Traditional Flan Recipes

AUTHENTIC SPANISH FLAN RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C).
• Start by preparing the ramekins (you could also use one larger mold if you prefer): put six of them (3/4 cup volume) on a 13-inch baking dish. Fill the dish with hot water (use a kettle or the hottest water from the tap). The warmth is important here, since it will keep the ramekin warm when the sugar syrup goes in and stop it from hardening.
• Cook 1 cup of the sugar over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes until it liquefies and turns a light golden brown color. You'll need to keep a watchful eye on the sugar here, to stop it from burning.
• Take it off the heat and quickly pour it into the ramekins. If it starts to harden midway through, put it back on the heat and stir until it's smooth again. Set aside while you make the rest of the flan.
• In a large mixing bowl, gently mix together the eggs with the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar until creamy.
• Add the milk and vanilla and stir until well-combined.
• Divide the flan mixture evenly among the six ramekins, pouring right on top of the caramel. Cover each ramekin with aluminum foil and tightly seal. Bake in the oven for 40 minutes to one hour, or until it wobbles and jiggles when you lightly shake the ramekin. If making small ramekins you will likely only need 40 minutes. If making a large mold you may need the full hour. Quickly check and jiggle when unsure.
• Take the ramekins out of the water-filled baking dish and set aside to cool to room temperature. Then place in the fridge covered with foil and chill for at least 6 hours (preferably overnight).
• To serve, take a butter knife and run it around the inside of the ramekin. Quickly (and gently!) flip the ramekin over the plate. The caramel should run out to coat it as a sauce. If any of the caramel has hardened and stuck to the ramekin, just leave it!

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.

LA LECHERA HOME

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350° F.
• Heat sugar in small, heavy-duty saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, for 6 to 8 minutes or until dissolved and caramel-colored. Pour onto bottom of 9-inch-round cake pan; quickly swirl around bottom to coat.
• Place evaporated milk, LA LECHERA, eggs and vanilla extract in blender; cover. Blend for 5 seconds. Pour into prepared pan; cover lightly with foil. Place pan in large roasting pan; fill roasting pan with warm water to about 1-inch depth.
• Bake for 50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Remove flan from water. Cool on wire rack. Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
• To serve, run small spatula around edge of pan. Invert serving plate over pan. Turn over; shake gently to release.

TRADITIONAL CARAMEL FLAN

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan or skillet over medium-low, heat 3/4 cup sugar. Do not stir. When sugar is melted, reduce heat to low; cook until syrup is golden brown, stir constantly. Quickly pour into an ungreased souffle dish or 2-qt. round baking dish, tilting to coat bottom of dish. Let stand for 10 minutes. , In a saucepan, heat milk until bubbles form around sides of saucepan. , Remove from the heat. In a bowl, whisk eggs, salt and remaining sugar. Stir 1 cup of warm milk into egg mixture; return all to pan and mix well. Add vanilla. Pour into prepared dish. , Place dish in a large baking pan. Fill larger pan with boiling water to a depth of 1 in. Bake at 325° for 55-60 minutes or until center is just set (mixture will jiggle). Remove flan dish to a wire rack; cool for 1 hour. Refrigerate for 3-4 hours or until thoroughly chilled. Run a knife around edge and invert onto a rimmed serving platter. Refrigerate leftovers.

FLAN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Heat 1/2 cup sugar in heavy 1-quart saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until melted and golden brown. Divide sugar syrup among four 6-ounce custard cups; tilt cups to coat bottoms. Allow syrup to harden in cups about 5 minutes.
• Mix remaining ingredients; pour into custard cups. Place cups in square pan, 9x9x2 inches, on oven rack. Pour very hot water into pan to within 1/2 inch of tops of cups.
• Bake 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted halfway between center and edge comes out clean. Immediately remove from water. Unmold and serve warm, or refrigerate up to 8 hours and unmold at serving time.

SPANISH FLAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, melt sugar until liquefied and golden in color. Carefully pour hot syrup into a 9 inch round glass baking dish, turning the dish to evenly coat the bottom and sides. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat eggs. Beat in condensed milk, evaporated milk and vanilla until smooth. Pour egg mixture into baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake in preheated oven 60 minutes. Let cool completely.
• To serve, carefully invert on serving plate with edges when completely cool.

EASY FLAN

Steps:

• Coat tube pan with caramelized sugar.
• Allow to harden, then place pan in container with ice cold water until the caramelized sugar cracks.
• Mix other ingredient in order, stir well and pour in mold.
• Place mold in pan with 2" hot water in preheated oven.
• Bake at 350°F for 1 hour or until firm.
• Let cool, then invert and unmold.
• Decorate with fresh berries or edible flowers, if desired.