Crispy Buttermilk Hush Puppies | Fried in Avocado Oil
Crispy Buttermilk Hush Puppies (a Healthier Version!)
These homemade buttermilk hush puppies are crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside, and naturally sweetened with honey. Made with simple, wholesome ingredients and fried in avocado oil, they’re a healthier twist on the classic Southern favorite. Perfect as a side dish or snack, they can be made in advance, frozen, and air-fried for a quick and easy addition to any meal. Serve them with a drizzle of honey or your favorite dipping sauce for the ultimate comfort food!
Last night, I became a superhero—at least in my son’s eyes—by serving up homemade buttermilk hush puppies for dinner. If it were up to him, he’d live off hush puppies alone. One of our favorite local restaurants makes the best hush puppies, served with a honey dip. The first time we ordered them, he devoured his portion so quickly that we ended up getting a whole platter to-go.
When you have a picky eater, it feels like a small victory when they finally find something they love. Now, every time I make dinner, he looks at his plate and says, “I want hush puppies too!” I always promise him hush puppies another time.
But recently, I started feeling a little guilty about constantly giving him store-bought or restaurant hush puppies. Most are fried in soybean or vegetable oil and contain added sugars and unpronounceable ingredients. I knew I could make a healthier version—one that I could freeze and air-fry whenever he wanted.
And I did it! These homemade buttermilk hush puppies are sweetened with honey (no refined sugar!) and fried in avocado oil for a better-for-you twist. Did he like them? He’s a BIG FAN. And while we’re totally fine with indulging in restaurant hush puppies once in a while, I love having a homemade option I feel good about serving him more often. 
For these hushpuppies, I used all organic ingredients. Here’s everything I used:
Ingredients for Hushpuppies:
- Fine yellow cornmeal
- All-purpose flour
- Fine sea salt
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Garlic powder
- Honey (local)
- Sweet yellow onion, finely diced
- Egg
- Buttermilk
- Avocado oil (for frying)
These hush puppies turned out even better than I imagined! It took a few attempts to perfect the texture, but on the last try, I nailed it.
I was shocked at how crispy they stayed for hours while cooling on the counter. And when I reheated them in the air fryer, they were just as good as fresh! Now, I have the urge to host a summer seafood boil just so I can make a big batch of these as the perfect side. My family liked dipping them in the habanero ranch, but I loved them dipped in a hot honey! 
How to Make Hush Puppies:
In a large bowl, mix together the cornmeal, flour, sea salt, baking powder, baking soda, and garlic powder.
Finely chop or grate the sweet yellow onion and stir it into the dry ingredients.
Add in the honey, egg, and buttermilk, mixing until just combined.
Refrigerate the batter for about 15 minutes to firm up.
Lightly coat your hands in flour and roll the batter into 60g (about 3-tablespoon-sized) balls.
Heat avocado oil in a frying pan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until it reaches 370 degrees.
Carefully place about five dough balls into the oil, keeping them at least two inches apart.
Fry for about 60 seconds per side, or until golden brown and crispy.
Remove and let cool on a paper towel-lined plate before serving. 
When I’m making fried foods, I always use avocado oil, butter, coconut oil, or olive oil.
A lot of hush puppies, french fries, and chicken strips are fried in unhealthy oils at restaurants. Don’t get me wrong—there’s nothing wrong with enjoying them in moderation! I’ll never restrict my child from eating restaurant food (well, maybe except for the overload of artificial dyes), but when I’m making food at home, I always choose a healthier route when possible. By using better-quality ingredients and oils like avocado oil, I can feel good about what I’m serving while still making delicious, crispy, homemade favorites.
Frying in avocado oil instead of vegetable oil is a healthier choice for several reasons:
-
Higher Smoke Point – Avocado oil has a smoke point of around 520°F, making it more stable at high temperatures. This prevents the oil from breaking down and producing harmful compounds, unlike vegetable oils, which often have lower smoke points.
-
Healthier Fat Profile – Avocado oil is rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, which can support good cholesterol levels and reduce inflammation. In contrast, many vegetable oils (like soybean, canola, and corn oil) are high in omega-6 fatty acids, which can contribute to inflammation when consumed in excess.
-
No Harmful Additives – Many vegetable oils are heavily processed and refined using chemicals, heat, and solvents, which can strip nutrients and introduce harmful byproducts. Avocado oil is typically cold-pressed or minimally processed, retaining more of its natural antioxidants and nutrients.
-
Better Taste & Crispiness – Avocado oil has a mild, buttery flavor that complements hush puppies without overpowering them. It also helps create a light, crispy texture without the greasy aftertaste that some vegetable oils can leave behind.
I made sourdough donuts a few weeks ago with coconut oil as the frying source and they were AMAZING. I’ll post that recipe soon.
Crispy Buttermilk Hush Puppies (Fried in Avocado Oil)
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 Cups Fine Yellow Cornmeal
- 1/2 Cup All-Purpose Flour
- 1 1/2 Tsp Fine Sea Salt
- 1/2 Tsp Baking Soda
- 1 1/2 Tsp Baking Powder
- 1/2 Medium Sweet Yellow Onion
- 1 Tbsp Honey
- 1 Large Egg
- 1 Cup Buttermilk cold
- 3 Cups Avocado Oil (for frying)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together the cornmeal, flour, sea salt, baking powder, baking soda, and garlic powder.
- Finely chop or grate the sweet yellow onion and stir it into the dry ingredients.
- Add in the honey, egg, and buttermilk, mixing until just combined.
- Refrigerate the batter for about 15 minutes to firm up.
- Lightly coat your hands in flour and roll the batter into 60g (about 3-tablespoon-sized) balls.
- Heat avocado oil in a frying pan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until it reaches 365- 370 degrees.
- Carefully place about five dough balls into the oil, keeping them at least two inches apart.
- Fry for about 60 seconds per side, or until golden brown and crispy.
- Remove and let cool on a paper towel-lined plate before serving.
More Dinner Recipes You May Love:
Chicken Stuffed Bell Peppers (low carb & high protein dinner)
Chicken Enchiladas | Gluten Free & High Protein Recipe
Chicken Salad Recipe I Eat Every Day
Gluten-Free Turkey Meatloaf Recipe We Eat Weekly
Sourdough Pizza Crust Recipe: Easy and Delicious
Mexican Street Corn Chicken Enchiladas Recipe
The Best Classic Beef Chili Recipe: Easy & Ready in One Hour!
Lettuce Wrapped Grilled Jalapeño Cheddar Turkey Burgers
Brussels Sprout & Quinoa Power Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
Sweet Jalapeño Deviled Eggs | Delicious Appetizer Recipe
Creamy Garlic Parmesan Pasta with Sundried Tomatoes & Basil
I am so excited for you to try out this recipe! If there are any recipes you’d like me to recreate with a healthy twist, let me know in the comments!
Questions for you!
- Have you ever made hushpuppies?
- What is your favorite fried food?
A great recipe! We loved very much.
Yay:)