Beer Batter Hush Puppies Recipe (2024)

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posted by Amy Johnsonon July 1, 2016 (updated Jan 24, 2019) 34 comments »

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Welcome my husband, Randy! He’s here to share a delicious Hush Puppies Recipe. Or is it hushpuppies recipe? I grew up with them being known as hushpuppies, one word. However you write it, these little babies are the perfect side dish to serve at a fish fry, BBQ, or any excuse you can think of to make hush puppies (or hushpuppies). Take it away Randy!

When you’re going to be bad, it should be good. Maybe that’s not exactly how the saying goes but just work with me here. Hushpuppies are not an everyday or even every week thing but every now and then when it’s time to splurge, make it count. According to legend the name “hush puppies” is derived from the bad idea someone had of tossing bits of fried cornmeal to the dogs to keep them quiet and happy at a cookout. Take my advice, bring along Scooby Snacks for Fido and make hush puppies for your two legged guests only. When eaten warm just a few minutes out of the fryer, they are quite a treat. The outside is golden brown and crispy. The inside is warm and soft with a little sweet and a little heat.

What’s a fish fry without coleslaw and hush puppies? And, I don’t know about you but in my book there aren’t many food presentations that look as good as pulled pork BBQ on a paper plate with hush puppies and coleslaw.

What to do with the oil leftover from frying?

Speaking of frying, on the occasions we do deep-fry something it can be a pain knowing what to do with the used cooking oil. Some people strain it and bottle it for future use but I’d worry about strange odors and flavors in the next meal and I’m not sure that would be safe. Definitely don’t pour it down the drain. I wouldn’t want to dump it in our yard either.Luckily a few months back I met a neighbor who collects used cooking oil then processes it to power vehicles some of his vehicles he uses in his lawn care business. That’s what I call a win-win. Also, even in our fairly rural area there’s a recycling center less than a mile away that accepts used cooking oil for recycling.

A few Hush Puppies Recipe tips:

  • A thermometer to gauge oil temperature is a must. You could end up with greasy pups frying with oil that isn’t hot enough, or burn them with oil that is too hot.
  • A large spoon strainer or inexpensive Chinese spider is so helpful when deep frying at home.
  • This post over at Serious Eats for wok deep frying has some great tips for wok deep frying at home that work for any deep frying.

Beer Batter Hush Puppies Recipe

Beer Batter Hush Puppies Recipe (4)

Beer Batter Hush Puppies

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Additional Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

A classic Southern delicacy that is great served with fried seafood and pork BBQ.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups cornmeal
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 4 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
  • 1/2 cup very finely chopped sweet onion
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 3/4 cup beer
  • oil for frying (enough for 2-inches deep of oil in pan being used)

Instructions

  1. Pour oil do a depth of 2-3 inches into a heavy-bottom pot. Heat to 350-degrees F.
  2. While oil is heating whisk together dry ingredients in a large bowl. Stir in onion and beaten eggs until well combined. Add beer; stir well to combine.
  3. Working in batches, carefully drop batter by rounded tablespoonfuls into 350-degrees F oil and fry for about 2-3 minutes until golden brown, turning as they fry to evenly cook. Carefully transfer hushpuppies using a slotted spoon (or Chinese spider strainer) to a paper towel-lined baking sheet or cooling rack to drain and cool.

Notes

  • Using a spring-release ice cream scoop makes it easier to drop batter in uniform sizes into the oil.
  • Before cooking the whole batch, cook one and check for doneness to determine exact cook time as oils, pots, will vary.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Facebook

Originally published June 6, 2014.

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Side Dishes

originally published on July 1, 2016 (last updated Jan 24, 2019)

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Beer Batter Hush Puppies Recipe (9)

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34 comments on “Beer Batter Hush Puppies Recipe”

  1. Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabblesReply

    Eating hush puppies reminds me of my grandpa, love this post! Great hush puppies, Randy!

  2. DessertForTwoReply

    Hush puppies are my everything in life.

