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Yelapa-Style Sweet Corn Pie

Yelapa-Style Sweet Corn Pie

Corn pie (pay de elote) celebrates the sweet, grassy, delicate flavors of fresh corn that pair beautifully with sugar, eggs, and dairy.

By Rose HattabaughJune 6, 2022

  • Makes
    8 to 10 servings
  • Cook Time
    1 hour 10 minutes
  • Active time plus cooling
    15 minutes active, plus cooling
  • Rating

We’re big fans of desserts made with sweet corn. Whether in a cake, pudding or custard, the delicate grassy notes of fresh corn pair wonderfully with sugar, eggs and dairy. This unusual pie, developed by food writer Paola Briseño-González, was inspired by the pay de elote (corn pie, translated from the Spanish) sold by the slice in the beach town of Yelapa, Mexico. There, roaming vendors offer treats meant to be eaten on the spot, without the aid of utensils. Fresh corn kernels cut from peak-season just-shucked ears is, of course, best, as their flavor is sweet and texture tender; you'll need three ears to yield the 2½ cups kernels needed for the recipe. Out of season, frozen corn kernels will work, but be sure to fully thaw them before use and pat them dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Serve the pie at room temperature or chilled, with or without forks. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Tip

Don’t be shy about pressing on the corn puree with the back of a spoon or silicone spatula to extract as much liquid—and flavor—as possible.

Ingredients
  • 394

    grams (2½ cups) corn kernels (see headnote)

  • 1

    cup whole milk

  • 4

    large eggs

  • 107

    grams (½ cup) white sugar

  • 2

    tablespoons cornstarch

  • 1

    teaspoon lemon juice

  • 1
  • ¼

    teaspoon table salt

Step 1

Heat the oven to 325°F with a rack in the middle position. In a blender, combine the corn, milk, eggs, sugar and cornstarch. Blend until smooth, about 1 minute.

Step 2

Set a fine-mesh strainer over a large bowl. Pour the puree into the strainer and press on the solids with a silicone spatula to extract as much liquid as possible; discard the solids. Stir in the lemon juice, vanilla and salt, then pour the mixture into the pie crust. Bake until the filling jiggles only slightly when the pie is gently shaken, 55 to 60 minutes.

Step 3

Cool completely on a wire rack. Serve at room temperature or refrigerate for about 2 hours (cover if refrigerating longer) and serve chilled.