10 ways to enjoy corn beyond the cob around Indianapolis
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Sweet corn ice cream stars in the "carmel" corn sundae at Freeland's. Photo: Arika Herron/Axios
This year's corn harvest may be a mixed bag, but the state's top crop is having a moment on Indianapolis drinks and desserts menus.
The big picture: Corn has always had a place in Midwestern cooking, but local chefs are embracing the flavor in interesting new ways and taking cues from Latin American cuisine, where it has long enjoyed wider use.
- From a $3 traditional atole de elote to an $18 corn cocktail, Indy coffee shops, bakeries and restaurants are celebrating corn in all its forms.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of ways to enjoy corn beyond the cob.
🥛 Atole de elote can be found at various Mexican and Central American restaurants around the city, including Pupuseria La Salvadorena. $3.
- The traditional Mexican drink is made with fresh corn, milk and cinnamon. Served warm, it's creamy, slightly sweet and comforting.
🍦 Sweet corn ice cream from Lick is made with My Dad's Sweet Corn. A half-pint is $5.75.
🌽 Corn creme brulee from Tinker Street, made with My Dad's Sweet Corn and topped with candied corn kernels, blackberry and mint, $14.
☕️ Pair the caramel corn latte ($7) at Borage with the cafe's caramel corn cookie ($4).
- The corn in the latte is subtle but the cookie delivers big corn flavor — like sweetened cornbread in cookie form and topped with a generous drizzle of salted caramel.
🍪 Frosted bourbon corn cookie from Mess Vegan Sweets tastes like "a bowl of Frosted Flakes, but with bourbon instead of milk." $4.
🍮 Sweet corn panna cotta at Traders Point Creamery, with blueberry compote and candied corn nuts. $15.
🍸 Two (!!) corn cocktails at Vida, $18 each.
- Ahyoka is made with gin, corn cordial, basil eau de vie, bitter liqueur, tomato, lime and sweet Thai ginger bitters.
- Sobremesa features hibiscus-infused mezcal, corn, pasilla mixe, dry curaçao, hibiscus agave, lime and chipotle cacao bitters.
🍿 The "Carmel" corn sundae at Freeland's tops sweet corn ice cream with caramel corn and salted caramel. $19.
🫔 Corn poppers at 3 in 1 Restaurant, where they cut their signature sweet corn tamales into bite-size pieces, deep-fry them and serve them with powdered sugar. $7.50.
🍵 Sweet corn latte or matcha at Good Vibes Cafe, where housemade sweet corn puree is blended into either drink and topped with sweet corn cold foam. $8.