Flan

5 from 4 votes
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Flan is a traditional Latin American dessert recipe. A rich custard topped with caramel sauce and fresh berries is how I like to serve it.

Its silky and smooth texture is what makes this so delicious and irresistible! 6 simple ingredients are all you need to make this delicious dessert.

flan with caramel, berries, and fresh mint on a white platter with a pink towel on the side.
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I absolutely love Latin desserts like pastel de tres leches  and churros. However, this creamy custard is hands down the easiest one to make and probably my favorite.

 What is Flan? 

Flan is a custard dessert that’s made with milk, eggs, caramel, vanilla extract, and sometimes cream cheese. Placed in a water bath aka bain-marie, baked until fully cooked through, and then cooled for a minimum of four hours.

 Is a Water Bath Necessary? 

A water bath will improve the texture of the flan, so I highly recommend it. The water should reach halfway up the loaf pan or any baking dish you bake this in.

How Long Should I Leave the Flan in the Refrigerator?

A minimum of four hours before serving, but make sure to let it cool at room temperature before placing it in the fridge.

HOW TO MAKE STEP-BY-STEP

  • Add the sugar to a skillet and cook it over medium heat for about 15 mins stirring frequently until it turns into a light brown color syrup, be careful not to burn it.
  • Place the caramel into your baking dish
  • Crack 3 eggs and 2 egg yolks into a bowl
  • Add the evaporated milk, condensed milk, eggs, cream cheese, and vanilla extract inside the blender and blend it up then place it into the baking dish.
  • Place the baking dish in a bigger baking dish and add some boiling water to create a water bath this will help the flan cook evenly.
  • Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours before serving.
four photo collage showing how to make caramel, blend custard, and prepare a water bath.
flan with berries and mint, sliced into.

Top tips and recipe variations: 

  • If you don’t have a blender, feel free to whisk the custard by hand using a hand whisk or an electric mixer.
  • I believe that adding a bit of cream cheese reduces the eggy taste that can sometimes be found in flan. However, simply omit the cream cheese if you prefer but it adds fantastic flavor.
  • Make sure to stir the sugar frequently while cooking it.
  • Prepare the caramel sauce before making the custard.
a slice of caramel custard on a pink plate with a spoon drizzling caramel over it.

I hope you enjoy this delicious dessert as much as I do. Once you give this a try, you will never feel the need to order it at a restaurant!

Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. And consider following me on FacebookInstagram, or Pinterest!

flan with berries and mint, sliced into.
5 from 4 votes

Flan

Flan is a traditional Latin American dessert recipe. A rich custard topped with caramel sauce and fresh berries is how I like to serve it. Its silky and smooth texture is what makes this so delicious and irresistible! 
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 1 hour
1 hour: 10 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
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Ingredients 

  • 1 cup of sugar
  • 1 12 oz can of evaporated milk
  • 1 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 4 oz cream cheese
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste

Instructions 

  • Add the sugar to a skillet and cook it over medium heat for about 15 mins stirring frequently until it turns into a light brown color syrup, be careful not to burn it.
  • Place the caramel into your baking dish
  • Crack 3 eggs and 2 egg yolks into a bowl
  • Add the evaporated milk, condensed milk, eggs, cream cheese, and vanilla extract inside the blender and blend it up then place it into the baking dish.
  • Place the baking dish in a bigger baking dish and add some boiling water to create a water bath this will help the flan cook evenly.
  • Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours before serving.

Notes

  • Use a blender to mix the ingredients for a smooth custard.

Nutrition

Serving: 8g | Calories: 416kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 157mg | Sodium: 187mg | Potassium: 384mg | Sugar: 59g | Vitamin A: 595IU | Vitamin C: 2.2mg | Calcium: 300mg | Iron: 0.6mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
1 hour: 10 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 416
Keyword: Traditional Caramel Flan
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5 from 4 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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