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Crispy Mini Corn Dog Muffins with Cheesy Centers

crispy mini corn dog muffins - featured image

These crispy mini corn dog muffins feature a crunchy cornmeal exterior with a gooey, cheesy center, making them a quick, fun, and crowd-pleasing snack or lunchbox treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (120g) cornmeal
  • 1/2 cup (65g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika or chili powder (optional)
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup (180ml) whole milk or dairy-free alternative
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 810 hot dogs, cut into bite-sized pieces (about 1 inch)
  • About 1 cup (120g) cheese cubes (sharp cheddar and mozzarella blend preferred)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a mini muffin tin with nonstick spray or brush with oil to ensure easy removal.
  2. In a large bowl, combine cornmeal, all-purpose flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, and optional smoked paprika. Whisk to blend evenly.
  3. In another bowl, whisk together egg, milk, and vegetable oil until smooth and homogenous.
  4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry. Stir gently with a spatula until just combined—do not overmix. The batter should be thick but pourable.
  5. Slice hot dogs into bite-sized pieces and cut cheese into small cubes roughly the same size.
  6. Spoon a small amount of batter into each mini muffin cup, about one-third full. Place a piece of hot dog and a cube of cheese on top, then cover with more batter until nearly full.
  7. Bake for 15-18 minutes until golden, crispy edges form, and tops are firm. A toothpick inserted near the edge should come out clean (avoid piercing the cheese center).
  8. Let muffins cool in the tin for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to firm up and prevent cheese from oozing out.
  9. Serve warm for the best crispy exterior and gooey cheese center experience.

Notes

[‘Do not overmix the batter to avoid dense muffins.’, ‘Use cold cheese cubes to keep a gooey center.’, ‘Grease the muffin tin well to prevent sticking.’, ‘Watch baking time closely to avoid cheese leakage or dry muffins.’, ‘Let muffins rest after baking to firm up.’, ‘If batter is too thick, add a splash more milk but keep it thick enough to support fillings.’, ‘For gluten-free option, substitute all-purpose flour with almond or gluten-free flour blend.’, ‘Try different cheese blends like gouda, havarti, or pepper jack for variations.’, ‘Can be pan-fried for a crispy fritter-style alternative.’]

Nutrition

Keywords: mini corn dogs, corn dog muffins, cheesy snacks, kid-friendly, party food, quick recipe, cornmeal muffins