Classic Honey Flan Recipes

CLASSIC FLAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place a small bowl of cold water and a pastry brush near the stove top. Place a 9-inch cake pan in a large roasting pan. Bring a large kettle or pot of water to a boil.
• Make the caramel: In a saucepan over medium-high heat, mix sugar and 3 tablespoons water, stirring to combine. Do not stir again. Cook, washing down the sides of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in water, or cover with a tight-fitting lid, to prevent crystals from forming, until caramel is amber, about 8 minutes, swirling pan to color evenly. Pour into cake pan, swirling to coat bottom evenly.
• Make the custard: In a small saucepan, heat milk with 1/2 cup sugar over medium just until mixture starts to steam and bubble around the edges, 5 to 6 minutes (do not let it boil).
• Meanwhile, whisk together eggs, yolks, remaining 1/2 cup sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Add ladle of hot milk mixture to the egg mixture and whisk to combine. (This is called tempering, and it prevents the eggs from curdling.) Add two more ladles of milk mixture, one at a time, whisking to combine after each addition. Gradually whisk in remaining milk mixture. Strain through a fine sieve into a large measuring cup or a bowl (to remove any cooked bits of egg). Stir in vanilla.
• Pour custard into cake pan. Place roasting pan in oven. Add enough boiling water to pan to come halfway up the sides of the pan. Bake until custard is just set (it should tremble slightly in center when shaken), about 50 minutes.
• Remove roasting pan from oven. Use tongs to carefully remove pan from hot-water bath and place on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 8 hours (or up to 3 days). To unmold, run a sharp knife around the flan, and place a rimmed serving plate upside down over the top. Invert, and gently lift pan to remove. Serve immediately.

CLASSIC HONEY FLAN

Steps:

• Combine eggs, milk, 1/4 cup honey and vanilla.
• Beat until mixed but not foamy.
• Combine remaining 1/4 cup honey and cinnamon in small bowl; mix well.
• Place 4 (6-ounce) custard cups in 8-inch square baking dish.
• Spoon 1 tablespoon honey-cinnamon mixture into each custard cup; divide egg mixture into each custard cup.
• Place baking dish on middle rack of oven; pour boiling water into baking dish around custard cups to 1-inch depth.
• Bake at 325 degrees F 30 to 45 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean.
• Serve warm or cold.
• Loosen edges of individual custards with spatula or knife; invert onto dessert plates.

HONEY FLAN WITH CITRUS AND KIWIFRUIT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Combine 1/4 cup honey, sugar, and 1/4 cup water in a medium saucepan. Place over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves (if bubbles appear at edges of pan before sugar dissolves, reduce heat to low). Increase heat to high and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and cook, undisturbed, until mixture darkens and registers 300 degrees (hard-crack stage) on a candy thermometer, about 5 minutes. Pour into an 8-inch round cake pan, tilting pan as necessary to ensure mixture evenly coats bottom. Let stand until cool and hardened, about 15 minutes.
• Gently whisk eggs in a large bowl. Add milk, cream, vanilla, salt, and remaining 1/4 cup honey. Gently whisk to combine and dissolve honey. Firmly tap bowl on a work surface to release any air bubbles; skim any foam from surface of mixture. Place cake pan in the center of a roasting pan, then pour egg mixture into cake pan. Transfer to oven; pour enough boiling water into roasting pan to come two-thirds up sides of cake pan. Cook until custard is set but still wobbly in center, 50 to 55 minutes. Let cool in water bath 10 minutes, then carefully transfer cake pan to a wire rack and let cool completely.
• Run a knife around edges of pan to loosen sides of flan. Invert onto a large rimmed plate or serving dish. Transfer to refrigerator until cold, at least 2 hours or, loosely covered, up to 2 days. Top with fruits and serve, cut into wedges.