Flan Recipe
The ultimate comfort food, this Flan Recipe features a creamy custard with a luscious caramel topping. It’s a classic dessert that’s surprisingly easy to make, perfect for any occasion. Treat yourself and your loved ones to a slice of this delightful flan tonight!
Equipment
- Wooden Spoon
- Mixing Bowl
- Frying Pan
- Chef's Knife
- Large Pot
- Blender
- Baking Sheet
- Oven
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 14 oz sweetened condensed milk preferably la lechera brand
- 12 oz evaporated milk preferably Carnation brand
- 1 3/4 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 1/2 Tbsp vanilla Homemade Vanilla extractor Mexican Vanilla Extract
- 5 large eggs room temperature
- 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
- Berries to serve strawberries, raspberries or blueberries Optional for garnish
Instructions
- Prep– Preheat the oven to 350˚F with a rack in the middle of the oven and bring a kettle of water to boil which you will need for the water bath. Take out a 9-inch by 2-inch round, non-stick cake pan so it’s ready when the caramel is ready to pour.
- Make the Caramel– In a medium heavy saucepan, stir together granulated sugar and water until dissolved. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat without stirring, about 3 to 5 minutes. Once you see it start to turn golden, then start swirling the pan frequently over the heat until it’s the color of cinnamon, about 1 to 2 minutes, then remove from heat and continue swirling constantly for another 30 seconds as it turns amber-colored.
- Immediately pour melted sugar into your round cake pan and quickly tilt your baking dish to spread the caramel over the bottom of the pan before it sets (be careful, that bottom of the pan will turn hot!). Set the pan aside and prepare the custard.
- Make the custard– In a blender add sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, heavy cream, vanilla, eggs, and salt. Blend for 1 minute on low speed (to avoid too much foam/bubbles). Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth (cheesecloth is optional but helps break up foam) and pour it into the cake pan over the caramel layer.
- Cover the cake pan with a sheet of foil, making sure the foil isn’t touching the top of the custard (you don’t want to bake your foil into your flan).
- Make the Water Bath– Set the cake pan inside of a large roasting pan, then set the roasting pan in your oven (it’s hard to carry the roasting pan after the water is in there). Pour hot water from the kettle into the roasting pan, at least halfway up the sides of the cake pan, making sure it doesn’t reach the top of your baking pan or get inside your cake pan.
- Bake at 350 for 70 to 80 minutes. When it's done, jolt the pan and you should see a stiff jiggle in the center. If it seems too liquid/wobbly, bake for another 10 minutes. Remove from oven, uncover, transfer to a rack, and cool to room temperature. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight to fully set the custard.
- To Serve– Run a knife around the edges of the pan (clean your knife periodically). Set a rimmed platter over the cake pan and holding the top and bottom with both hands, invert the cake onto the platter. If the cake doesn’t slide out easily, tap the cake pan until you feel it dislodging, then lift the cake pan gently off the cake. Garnish with berries if desired and serve spooning extra caramel sauce over each slice.
Notes
- Do not use a springform mold: because it will leak and ruin your dessert.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered with plastic wrap in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Make-Ahead: Flan can stay refrigerated in the baking pan for up to 3 days. Plate the dessert just before serving for the best results.