CORN FRITTERS DAY
Fast Facts
- WHEN
- Celebrated each year on July 16
- ORIGIN
- Native Americans utilized corn as a dietary staple for thousands of years. Early European settlers adapted traditional fried batter techniques.
- VIBE
- bright, crispy bites fried to perfection.
NATIONAL CORN FRITTERS DAY
Move over, corn on the cob! National Corn Fritters Day on July 16 is the ultimate excuse to drop everything, heat up the oil, and fry up a batch of the crispiest, most flavorful bites of summer. Packed with sweet, juicy kernels held together by a light, golden batter, these little morsels are pure comfort food. While they are a certified crowd-pleaser all year round, making them with peak-season fresh summer corn takes this celebration to a whole new level.
#NationalCornFrittersDay
These bright, crispy bites are the ultimate chameleons of the picnic table, making them a spectacular addition to backyard barbecues, pool parties, and summer gatherings. The classic blueprint is simple enough: sweet corn, cornmeal, egg, milk, and butter.
However, while their roots are deeply planted in the culinary traditions of the American South, corn fritters are a blank canvas for your kitchen creativity. You can easily jazz them up by tossing in:
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Diced jalapeños, cayenne pepper, or pepper jack cheese.
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Chopped scallions, fresh chives, cilantro, or smoky roasted red peppers.
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Crispy crumbled bacon, cotija cheese, or a dash of smoked paprika.
Don't relegate corn fritters to the edge of the plate as just another side dish. With a little imagination, they can easily become a functional, star player in a complete meal.
More than a Side Dish
The Ultimate Summer Sandwich
Layer a couple of crispy corn fritters onto a lightly toasted brioche bun alongside a pan-fried fish filet, crunchy slaw, and a swipe of spicy tartar sauce.
The Show-Stopping Appetizer
Drop the batter in smaller spoonful's to create bite-sized poppers. Serve them on a platter with a side of hot honey, garlic aioli, or sweet chili sauce for dipping.
A Taste of July in January
When there is a massive bumper crop of sweet corn in the summer, slice the kernels off the cob and freeze them. Pulling them out to fry up a batch of golden fritters in the dead of winter is the fastest way to brighten up a gloomy, cold day.
HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL CORN FRITTER DAY
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Grab your favorite cast-iron pan and whip up a fresh batch from scratch using fresh sweet corn.
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Head to your favorite local Southern-style diner or gastropub and let the pros handle the frying.
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Serve them warm with a drizzle of maple syrup, a dollop of sour cream, or a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
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Snap a picture of your golden creations and share them on social media using the hashtag #NationalCornFrittersDay.
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Head to your local Southern-style restaurant or grab your frying pan to whip up some homemade fritters! Post on social media using #NationalCornFrittersDay.
NATIONAL CORN FRITTERS DAY HISTORY
While the deep-fried, golden origin story of who officially created National Corn Fritters Day remains a mystery, the history of the fritter itself stretches back centuries. Native Americans utilized corn as a dietary staple for thousands of years, and early European settlers adapted traditional fried batter techniques to incorporate this abundant local grain. The result was a crispy tradition that we are more than happy to celebrate every July 16th!