  3. Ali | Gimme Some OvenReply

    Wow, I’ve never tried making homemade hush puppies! These look absolutely perfect. And I’m sold with beer battered. 😉

  4. bridget {bake at 350}Reply

    Oh, Randy. I think I love you. (Don’t tell Mark.) 😉

  5. Melanie @ Carmel MomentsReply

    I can’t even remember the last time I had hush puppies. But suddenly all the memories come flooding back. I’m totally undone now. So scrumptious! I’ve got to try these.
    Have a marvelous Monday Amy!

  6. Anna @ Crunchy Creamy SweetReply

    Fantastic tips on making hush puppies! Thank you, Randy!

  7. EllieReply

    These look amazing! Thanks for sharing!

    • Amy Johnson

      Oh my goodness … they are! Perfect with fish or bbq.

  8. ElizabethReply

    What brand or kind of cornmeal do you use?

    • Amy Johnson

      I like to use Martha White.

  9. Suzy MillsReply

    3 TABLESPOONS baking powder? Did i read that correctly? :-O

    • Amy Johnson

      That should be 3 teaspoons. Thank you for pointing out the typo, Suzy.

    • Rhiannon Wood

      Wow well I just used 3 tbls… you might want to fix the typo. Hope it still turns out ok

    • Amy

      The typo was corrected 2 years ago.

    • Juan Valdez

      Comments leave a lot to be desired. OBVIOUSLY it was not TBP but TSP. The armchair quarterbacks could have addressed the typo easier. Not everyone has “People Skills”.

    • Susan Esters

      Did you just mess up, Shannon? The recipe calls for teaspoons, not tablespoons.

  10. DianneReply

    Love hush puppies! We used to go the a fish restaurant in Texas that made them with jalapenos. Everytime we have them now my hubby says “They need jalapenos”! 🙂

  11. Susie MandelReply

    Yum, hush puppies. My first taste of hush puppies was at a family style restaurant in the 70s in Maryland called the Peter Pan Inn. They dusted theirs with powdered sugar and forever after, I expected all hush puppies to have powdered sugar on them. Anyone I told about those slightly sweetened hush puppies looked at me like I was from outer space, but I think that was the PPI’s own unique stamp. Oh well, just a weird story and thought I’d share when I saw this yummy recipe show up. 🙂

  12. SybilReply

    Once when we went camping, we had limited water, so we used canned tomatoes to mix the batter. YUM< YUM.

    • Amy Johnson

      That sound delicious, Sybil! Totally going to try that next time.

  13. linda carmackReply

    can these be frozen

  14. Nancy Dianne WoodruffReply

    Just wanted to know if u can use recipe
    & bake it ,need to know cause can’t have fried than you

    • Amy Johnson

      I do not know, as I have never baked hush puppies before.

  15. Abigail AppiahReply

    What type of beers can you use?

  16. CarmenReply

    What kind of beer did you use in them?

  17. gwen priceReply

    Can you substitute for the beer. I simply do not like the taste it gives. Thanks.

    • Amy Johnson

      I have not made this recipe with a substitute so I cannot say how using something other than beer would turn out.

  18. JenReply

    Any chance these could be done in the air fryer? Have you tried that?

    • Amy Johnson

      I haven’t tried that yet. Please let me know if you do.

Leave a comment »

Beer Batter Hush Puppies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients for hush puppies? ›

Should beer batter be runny or thick? ›

It should be a fairly thin batter but fully coat the back of a spoon. If too thick, add beer 1 tsp at a time. Dredge fish: Dunk a piece of fish in the batter, the let the excess drip off very briefly. Fry 3 minutes: Carefully lower into oil, dropping it in away from you, one piece at a time.

What makes beer batter good? ›

The alcohol in the beer also plays an important role in moderating the internal temperature and crisping the crust. Alcohol evaporates faster than water, so a beer batter doesn't have to cook as long as one made only with water or milk. The faster the batter dries, the lower the risk of overcooking the food.

Why do my hush puppies fall apart? ›

The main reason hush puppies fall apart isn't the batter, it's the oil. To ensure your hush puppies stay intact, make sure the oil is heated to the correct temperature. Add 3 to 4 inches of oil to your skillet or Dutch oven, and using a thermometer, heat the oil to 365° to 375°.

