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You are here Home » Around the World » Mexican Recipes » Mexican Atole (Warm Cornmeal Drink)

Mexican Atole (Warm Cornmeal Drink)

Published: October 25, 2015 | Last Modified: October 9, 2019 by Sarah Ozimek

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A warming drink perfect for winter, this Mexican Atole recipe is full of the comforting flavors of vanilla and cinnamon.

A warming drink perfect for winter, this Mexican Atole recipe is full of the comforting flavors of vanilla and cinnamon. | www.CuriousCuisiniere.comWarming Mexican Atole

Atole (pronounced ah-TOH-leh) is a traditional Mexican warm beverage made from masa harina, the type of corn flour that is traditionally used to make corn tortillas.

It is a popular breakfast dish that dates back to the time of the Aztecs and Mayans.

Atole is traditionally drunk at celebrations of Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, a celebration that happens on November 1 and 2 to celebrate and remember those who have passed away.

The drink is often served for breakfast or as an after dinner snack. Its consistency reminds us of a thin cream of wheat, so it makes sense that it is often served for breakfast like cream of wheat or oatmeal.

Our Atole Recipe

Atole de Vainilla, the version we are sharing today, is flavored with vanilla and cinnamon. The warm, spicy fragrance of this Atole de Vainilla makes this beverage incredibly inviting and comforting, even before it is poured into the mugs.

It is a simple recipe, made with masa harina, liquid, and sweetener that is simmered with cinnamon and vanilla. 

A warming drink perfect for winter, this Mexican Atole recipe is full of the comforting flavors of vanilla and cinnamon. | www.CuriousCuisiniere.com

How To Make Atole de Vainilla

The process to make atole is incredibly simple and very similar to making cream of wheat. 

  • Mix masa harina, water, milk, piloncillo and cinnamon in a saucepan
  • Simmer until fragrant and your desired thickness
  • Add vanilla off of the heat
  • Serve warm

The consistency of atole can vary from thick and porridge-like to thin and pour-able, depending on how much liquid you add.

Our recipe makes an atole that is thick, but still drinkable. However, if you prefer yours on the thinner side, just add a little more milk.

What Is Piloncillo?

Atole is traditionally sweetened with piloncillo (pronounced PIL-on-SE-yo). Piloncillo is unrefined cane sugar that is pressed into a cone shape. It has a flavor is similar to brown sugar, with a deep molasses punch.

You can typically find piloncillo at any Mexican grocery store and online.

If you have a hard time finding piloncillo or don’t live near a Mexican grocery, don’t worry. You can mimic the flavor of piloncillo in atole by using brown sugar.

Other Mexican Dia De Los Muertos Recipes

If you’re interested in trying more traditional Dia de los Muertos recipes, you’ll want to have a look at our Pan de Muerto (Day of the Dead Bread) and Mexican Candied Pumpkin recipes!

A warming drink perfect for winter, this Mexican Atole recipe is full of the comforting flavors of vanilla and cinnamon. | www.CuriousCuisiniere.com
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4.28 from 47 votes

Mexican Atole

A warming drink perfect for winter, Mexican Atole is full of the comforting flavors of vanilla and cinnamon.
Yield: 4 cups of atole
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time25 mins
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 127kcal
Author: Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere

Ingredients

  • ½ c masa harina (not cornmeal)
  • 3 c water
  • 1 c milk, 2% or whole
  • 1/4 c grated piloncillo or brown sugar (more if desired)
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Instructions

  • In a medium saucepan combine masa harina, water, milk, piloncillo (or brown sugar), and cinnamon. Whisk the mixture to combine. Bring it to a simmer over medium high heat, whisking often.
  • Reduce the heat to medium and simmer the mixture for 5-10 minutes, whisking often, until your desired consistency is reached.
  • Remove the atole from the heat and whisk in the vanilla.
  • Serve hot or warm with a pinch of cinnamon to garnish.

Notes

This recipe from 2015 was updated in Feb 2017. We made the atole even better! Enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 8oz | Calories: 127kcal

A warming drink perfect for winter, this Mexican Atole recipe is full of the comforting flavors of vanilla and cinnamon. | www.CuriousCuisiniere.com


Today the Sunday Supper tastemakers are celebrating warming dishes from soups to stews, even drinks and desserts! Take a look at the comforting recipes below and get ready for the cooler temperatures to roll in!

