Golden Hush Puppies & Sweet Heat Dips

Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, Sweet Home Golden Hush Puppies are a Southern essential made for dipping, sharing, and sneaking straight from the basket. Lightly sweet with a savory cornmeal crunch, they’re the perfect side for fried catfish, barbecue, fish fry favorites, and Sweet Home Pepper Jellies.

Flavor Profile: Savory, lightly sweet, crisp exterior, fluffy center

Yield: About 24 hush puppies
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 6–8 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ¾ tsp kosher salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ¼ tsp paprika (optional)
• ¼ tsp cayenne (optional, for heat)
• ¼ cup finely diced onion
• 1 large egg
• ¾ cup buttermilk
• Vegetable or peanut oil, for frying
• Choose your favorite Sweet Home Pepper Jelly, warmed slightly, for dipping

Instructions

1. Heat the Oil
   Heat 2–3 inches of oil in a heavy pot or deep skillet to 350°F.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients
   In a large bowl, whisk together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, pepper, paprika, and cayenne.
3. Add Onion & Wet Ingredients
   Stir in diced onion. Add egg and buttermilk, mixing just until combined. The batter should be thick but scoopable.
4. Fry
   Using a spoon or small scoop, carefully drop batter into hot oil. Fry in batches for 2–3 minutes per side, turning once, until golden brown.
5. Drain & Serve
   Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Serve hot.

Sweet Home Golden Hush Puppies: More Ways to Serve Them

• Pepper Jelly Flight Board
  Serve hush puppies with a tasting flight of Sweet Home Raspberry Pepper Jelly, Sweet Home Muscadine Pepper Jelly, Sweet Home Blackberry Pepper Jelly, and Sweet Home Cowboy Pepper Jelly, arranged from mild to bold so guests can explore the full sweet-heat spectrum.

• Sweet Heat Dipping Basket
  Pair hush puppies with warmed Sweet Home Raspberry Pepper Jelly or a quick pepper jelly butter made with Sweet Home Five Pepper Jelly for a richer, spicier dip.

• Southern Grazing Platter
  Add hush puppies to a shareable board with Sweet Home Pickled Okra, Sweet Home Vidalia Onion Chow Chow (HOT), or Vidalia Onion Chow Chow (Mild). cheese, crackers, and a spoon of Sweet Home Muscadine Pepper Jelly or Sweet Home  Blackberry Pepper Jelly for contrast.

• Game Day & BBQ Side
  Serve alongside fried catfish, pulled pork, wings, or shrimp, finished with a drizzle of Sweet Home Cowboy Pepper Jelly for smoky-sweet heat.

Perfect Pairings

• Serve with Sweet Home Raspberry Pepper Jelly, warmed slightly, for dipping
• Pair with fried catfish, shrimp, or barbecue
• Add chopped jalapeño or corn kernels to the batter for variation

Explore Sweet Home Food Recipes for other Perfect Pairings

Show Us How You Serve It

Every table is different—and that’s the point. Share your Sweet Home creation and tag @SweetHomeFoods.