Golden crispy Southern hushpuppies (Printable)

Golden crispy cornmeal dough balls with tender savory interior—classic Southern side ready in 30 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 1 cup yellow cornmeal (medium grind)
02 - ½ cup all-purpose flour
03 - 1½ tsp baking powder
04 - ½ tsp baking soda
05 - 1 tsp granulated sugar
06 - 1 tsp salt
07 - ¼ tsp ground black pepper
08 - ¼ tsp cayenne pepper

→ Wet Ingredients

09 - ¾ cup buttermilk
10 - 1 large egg

→ Aromatics

11 - ½ cup finely diced yellow onion
12 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives

→ For Frying

13 - Vegetable oil for deep-frying (6-8 cups)

# Directions:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper until thoroughly combined.
02 - In a separate bowl, whisk buttermilk and egg until fully blended and smooth.
03 - Pour wet mixture into dry ingredients. Stir gently with a spatula just until combined—do not overmix as this affects texture.
04 - Fold in diced onion and chives. Let batter rest for 5 minutes to hydrate cornmeal.
05 - Heat vegetable oil in deep fryer or heavy-bottomed pot to 350°F.
06 - Using two spoons or a small ice cream scoop, drop heaping tablespoon portions of batter into hot oil. Fry in batches without overcrowding.
07 - Cook for 2-3 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and crisp on all sides.
08 - Remove with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Serve immediately while hot and crispy.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They come together in under 30 minutes with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry
  • The texture contrast between that crispy exterior and soft, steamy interior is absolutely addictive
  • These little cornbread fritters make any meal feel like a special occasion, especially alongside fried fish or barbecue
02 -
  • Overmixing the batter will make your hushpuppies tough and dense, so stir gently and stop as soon as the ingredients are combined
  • If your oil is too hot, the outside will burn before the inside cooks through, too cool and theyll absorb too much oil and become greasy
  • Letting the batter rest for those 5 minutes is crucial, it gives the cornmeal time to hydrate and prevents the hushpuppies from falling apart in the oil
03 -
  • Use an ice cream scoop with a release mechanism for perfectly uniform hushpuppies that cook evenly
  • Keep fried hushpuppies warm in a 200 degree Fahrenheit oven while you finish the remaining batches
  • Add a teaspoon of bacon grease to your frying oil for an extra layer of smoky Southern flavor
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