Get your large mixing bowl ready for use. Add the cornmeal, flour, sugar, and baking powder. Toss in the salt and the onion powder too. Use your whisk to stir everything together well. Make sure there are no large clumps of flour.

In a separate small bowl, crack the large egg. Add the cold buttermilk to the beaten egg. Whisk them until the mixture is very smooth. This creates the liquid base for your fried dough.

Pour the wet mixture into the large dry bowl. Use a big spoon to stir the ingredients. Do not overmix the batter at this stage. It should be thick enough to hold its shape. Let the batter rest for five minutes.

Fill your pot with about three inches of oil. Turn the heat to a medium setting. Use a thermometer to check the oil temperature. It should reach 365 degrees for the best results.

Use your small scoop to grab the batter. Drop the balls carefully into the hot oil. Do not put too many in at once. They need room to float and to flip over.

The hush puppies will bob in the hot oil. Let them cook for about three minutes total. They should be a deep golden brown color. Use your spoon to turn them over halfway through.

Lift the hush puppies out with your slotted spoon. Place them onto the wire rack immediately. The paper towels will catch any extra grease. Serve them while they are still hot and crispy.