Sweet-Spicy Fried Chicken

Ingredients

• 40 servings canola oil for frying
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper 
• 1  chile such as fresno fresh red thinly sliced
• 12 small drumsticks skinless
• 1 large egg white 
• 0.5 cup flour all-purpose
• 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder 
• 0.5 cup whole-grain medium-grind cornmeal 
• 1 teaspoon paprika 
• 3 tablespoons cayenne pepper sauce such as frank's hot
• 2 tablespoons honey raw
• 0.5 teaspoon salt 

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• baking sheet
• whisk
• wire rack
• kitchen thermometer

Directions

1. Whisk honey and 2 Tbsp. hot sauce.
2. In a dish, mix flour, cornmeal, spices and salt. In a bowl, whisk egg white until soft peaks form. Fold in remaining 1 Tbsp. hot sauce. Coat chicken with egg mixture; dredge in flour mixture.
3. Place on a baking sheet.
4. Set a wire rack over a baking sheet. Fill a cast-iron skillet with 1/2 inch oil (about 1 1/2 cups); attach a deep-fry thermometer to the side. Warm oil over medium heat until it reaches 360F, about 25 minutes.
5. Add 6 drumsticks; cook, turning occasionally and adjusting heat to keep oil at 325F, until a meat thermometer inserted into drumstick registers 165F and chicken is browned, 10 to 12 minutes.
6. Let drumsticks drain on wire rack. Return oil to 360F and repeat with remaining chicken.
7. Just before serving, drizzle fried chicken with honey mixture and sprinkle with chile.