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Cozy up with a warm mug of rich, creamy, and boldly spiced Mexican atole.
What Is Atole?
Atole (pronounced ah-toh-leh) is a Mexican, masa-based drink with Mayan origins. The creamy beverage is often flavored with cinnamon and is popular during Day of the Dead celebrations and during the holiday season.
What Is In Atole?
These are the ingredients you’ll need to make this irresistible Mexican atole recipe:
- Masa harina: This atole recipe starts with masa harina, a dough flour made from dried corn. It can be found in the international aisle of most U.S. grocery stores or at your local Mexican market.
- Water or milk: You can use water or milk for this rich and creamy recipe.
- Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon lends warmth and cozy flavor.
- Piloncillo: Piloncillo, a type of unrefined sugar, gives the atole sweetness and complexity. Like masa harina, you should be able to find it in the international aisle of your grocery store or at your nearest Mexican market.
- Vanilla: Take the flavor up a notch with vanilla extract.
Recipe Tip
You can use 1/3 cup dark brown sugar if you can't find piloncillo.
How to Make Atole
You’ll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make Mexican atole at home:
- Blend all the ingredients (besides the vanilla) together.
- Pour the mixture into a saucepan and bring to a boil.
- Lower the temperature and whisk for five minutes.
- Remove the atole from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
Can You Make Atole Ahead of Time?
It’s best to serve atole immediately. However, if you have leftovers or need to make it ahead of time, you can store atole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. It will thicken over time, so make sure to add a splash of water or milk before reheating to make sure it’s the right consistency.
Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise
“I thought for sure that a tablespoon of cinnamon would be too much, but it was perfect,” according to Katherine Naegele. “Added some cashew cream to my cup, and it was delightful.”
“This is great and I have made it for years,” says Just me. “I will often use a combination of water/milk and white sugar/brown sugar to alter the flavor.”
Editorial contributions by Corey Williams
Ingredients
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½ cup masa harina
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5 cups water or milk
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1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
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5 tablespoons piloncillo, brown sugar cones
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1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Directions
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Place the masa, water or milk, cinnamon, and piloncillo in a blender. Blend until smooth, about 3 minutes.
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Pour the contents of the blender into a sauce pan and bring the mixture to boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. When the mixture reaches a boil, turn the heat to low and continue to whisk for 5 minutes.
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Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Pour into mugs and serve hot.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
68 | Calories |
0g | Fat |
14g | Carbs |
1g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings Per Recipe 5 | |
Calories 68 | |
% Daily Value * | |
Total Fat 0g | 1% |
Saturated Fat 0g | 1% |
Sodium 8mg | 0% |
Total Carbohydrate 14g | 5% |
Dietary Fiber 2g | 8% |
Total Sugars 4g | |
Protein 1g | 2% |
Vitamin C 0mg | 0% |
Calcium 37mg | 3% |
Iron 1mg | 5% |
Potassium 46mg | 1% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.