Beverages

  • Drunken Pumpkin Spice Latte by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
  • Hot Mulled Caramel Apple Sangria by The Crumby Cupcake
  • Mexican Atole by Curious Cuisiniere
  • Gluten Free Hot Spiked Apple Cider by Gluten Free Crumbley

Desserts

  • Apple Pear Crisp by The Freshman Cook
  • Bananas Foster by Pies and Plots
  • Chocolate Hazelnut Lava Cake by Brunch with Joy
  • Fudge Pudding Cake by Cosmopolitan Cornbread
  • Honeycrisp Apple Tart by The Redhead Baker
  • Pumpkin Cheesecake in Pumpkins by Desserts Required
  • Warm Cardamom and Coconut Rice Pudding by Fearless Dining

Main Dishes and Soups

  • Beef Brats and Beans Soup by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
  • Beef Pot Pie with Herbed Biscuits by From Gate to Plate
  • Best Ever White Bean and Mushroom Soup by Pancake Warriors
  • Braised Venison with Plums by Food Lust People Love
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  • Carbonnade Flamande by Tara’s Multicultural Table
  • Classic Italian Meat Sauce by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
  • Creamy Cauliflower Broccoli Cheese Soup by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
  • Hearty Chickpea Soup by The Food Hunter’s Guide to Cuisine
  • Creamy Stove-Top Alfredo with Bacon and Green Beans by Peaceful Cooking
  • Crockpot Creamy Chicken and Noodles by Confessions of a Cooking Diva
  • Curry Debal by Palatable Pastime
  • Easy Sweet Potato Soup by Healing Tomato
  • Easy Zuppa Toscana Soup Copycat by Fantastical Sharing of Recipes
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  • Tuscan White Bean Soup with Ham by Big Bear’s Wife

Sunday Supper MovementJoin the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board.

Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.


This is one of the recipes from the early days of Curious Cuisiniere. We’ve updated our pictures since we first made it, but we’ve left the original images here as a fun throwback and shout out to how far we’ve come. Enjoy! 

A warming drink perfect for winter, Mexican Atole is full of the comforting flavors of vanilla and cinnamon. | www.curiouscuisiniere.com  A warming drink perfect for winter, Mexican Atole is full of the comforting flavors of vanilla and cinnamon. | www.curiouscuisiniere.com A warming drink perfect for winter, Mexican Atole is full of the comforting flavors of vanilla and cinnamon. | www.curiouscuisiniere.com

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Related Categories: Around the World, Drink Recipes, Mexican Recipes, Winter Recipes You May Also Be Interested In: SundaySupper

About Sarah Ozimek

Sarah is the co-owner of Curious Cuisiniere and the chief researcher and recipe developer for the site. Her love for cultural cuisines was instilled early by her French Canadian Grandmother. She has traveled extensively and enjoys bringing the flavors of her travels back to create easy-to-make recipes. Her experience in the kitchen and in recipe development comes from years working in professional kitchens. Find out more about her and our mission on our About Page.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Hieu

    November 20, 2019 at 4:10 am

    4 stars
    I followed your recipe and it was amazing! Everyone in my family enjoyed it so much, especially when winter is coming here in Viet Nam. However, I’m just asking if I can replace Masa Harina with corn meal, since in here, there are not many places which sell this and it’s really painful to buy Masa Harina because everytime I wanted to, I had to go outside the city to buy it.
    I hope that you will reply to my comment soon!

    Reply
    • Sarah Ozimek

      November 20, 2019 at 12:59 pm

      Hi Hieu. We haven’t tried making atole using corn meal, however I think it can be done. You may just need to adjust the amount of liquid, as the cornmeal may absorb liquid slightly differently than masa harina. If you give it a try, definitely stop back by and let us know how it turns out for you!

      Reply
  2. Mariana W

    October 8, 2019 at 11:17 pm

    This is my go to recipe whenever I make Atole! Quick question, what’s the serving size for 1 serving and how many calories per serving?

    Reply
    • Sarah Ozimek

      October 9, 2019 at 1:49 pm

      Hi Mariana. We’re so glad you enjoy the recipe! 1 serving is 1 cup (8 oz) of atole and has 127 calories if using whole milk. We have updated our recipe card to show this info too. Thanks for asking!

      Reply
  3. Diner

    September 29, 2018 at 8:20 pm

    5 stars
    I like my mother’s version, which is made with Mexican chocolate and all milk instead of the milk/water combo. The chocolate (xocolatl) is presweetened, no need for piloncillo. I think it might call for a stick of canela to be boiled along with the mixture, but powdered cinnamon would be just as good.

    Reply
    • Sarah Ozimek

      September 29, 2018 at 9:20 pm

      This sounds delicious! We have been meaning to try a chocolate version!

      Reply
  4. Adriana C.

    December 13, 2016 at 6:08 pm

    I made this and it was amazing! I was a little apprehensive since my boyfriend has been spoiled with his mother’s delicious and authentic Mexican recipes growing up. I think I make will be as good as hers. My toughest critic LOVED IT and even finished the rest of it!!! I even loved it and I don’t like anything cinnamon flavored. The only thing I did different was use actual cinnamon sticks versus the powder. I placed three sticks and let it boil with the rest of the ingredients. It tasted delicious. Before I served it, I added an extra splash of vanilla and one more scoop of brown sugar. 5 stars!!! All day I kept daydreaming about having some more! Good job on the recipe!

    Reply
    • Sarah Ozimek

      December 14, 2016 at 7:58 am

      Thank you Adriana! We’re so glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  5. Christi

    December 4, 2015 at 12:36 pm

    It looks/sounds like it would be delicious. Do you know if it would be as tasty if made with a non-dairy milk, such as almond or coconut? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Sarah Ozimek

      December 4, 2015 at 3:10 pm

      Hi Christi! I don’t see why you couldn’t use almond or coconut milk to make the Atole. It would definitely be worth a dry. Let us know how it turns out for you!

