Crunchy, cozy Air Fryer Hush Puppies only take about 20 minutes to make. They're perfect little balls of cornbready goodness!
This recipe for vegan Air Fryer Hush Puppies comes from Kathy Hester's newest cookbook: Vegan Cooking in Your Air Fryer. The recipe includes oil-free instructions, if that's your jam.
In the recipe video, you'll see that I did use the optional spritz of oil, because I like how a little oil makes food crispier. But you do you!
I was extra jazzed to see this recipe in the book, because long, long ago, I asked folks on Instagram to tell me what air fryer recipes they'd like to see. My friend, Ian, had a few requests, and Air Fryer Hush Puppies was among them.
Ian, you probably thought that I forgot about you, but your suggestion has been on my to-do list all this time. Then Kathy went and to-did it for me! Sometimes, procrastination pays off.
About Vegan Cooking in your Air Fryer
I have been anxiously awaiting Kathy's air fryer cookbook for a couple of reasons. First of all, Kathy's recipes are just plain ah-mazing. She's so creative, and she tests her recipes like crazy, so you know that they'll always be awesome.
I was also excited about this book for a selfish reason: I have two recipes in it! My Bacon Cashews and Avocado Fries are both in the book, and Kathy's photos of them are amazing.
The book kicks off with a little get-to-know-you section about air fryers. It answers come frequently asked questions and gives tips on accessories and how to use them.
From there, it dives into the recipes. Kathy shares air fryer recipes for staples, snacks, entress, side dishes, breakfasts, and even desserts. I've got her recipe for Air Fryer Hush Puppies below, and you can more recipes from the book from these other sites:
- Small-Batch Brownies at Spabettie - She puts a salty pistachio twist on this recipe!
- Small-Batch Brownies Veggies Save the Day using the gluten-free variation
- Carrot Cake in a Mug at Bake and Destroy
- Air Fryer Bowtie Pasta Chips at Kathy's site, Healthy Slow Cooking
- Nutty French Toast at Kathy's site, Healthy Slow Cooking
- Twice-Fried Stuffed Potatoes at Kathy's site, Healthy Slow Cooking
Are you drooling yet? Let's make some Air Fryer Hush Puppies, y'all!
How to Make Air Fryer Hush Puppies
The recipe below includes oil-free and soy-free options, if that's how you roll. In the video, you'll see that I use the original recipe, including the oil and soy milk.
If you don't do oil and/or soy, just replace the oil with extra aquafaba and the soy milk with any other milk. When you change milks, just skip the vinegar.
Now that we have variations out of the way, let's talk about how easy this seven-ingredient recipe is:
- Mix up the dry ingredients.
- Add the wet ingredients and mix again.
- Scoop into your air fryer.
- Cook for 10 minutes.
Easy peasy! Get the full instructions for how to make Air Fryer Hush Puppies below.
Air Fryer Hush Puppies
Ingredients
- 1 cup cornmeal - fine ground if possible
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup soy milk - mixed with
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar - (*use a different milk and omit vinegar)
- 1/4 cup minced onion
- 1/4 cup aquafaba
- 1 tablespoon vegan sugar - (or sweetener of choice)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil - (**use extra aquafaba)
- spray oil - optional
Instructions
- Add the cornmeal, baking powder and salt to a medium-size mixing bowl and combine well.
- Mix in the nondairy milk, onion, aquafaba, sugar and olive oil.
- Scoop a tablespoon (15 g) of batter and roll into a ball. You can also just use a 1 tablespoon (15 g) scoop. Place in your air fryer basket.
- Once the basket is full, spray the tops with oil if using. Bake at 390°F (200°C) for 10 minutes. (NOTE: I didn't use parchment paper and stopped to shake after 5 minutes to prevent sticking.) Repeat until all the hush puppies are cooked.
Equipment
Video
Notes
- Recipe by Kathy Hester, Vegan Cooking in Your Air Fryer. Reprinted by permission of Page Street Publishing
- You can use a piece of perforated parchment paper under the hush puppies to keep them from sticking.
- gluten-free, soy-free option*, no oil added option**
JT
How do you get them to stick together? I tried making these last night and they just don’t stick together. When I did manage to get 3 into the fryer, they cooked, but when I tried to pick them up, they just turn back into cornmeal.
Becky Striepe
So weird! I wonder what's causing this issue for you. If they're that dry, I suggest adding more soymilk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until you get a proper dough.