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 main ingredients in hush puppies? ›

Image of What are the main ingredients in hush puppies?
Cornmeal is a meal ground from dried corn. It is a common staple food and is ground to coarse, medium, and fine consistencies, but it is not as fine as wheat flour can be. In Mexico, very finely ground cornmeal is referred to as corn flour.
Wikipedia

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? ›

First, the bubbles provide lift as they escape from the batter during frying. Second, the carbonation makes the batter slightly more acidic, which limits how much gluten can form when the beer and flour mix, preventing the batter from turning tough.

What beer is best for beer batter? ›

Most are fair game for beer batter (Pilsner Urquell, Stella Artois, Modelo, and Firestone Pivo Pils are particularly nice), with the exception of Bohemian pilsner, which comes with a heavy dose of spices that can change the overall flavor of your dish. In a beer batter, pilsner is one of the more low-key options.

Why are my hush puppies falling apart? ›

If your hush puppies are falling apart, you may have used too much cornmeal. Try adding a little more (but not too much) flour. If you add too much flour, they'll become dense. For healthier hush puppies, try baking them.

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.

Should I put an egg in my beer batter? ›

Flour: This homemade beer batter starts with all-purpose flour. Cornstarch: Cornstarch ensures an extra crispy, light fry every time. 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.

Do you use cold or hot beer for beer batter? ›

The beer should be cold, and don't sift the flour or over-whisk the batter — a few lumps make for a better texture. Choose the correct beer according to what fish you will fry as beer ranges in flavor. You can add spices to the batter, such as paprika, if you like.

Does beer batter need to rest? ›

They're simple, and once you know them you'll never forget them. Guaranteed to make you look like a master chef and impress friends and family! Some beer batter recipes will say to add ice or place the beer batter in the fridge to 'rest' for 30 minutes.

Why is my beer batter not crispy? ›

Oil Temperature – If your oil is not hot enough, you could end up with an oversaturated coating that is soggy and unappetizing. If your oil is too hot, you'll end up burning the outside of the fish coating, not giving the fish inside enough time to get cooked and flaky.

Why is my beer batter soggy? ›

Why is my beer battered fish soggy? - Quora. the temp of your oil is probably too low, or you're not cooking for long enough. You might want to add a small amount of baking powder to the mix to improve the bubbles in the batter.

What is the best flour for batter? ›

Rice flour and cornstarch work particularly well because they fry up crispier than wheat flour. They also absorb less moisture and fat during the frying process, making the products less greasy. This is why rice flour is often used when making tempura because it produces a very thin and crispy, dry crust.

Can you use Budweiser for beer batter? ›

So, all in all, if you deep fry for larger groups several times a summer, you want a light American lager. Little flavor, plenty of carbonation, enough alcohol, and cheap to boot. I use Budweiser. The beer batter works because of the alcohol and the CO2 in beer.

Can you use Bud Light for beer batter? ›

Different beers will yield varied flavors. I like a robust beer, like an IPA or stout, but any American light lager (Coors Light, Bud Light, Miller Lite, etc.) works great, too. Fish with white fillets are ideal for beer batter.

Can you use soda instead of beer for beer batter? ›

Found among the beer and wine, but lacking the alcohol, is the perfect swap for beer battered fish: club soda. Full of bubbles due to its carbonation, club soda can give the same lightness to a batter as beer would.

How was hush puppies made? ›

Hush puppies are petite, fried balls of a cornmeal-based batter. Typically, the batter is moistened with buttermilk and seasoned with salt and pepper. The batter is then scooped and dropped into a pot of hot oil and fried until crispy and golden.

What are Hush Puppies shoes made of? ›

Hush Puppies shoes are made from 100% genuine leather, making them stand out and be so popular. The brand offers products that marry luxury with comfort and class with functionality.

What are hush puppies made of meat? ›

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

ingredients
  • 14 cup milk.
  • 1 egg.
  • 12 cup cornmeal.
  • 14 cup flour.
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder.
  • 1 teaspoon garlic salt.
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder.

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