Sweetcorn Cakes? UK Embraces Dessert Vegetable

Sweetcorn, traditionally a savory ingredient in the UK, is increasingly appearing in desserts like cookies, ice cream, and cheesecake, a trend noted by food forecasters and chefs. This culinary shift is part of a wider "swavoury" movement, which embraces unexpected sweet and savory flavor fusions. Crystelle Pereira, a former Great British Bake Off finalist, champions this trend, inspired by her experiences in Thailand where sweetcorn is a common dessert ingredient.

Pereira has created innovative dishes like a sweetcorn latte and a Brazilian lemonade with corn milk to introduce the ingredient to UK consumers. The growing interest in sweetcorn for desserts is also linked to the UK's strong appetite for South Korean cuisine. While not yet mainstream, the trend is gaining traction.

In London, an Asian-inspired bakery has reported its corn milk matcha drink as a summer bestseller. Other establishments, like Pophams bakery, have featured successful sweetcorn danishes, and gelato chains offer sweetcorn flavors. Despite some initial confusion among consumers, bakers are becoming more confident in exploring corn's versatility in sweet applications.