Vegan Corn Dog Bites

These cute little vegan corn dog bites are a fun appetizer, snack, or lunch for vegan kids and anyone who is a kid at heart!  Baked in mini muffin tins, you get all the flavor of corn dogs without the mess and since they are baked not fried, they're a healthier alternative too!

My kids have always been intrigued by corndogs, but they could never have one because even the vegetarian varieties at the store were not vegan or gluten-free. I attempted to make them a few times, but it was always a lot of work and messy without great results.  So I decided that it would be easier to bake them in muffin tins, and they were a hit!

You will love these mini corn dog bites because they're

• fun to make and fun to eat!
• gluten-free, dairy-free, and egg-free, so nearly everyone can enjoy them.
• perfect for appetizers, picnics, or kids' lunches.
• delicious dipped in a variety of vegan sauces. 
• the perfect bite-sized snack!

Ingredients and Substitutions

Ingredients: 

• Cornmeal - any cornmeal will work.  Make sure to buy gluten-free if needed.
• Flour - you can use all-purpose white flour, whole wheat, or a general gluten-free flour mix.  I usually use my own all-purpose gluten-free flour recipe or a store-bought gluten-free mix.
• Baking  Powder - to make them rise a little.
• Salt - for flavor.
• Sugar - for flavor.  You can use any sweetener you wish like coconut sugar, agave, or maple syrup or leave it out completely if you wish.
• Oil - to make them moist. Use canola oil or light olive oil for a neutral flavor.
• Vegan Hot Dogs - Tofu Pups, Smart Dogs, Tofurkey Hot Dog, and even Aldi's Earth Grown brand work well.  The types that come in packs of 5 instead of 8 are slightly larger and work a little better.  You will need about 3 of these large hot dogs.
• Spray Oil - to grease the muffin tins so you can get them out easily.

Tools:

• Mini Muffin Tins - for baking the corn dog muffins in.
• Mixing Bowl - for mixing the cornbread batter.
• Whisk - for stirring the batter
• Fancy Toothpicks - for using as handles (optional).  You can also cut lollipop sticks in half. 

How to make vegan corn dog bites

1. Heat the oven to 400° F.
2. Spray the mini muffin tins with spray oil and set aside.
3. Measure out the dry ingredients for the cornbread batter in a mixing bowl.
4. Add the wet ingredients and stir well.
5. Pour the batter into the muffin tins filling them about 3/4  of the way full.
6. Cut up the vegan hot dogs in about 1/2 inch sized pieces. (The same length as you tin is deep).
7. Press the hotdogs into the center of each muffin and stick a toothpick in it.
8. Bake at 400° F for 18-20 minutes. 
9. Serve with a dipping sauce of choice. 

Dipping Sauces 

You can dip them in the standard ketchup or mustard or if you want to get a little fancier, you can use some of our favorite homemade vegan sauces. 

These are our favorites:

• Sugar-Free Barbecue Sauce 
• Vegan Honey Mustard 
• The Best Vegan Buffalo Sauce  
• VeganNacho Cheese Sauce 
• Vegan Ranch Dressing

*The corn muffin recipe was adapted from my no-fail gluten-free vegan skillet cornbread recipe!  If you love cornbread you have to give it a try!

Subscribe to my email list to get my free eBook “The Beginner’s Guide to Homemade Vegan Staples” or if you are ready to fully dive into making your own vegan cheese, butter, yogurt, and more check out my cookbook, “The Ultimate Guide to Homemade Vegan Staples!”

5 from 3 votes

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Vegan Corn Dog Bites

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

20 mins

Total Time

30 mins

 

A vegan hot dog baked inside a mini corn muffin to make a bite-sized appetizer or kid-friendly snack.

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American, vegan

Keyword: vegan corn dog, vegan corn dog bites

Servings: 24 bites

Calories: 55 kcal

Author: Monica Davis | The Hidden Veggies

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup cornmeal (use gluten-free if needed).
• 3/4 cup flour (use an all-purpose gluten-free flour mix if needed).
• 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup oil canola oil or light olive oil works best.
• 3 large vegan hot dogs
• 1 spray oil

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C).

2. Spray the mini muffin tins with spray oil and set aside.

3. Measure out the dry ingredients for the cornbread batter in a mixing bowl.

4. Add the wet ingredients and stir well.

5. Pour the batter into the muffin tins filling them about 3/4  of the way full.

6. Cut up 3 large vegan hot dogs in about 1/2 inch pieces. (The same length as the tin is deep).

7. Press the hotdogs into the center of each muffin and stick a toothpick in it.

8. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 18-20 minutes. 

9. Serve with a dipping sauce of choice. 

Recipe Notes

Tips:

• Make sure to oil the muffin tins so they come out easier.
• Add a 1/2 tsp of xanthan gum to the batter if you are using a gluten-free mix that does not contain any. (This will keep the muffin from crumbling). 

Nutrition Facts

Vegan Corn Dog Bites

Amount Per Serving (1 corn dog bite)

Calories 55 Calories from Fat 18

% Daily Value*

Fat 2g3%

Sodium 118mg5%

Potassium 61mg2%

Carbohydrates 6g2%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 1g2%

Calcium 20mg2%

Iron 0.5mg3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.