Buttered corn flan

Warm corn slathered with butter is an unbeatable combination. Here, that happy union takes on a new form: a share-size sweet corn flan. Inspired by the Mexican dessert flan de elote, fresh corn kernels are toasted in butter until golden and fragrant, then infused into heavy cream, lending the custard its mellow sweetness and rich, buttery flavor. Pour the mixture over a layer of deep amber caramel, bake until just set, then chill. It's a perfect make-ahead centerpiece dessert with a memorable flavor that lands somewhere between buttered corn and caramel popcorn.