This one’s halfway between cornbread and dessert—soft, buttery, and sweet without being candy-level sweet. It’s what happens when Mexican pan de elote meets a weeknight baking project. There’s no frosting, no fuss, and no trying to convince your kid that something dry and crumbly counts as cake.
This version leans on real corn and condensed milk for sweetness and moisture, which means it stays tender for days and reheats beautifully. Slice it for snack, breakfast, or the part of dinner where your toddler has already ignored the vegetables.
Check out our other great recipes for using up leftover fruit and vegetables!
Ingredients Overview
- Corn: Fresh kernels make a difference here—sweet, juicy, and actually taste like corn.
- Condensed Milk: Provides both the sugar and the dense, rich crumb. Skip the temptation to use regular milk; this is the secret.
- Yogurt: Adds fat and tang. Full-fat only—this isn’t the place for restraint.
- Cornmeal + Flour: The mix gives structure without losing the soft texture.
- Eggs + Yolks: For richness and that golden color that makes it look like you baked on purpose.
- Olive Oil: Or any neutral oil—just enough to keep things from drying out.
- Baking Powder + Cornstarch: The supporting crew for lift and tenderness.
- Powdered Sugar: Optional dusting on top, mostly for visual effect and toddler approval.
Instructions Summary
- Blend the corn, cornmeal, condensed milk, and yogurt until smooth.
- Mix with the dry ingredients until lump-free and glossy.
- Bake at 350°F for about 40 minutes, or until the knife test says you’re done.
- Cool before slicing (really—otherwise it will collapse into sweet, corn-scented mush).
- Dust with powdered sugar if you want it to look fancy.
Serve warm, room temperature, or straight from the fridge—no one under ten will care either way.
FAQ
Can I use frozen corn?
Yes. Thaw it first and drain well. The cake won’t know the difference.
What if I don’t have condensed milk?
You can’t skip it—it’s the core of the texture. Regular milk or cream will make it bland and loose.
Does it freeze well?
Shockingly, yes. Slice, wrap, and thaw as needed. Reheat for a few seconds to bring back the softness.
Can I make it less sweet?
You can hold back a few spoonfuls of condensed milk, but that’s about it. It’s a cake, not a side dish.
Is this safe for toddlers?
Absolutely. There’s no honey, no weird spices, and plenty of soft texture. Just cut small pieces and let them demolish it.
Easy Corn Cake Recipe Kids Love (Pan De Elote)
Description
This Mexican corn cake for kids is soft, sweet, and made with yogurt for a healthier treat that maintains the perfect texture and taste every time. A simple, no-frosting dessert that tastes like effort but isn’t.
Ingredients
Instructions
Prep
-
Preheat your oven to 350. Coat a cake pan with cooking spray.
-
Cut kernels off the corn. Add kernels to a blender, along with cornmeal, most (but not all) of the condensed milk, and yogurt; blend until liquidy.
-
Mix flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and a pinch of salt in a large bowl. Pour in contents of the blender in this bowl; using a hand mixer, blend until smooth, with no lumps of flour remaining.
Cook and Assemble
-
Cook on the middle rack for 40 minutes, then dip a knife into the center of the cake–if it comes out clean, remove from oven; if loose and liquidy material from the cake is on the knife, cook for an additional five minutes.
-
Let cake cool for 30-60 minutes before serving. Dust with powdered sugar, as desired.
Serve
-
This is nice and moist on its own, but if your child is the sort who requires icing for it to be a true treat, you can whip up one easily by mixing a scoop of yogurt with a big squeeze each of honey and lime; spread over the top of the cake, or allow your child to dip his/her cake slice right into the topping.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 12
Serving Size 1 slice
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 150kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 7g11%
- Cholesterol 50mg17%
- Total Carbohydrate 20g7%
- Sugars 10g
- Protein 4g8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