What is hush puppy mix made of? ›

Hush puppies are made from a basic batter consisting of yellow cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, buttermilk or milk and eggs. Many recipes call for the addition of scallions or onions. The base lends itself to riffing, too, including the addition of spicy peppers, cheese, spices or even beer.

What are original hush puppies? ›

In fact, the Carolinas can proudly claim to be the birthplace of this now-iconic American food. A hushpuppy is a simple treat—thick cornmeal batter dropped in spheres (or nuggets or fingers) into hot oil and fried till crisp and brown.

Why is my beer batter not crispy? ›

Just make sure your beer is extra cold — when the cold batter hits the hot oil, the reaction ensures the coating is nice and crispy when it comes out of the fryer.

What do eggs do in beer batter? ›

Egg: An egg creates a more delicate crust and helps seal in moisture. Seasonings: Season the beer batter with garlic powder, black pepper, and seasoning salt. Beer: Of course, you'll need beer! A light beer will give you a milder flavor, while a dark beer will have a richer taste.

What beer is best in beer batter? ›

10 Best Beers to Use in Beer Batter Recipes
  • PBR (Pabst Blue Ribbon) ...
  • Coors Banquet. ...
  • Old Milwaukee. ...
  • Deschutes Brewery's Bachelor ESB. ...
  • Widmer Brothers' Drop Top Amber Ale. ...
  • Samuel Smith's Pure Brewed Organic Lager. ...
  • Brooklyn Brewery's Brooklyn Lager. ...
  • Portland Brewing's MacTarnahan's Amber Ale.

Why add vodka to beer batter? ›

Because vodka is more volatile than water, it evaporates more quickly, which dries out the batter faster and more violently. That creates larger bubbles and even more surface area, in turn resulting in a much crispier crust.

Should you let beer batter sit? ›

Only Use a Cold Beer

Some beer batter recipes will say to add ice or place the beer batter in the fridge to 'rest' for 30 minutes.

Why should beer batter be cold? ›

Let the fish enjoy a nice cold one! The introduction of ice-cold batter to super hot cooking oil for frying makes the shell puff up almost instantly. If the beer or the batter is room-temperature, the fish won't be as crisp and puffy. How do you keep from splashing hot oil when frying fish?

Why are my hush puppies so dense? ›

If too much flour is used, the hush puppies become heavy, dense, and bread-like. After much experimentation, I landed on a 3:1 ratio: 1 1/2 cups cornmeal to 1/2 cup flour. The type of cornmeal you use is equally as important.

Are hush puppies wide or narrow? ›

To ensure a perfect fit, Hush Puppies offers a variety of widths. When browsing our online store, be sure to check the width options available for each style. Additionally, many of our authorized retailers also carry wide-width shoes.

How long does hush puppy batter last? ›

Can I make Hush Puppies Ahead of Time? Absolutely! You can either make and fry and simply reheat (instructions below), or you can make the batter, cover, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Refrigerated batter is even easier to work with.

What are Long John Silver's hush puppies made of? ›

Instructions. In a large bowl, mix together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, egg, and sugar. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.

Do Hushpuppies contain eggs? ›

Hushpuppies, which can be flavored by many different herbs, spices, and sweeteners, are essentially a batter that is made with eggs and cornmeal that is fried in the shape of little balls till the point where the batter is no longer liquid on the inside, and is nice and crispy on the outside.

Do hush puppies have meat in them? ›

Traditional hush puppies do not have meat in them – remember the tales of how they came to be. The best part about this hush puppy appetizer is how easy it is to throw together, how simple the ingredient list is, and how delicious they taste!

What is the difference between cornbread and hush puppies? ›

The main difference is that cornbread is baked and hush puppies are fried, hence the difference in texture—though hush puppies can be air fryed, too. "Typically hush puppy batter is a little thicker than cornbread batter, but that is just a matter of moisture. The basic ingredients are the same," Matijevich said.

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