Description
This Decadent Flan recipe offers a creamy, luscious homemade dessert that blends rich caramel with a smooth custard base. Easy to prepare and perfect for any special occasion, this flan recipe uses pantry staples like sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and eggs, baked in a water bath to achieve the perfect silky texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Caramel
- 1 cup Sugar (for caramel)
Custard
- 1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk (can be replaced with Dulce de Leche for deeper flavor)
- 1 can Evaporated Milk (can use full-fat cow’s milk if unavailable)
- 1 cup Heavy Cream (opt for coconut cream for dairy-free version)
- 4 large Eggs (helps set the custard)
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract (use pure for best taste)
- 1 cup Dulce De Leche (optional, can substitute with homemade or store-bought)
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) to prepare for baking the flan.
- Make caramel: In a pan over medium heat, melt the sugar until it turns a golden brown caramel. Quickly pour this caramel into the bottom of your baking pan, spreading it evenly, and allow it to harden.
- Prepare custard mixture: In a blender or bowl, combine the evaporated milk, heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk (or dulce de leche), eggs, and vanilla extract. Blend until smooth and well incorporated to ensure an even custard texture.
- Assemble flan: Pour the custard mixture gently over the set caramel in the baking pan, taking care not to disturb the caramel layer.
- Set up water bath: Place the baking pan into a larger pan. Fill the outer pan with hot water halfway up the sides of the flan pan to ensure gentle, even cooking.
- Bake: Bake the flan in the preheated oven for 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes until the custard is set but still slightly jiggly in the center.
- Cool and chill: Remove the flan from the oven and let it cool to room temperature. Then refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until thoroughly chilled and firm.
- Serve: Before serving, run a knife around the edges of the flan to loosen it. Invert the flan onto a serving plate allowing the caramel to pour over the custard. Slice and enjoy.
Notes
- For a dairy-free version, substitute heavy cream with coconut cream and use full-fat coconut milk instead of evaporated milk.
- Using pure vanilla extract greatly enhances the flavor of the custard.
- The water bath is essential to prevent the custard from cracking and ensures a smooth texture.
- If you prefer a stronger caramel flavor, substitute sweetened condensed milk with dulce de leche.
- Ensure the caramel is golden brown but not burnt for the best taste and texture.
