry/candy thermometer to the pot to monitor the temperature throughout the cooking process, but if you don't have one, if a cube of bread sizzles when you drop it in the oil, it's the right temperature.) Line a baking sheet with paper towels and set next to the stove.
- When the oil is ready, drop heaping tablespoons of batter into the oil, without crowding, and fry until deep golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes, turning halfway through cooking. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the hush puppies to the paper towel-lined baking sheet and repeat with the remaining batter. If the hush puppies are browning too quickly, lower the heat; it's important that the oil maintains a temperature of around 350°F for even cooking. Serve warm. (Leftover hush puppies can be refrigerated in an airtight container for 2 days, or frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat in 350-degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes.)
- Note: If you’d like to make your own buttermilk, check out my easy method for how to make buttermilk. (Keep in mind that homemade buttermilk is not as thick as real buttermilk, so I'd suggest using just ⅔ cup to start and adding the remaining 2 tablespoons only if the batter seems too stiff.)
- Make-Ahead/Freezing Instructions: While hush puppies are best enjoyed fresh, leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 days or frozen for up to 3 months. To freeze, start by letting the cooked hush puppies cool completely at room temperature. Once cool, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet, ensuring they don't touch, and then place the sheet in the freezer for a few hours until solid. After they're frozen, transfer the hush puppies to a freezer-safe bag or container, squeezing out as much air as possible, and freeze for up to 3 months. When you're ready to enjoy them, reheat the hush puppies directly from the freezer in 300°F-oven.
Pair with
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (15 servings)
- Serving size: 2 hush puppies
- Calories: 141
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated fat: 2 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Sugar: 2 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Sodium: 114 mg
- Cholesterol: 33 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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I had high hopes for these. Maybe I made a mistake? Mine were too light and airy. They had air pockets and didn’t look like yours at all. I didn’t have a cookie scoop so I dropped them by spoonfuls. Next time I will try rolling them into balls before adding to the oil.
I made these last night. Followed the recipe precisely. They were perfect!!! Crispy on the outside, fluffy inside. Huge hit at dinner. Thank you 😊
Thank you so much, Jenn. For some reason I have been unable to master hushpuppies until now. Your use of Cajun seasoning and grated onions made all the difference. I did take a bit of a shortcut with my use of Martha White cornmeal mix, but otherwise stayed true to the recipe. Love, love your recipes!!
I first had these a year ago visiting friends in NC with my daughters. They have been begging me ever since to make them. We even purchased King Arthur made to measure gf flour and flew it home to Australia to ensure it would work out the same. So I finally made them this week and we loved them. So much so that I had to make a second batch within days. Thanks so much for your great recipes!
I wonder if you could use an air fryer for these.
Hi Susan, Unfortunately, I don’t think the air fryer will work with these. Sorry!
The hush puppies were delicious! They’re very light and have a lovely flavor. Will definitely make again.
Is it kosher salt or table salt what is called for in the recipe? Also, what brand of Cajun spice? Thanks SO much!!!
Hi Cam, The salt in this recipe is table salt. BTW, when a recipe of mine says salt in the ingredient list, I am referring to regular/table salt. If it calls for something else like kosher salt, I will specify that in the recipe.
And I use Emeril’s Cajun seasoning. Hope that helps and that you enjoy the hush puppies!
I may have written you earlier..
I so appreciate this site!!!
You are clear, in words and pictures.
Thank you
and not charging;-)
💗
Is there a substitute for the flour, so I can make these gluten-free. By the way I am a huge fan of you and all your recipes.
Hi Dena, I think gluten-free flour would work well here. Please LMK how it turns out if you try it. 🙂
I also plan to try with gluten free flour, since one of our kids has a gluten allergy. It’s been my (limited) experience that certain quick breads like cornbread, banana bread, pumpkin bread, etc. work pretty well with a one-for-one gluten free flour blend. It’s harder for me to taste the substitution in those. I used gluten free flour in Jen’s banana bread recipe and it worked very well. I’ve never fried any kind of dough before, never mind a gluten free dough, so it will be an interesting experiment. If it doesn’t turn out I’d never fault the recipe because it wasn’t developed with gluten free flour. I’m sure it’s awesome as written; everything I’ve made from this site has been excellent. Looking forward to trying this out!
Update: I made this tonight using the King Arthur Measure for Measure Gluten Free Flour Blend. The hush puppies turned out beautifully. (Full disclosure – I also left out the cayenne pepper. The child who has the gluten allergy tends to complain when foods are “too spicy”, and I wanted to increase my chances of her liking this.) Victory! She enjoyed the one I gave her to try and asked for more. I liked them, too; I was so pleased at how nice they looked and tasted. But really, the best part was seeing how excited my daughter was at getting to try this food for the first time. She’s only four, but she knows the drill; the few times we’ve ever had hush puppies from a barbeque joint, she couldn’t have them because they weren’t gluten-free. Thank you, Jen, for a great recipe, and for helping me make an even better memory tonight!
I would love to know as well. Gluten free at our home, too.
I’ve always hesitated from frying. What do you do with the oil after you are done? How do you dispose of it? Can you reuse it?
Hi Caroline, Here are some guidelines for what to do with the oil after you’ve used it to cook. Hope that helps!
Thank you so much for the link on how to handle used frying oil. I too have refrained from deep frying because no one ever did it in my family, and I don’t know how to. These instructions are clear and concise. I have my Le Creuset pot at the ready, and just received my deep fry thermometer from Amazon. Cannot wait to make the hush puppies (the frozen store bought variety just are not great)!!!