Stir in the minced garlic, cumin, and chili powder, cooking for an additional minute until fragrant.
Add the corn kernels and vegetable broth to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let simmer for 15 minutes.
Using an immersion blender, blend the soup until smooth. Alternatively, you can carefully transfer the soup in batches to a blender and blend until smooth.
Return the blended soup to the pot and stir in the heavy cream. Heat through, but do not boil.
Remove from heat and stir in the lime juice, cilantro, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve hot, garnished with sliced jalapeños and extra cotija cheese.
Notes
For a smoky flavor, add a teaspoon of smoked paprika or use grilled corn instead of fresh.
To make it lighter, substitute half of the heavy cream with unsweetened almond milk or coconut milk.