      Reply
      • Christi

        December 4, 2015 at 10:10 pm

        Thanks so much. 😉

      • Melanie Ponce

        December 17, 2016 at 10:14 pm

        5 stars
        Atole is AMAZING!!!! ESPECIALLY WITH TAMALES

      • Sarah Ozimek

        December 21, 2016 at 8:14 am

        Oh yes! It is one of our favorites! Thanks for stopping by Melanie!

    • Mario

      April 15, 2017 at 3:26 pm

      It us very delicious. Very

      Reply
      • Sarah Ozimek

        April 18, 2017 at 7:55 am

        Thanks Mario! We’re so glad you enjoyed it!

  6. Sarah Reid

    November 1, 2015 at 1:08 pm

    This one has always fascinated me, definitely looks comforting!

    Reply
  7. betsycohen

    November 1, 2015 at 11:03 am

    I vote the thicker the better! Great recipe for a warm breakfast.

    Reply
  8. carolinescookingblog

    October 30, 2015 at 8:38 am

    You know I think I somehow never managed to have this in Mexico – I was there more in the warmer months which may be why, but I remember hearing of it now I see your recipe. Must give it a try!

    Reply
  9. palatablepastime

    October 29, 2015 at 7:17 pm

    Sounds interesting and different. I have to try this!

    Reply
  10. Abida

    October 27, 2015 at 1:50 pm

    I posted a kind of tea drink using barley flour on my blog a while back but have never heard of cornmeal. Sounds great!

    Reply
    • Sarah Ozimek

      October 29, 2015 at 3:12 pm

      Ooh, we would be intrigued to try one with barley flour!

      Reply
      • Carolyn Morales

        March 17, 2017 at 3:30 pm

        I have done the barley meal. It’s good but with a much different flavor

      • Sarah Ozimek

        March 17, 2017 at 3:54 pm

        I bet barley meal would make for a very unique version! We’ll have to give it a try!

  11. Serena | Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch

    October 26, 2015 at 4:06 pm

    What wonderful flavors! Perfect for a chilly day!

    Reply
    • Sarah Ozimek

      October 29, 2015 at 3:13 pm

      It is!

      Reply
  12. Tara

    October 26, 2015 at 7:01 am

    Yum! I have masa harina in my pantry right now. Will definitely need to try this.

    Reply
    • Sarah Ozimek

      October 26, 2015 at 7:16 am

      It is such a fun way to use up leftover masa!

      Reply
  13. Liz

    October 25, 2015 at 8:06 pm

    You always have the most intriguing recipes! Another new one for me—but I’d sure love to sip one with you!

    Reply
    • Sarah Ozimek

      October 26, 2015 at 7:16 am

      Thanks Liz! We love warming winter drinks, and this is a fun way to switch things up!

      Reply
  14. Wendy, A Day in the Life on the Farm

    October 25, 2015 at 6:56 pm

    I love cream of wheat so this sounds delicious to me.

    Reply
    • Sarah Ozimek

      October 26, 2015 at 7:17 am

      You would love it Wendy!

      Reply
  15. Patsy

    October 25, 2015 at 5:41 pm

    This sounds so inviting! I’ve never heard of this drink, but may have to give it a try as the cooler weather gets going here.

    Reply
    • Sarah Ozimek

      October 26, 2015 at 7:18 am

      We will be drinking it often now that the weather is getting cooler!

      Reply
  16. Wholistic Woman (@wholistic_woman)

    October 25, 2015 at 4:29 pm

    I think I had something similar when I was in Guatemala. It was delicious!

    Reply
    • Sarah Ozimek

      October 26, 2015 at 7:19 am

      I think a lot of the regions in that area have variations on this drink. Wonderful to hear your experience!

      Reply
  17. taranoland

    October 25, 2015 at 11:14 am

    I have never heard of this before but it sounds so warm and comforting!

    Reply
    • Sarah Ozimek

      October 26, 2015 at 7:19 am

      It is the perfect drink to curl up in front of the fire with!

      Reply
  18. Constance Smith | CosmopolitanCornbread.com

    October 25, 2015 at 8:43 am

    Wow! I had heard of this before, but I didn’t know what it was. How interesting!

    Reply
    • Sarah Ozimek

      October 26, 2015 at 7:20 am

      It’s so easy to make too!

      Reply
  19. Bernie ~ A Gouda Life

    October 25, 2015 at 6:52 am

    Looks delicious and so warming and soothing on a cold day! Love all the information too!

    Reply
    • Sarah Ozimek

      October 26, 2015 at 7:21 am

      Thanks Bernie!

      Reply
  20. Cooking Chat

    October 25, 2015 at 5:52 am

    Very interesting! I had to click through to see what this was. Would be interesting to try…though I doubt it would replace wine at our table. 🙂

    Reply
    • Sarah Ozimek

      October 26, 2015 at 7:21 am

      That’s understandable 🙂 Wine is hard to replace!

      Reply

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