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Atol de Elote

A traditional Guatemalan dish — Atol de Elote is the sweet, steaming corn drink that warms market mornings and cold highland evenings alike.

⏱ 20 minPrep time
🔥 25 minCook time
🍽 6Servings
🏷 DessertCategory
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Atol de Elote - Guatemalan cuisine

A traditional Guatemalan dish — Atol de Elote is the sweet, steaming corn drink that warms market mornings and cold highland evenings alike. Fresh corn kernels are blended with milk, sweetened, and scented with cinnamon until the atol turns thick and velvety. Sipped from a mug or eaten with a spoon, it is comfort in its purest form.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Cut the kernels from the corn with a sharp knife; reserve a quarter of them whole.
  2. Blend the remaining kernels with the water until smooth, then strain through a fine sieve, pressing out the corn milk, or blend to your preferred texture.
  3. Combine the corn mixture, whole kernels, milk, sugar, cinnamon stick, and salt in a pot.
  4. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the atol thickens and gently bubbles, 20 to 25 minutes.
  5. Stir in the vanilla, remove the cinnamon stick, and serve hot in mugs, dusted with ground cinnamon.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Stir constantly or the corn milk will scorch on the bottom. The atol thickens as it cools; thin it with a splash of milk when reheating.

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Recipe details

Prep20 min
Cook25 min
Servings6
CategoryDessert
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →