Corn dog
A deep-fried cornmeal-battered hot dog on a stick.
A corn dog (sometimes written as corndog) is a hot dog sausage skewered on a stick, coated in a thick cornmeal batter, and deep-fried. It originated in the United States and is a staple of American cuisine.
**Name variations** In Canada, they are often called "Pogos," after the popular brand made by Conagra. In Australia, they go by "Pluto pups," "Dagwood dogs," "dippy dogs," or historically "pronto pups," and are common at agricultural shows and carnivals. The name "Pluto pup" likely comes from the Disney dog character, while "Dagwood dog" references a character from the American comic strip *Blondie*, whose husband Dagwood has a dog named Daisy. "Pronto pup" was originally a U.S. brand name from 1941 but became obsolete by 1949, replaced by "Pluto pup." Some suggest Pluto pups are factory-made, while Dagwood dogs are prepared on-site. In France, they are called *beignet de saucisse*, meaning "sausage donut." In Japan, the common name is "American dog" (アメリカンドッグ). In New Zealand, they are often called "hot dog" or "mini hot dog."
**History** German immigrants in Texas, who were sausage-makers facing resistance to their sausages, are credited with introducing the corn dog to the U.S., though the stick came later. A 1927 U.S. patent (granted in 1929) for a "Combined Dipping, Cooking, and Article Holding Apparatus" describes corn dogs and other fried foods on sticks, noting that items like wieners, ham, eggs, cheese, and fruit, when impaled, dipped in batter with self-rising flour, and deep-fried in vegetable oil at about 390°F, produce a clean, tasty snack. A "Krusty Korn Dog" baker machine appeared in a 1926 wholesale catalog. Several vendors claim invention or popularization: Carl and Neil Fletcher introduced "Corny Dogs" at the State Fair of Texas between 1938 and 1942; Pronto Pup of Rockaway Beach, Oregon, claims to have invented it in 1939; Cozy Dog Drive-in in Springfield, Illinois, claims the first corn dogs on sticks on June 16, 1946; and Dave Barham opened the first Hot Dog on a Stick at Muscle Beach in Santa Monica, California, also in 1946.
**Preparation** Corn dogs are often street food or fast food. For freshness, some vendors dip and fry them just before serving. Pre-made frozen corn dogs are sold, then thawed and fried or oven-browned.
- Origin
- United States
- Type
- Deep-fried battered sausage on a stick
- Earliest known patent
- 1927 (granted 1929)
- Early commercial machine
- 1926 (Krusty Korn Dog baker)
- Claimed inventors
- Carl and Neil Fletcher; Pronto Pup of Rockaway Beach, Oregon; Cozy Dog Drive-in, Springfield, Illinois; Dave Barham (Hot Dog on a Stick)
- Common condiments
- Ketchup, mustard, honey
Lore & Background
German immigrants in Texas, who were sausage-makers finding resistance to the sausages they used to make, have been credited with introducing the corn dog to the United States, though the serving stick came later. A US patent filed in 1927, granted in 1929, for a Combined Dipping, Cooking, and Article Holding Apparatus describes corn dogs, among other fried food impaled on a stick. A 'Krusty Korn Dog' baker machine appeared in the 1926 Albert Pick-Barth wholesale catalog of hotel and restaurant supplies; the 'korn dogs' were baked in a corn batter and resembled ears of corn when cooked.
A number of current corn dog vendors claim responsibility for the invention or popularization of the corn dog. Carl and Neil Fletcher lay such a claim, having introduced their 'Corny Dogs' at the State Fair of Texas sometime between 1938 and 1942. Pronto Pup of Rockaway Beach, Oregon, claims to have invented the corn dog in 1939. Cozy Dog Drive-in, in Springfield, Illinois, claims to have been the first to serve corn dogs on sticks, on June 16, 1946. Also in 1946, Dave Barham opened the first location of Hot Dog on a Stick at Muscle Beach in Santa Monica, California.
Reader's Guide
Corn dogs are a staple of American street food and fast food, often served at fairs, carnivals, and state fairs. They are also widely available as frozen foods in supermarkets and convenience stores across North America. The dish has spawned numerous international variations: in Canada they are often called 'Pogos'; in Australia they are known as Pluto pups, Dagwood dogs, or dippy dogs; in Japan they are called 'American dog'; and in South Korea they are a popular street food simply called 'hot dog'. A breakfast version uses a breakfast sausage and pancake batter, known as 'pancake on a stick'. Vegetarian corn dogs and corn dog nuggets are also produced. National Corndog Day is celebrated on the first Saturday of March Madness each year, honoring the corn dog, tater tots, and American beer.
Did You Know?
- The name 'Pluto pup' likely derives from the Disney character Pluto, who is a dog.
- In France, corn dogs are called 'beignet de saucisse', which translates to 'sausage donut'.
- A US patent filed in 1927 describes impaling wieners, boiled ham, hard boiled eggs, cheese, and fruit on sticks, dipping them in batter, and deep frying.
- In South Africa, a corn dog is usually called 'Yankee' in the Afrikaans language.
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