Flan. A delicious custard topped with caramelized sugar. Today is Cinco de Mayo and I wanted to have some flan to celebrate. So I did some research.
Flan is not just a Mexican dish! This custard dish, heavy in eggs, actually started in the Roman Empire as a savory dish. Over time it evolved into not only a savory meal, but a sweet treat.
Europeans brought the custard to the Americas with them and it moved through Latin America. But in Mexico it became an everyday dish.
Some sources say that Mexican flan uses whole milk, while Cuban and Latin American versions use canned milks. However, I found in discussions with my Mexican friends that canned milk is used more frequently – canned milk stores far better than fresh.
So here is my version of Mexican flan – and I must say, it sure came out delicious!
Making the Flan:
First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Next, melt the sugar. Place the sugar in a small pan over medium-high heat.
Let it totally melt, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
When it’s melted and an amber color, pour it into the bottom of a flan pan.
NOTE: A flan pan is not necessary. You can use a regular cake pan, but a flan pan has a lid that locks so water doesn’t get into the custard.
OK – sugar is melted. While it’s cooling, mix the custard. Put all the remaining ingredients into a large bowl and beat until it is fully blended.
Carefully pour the mixture on the top of the sugar. Put the lid on the pan and place it in a pot on a rack.
Fill the pot with hot water to half way up the side of the flan pan.
Bake for about 50 to 60 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes.
Remove the lid from the pan, place a plate on the top rim, upside down. Carefully turn the whole thing and let it sit until the custard comes out. It should come out pretty easily. The melted sugar will pour over the top and on to the plate.
Top it with some fruit or edible flowers for decoration.
Enjoy it hot or cold.
© Copyright 2023 The Lazy Gastronome
A super easy, really delicious, custard with caramel on the top.
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 5 large eggs
- 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 12-oz can evaporated milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (not flavoring)
- 8-oz cream cheese, cut into cubes
- berries for garnish
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First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
-
Next, melt the sugar. Place the sugar in a small pan over medium-high heat. Let it totally melt, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
-
When it's melted and an amber color, pour it into the bottom of a flan pan.
-
While the sugar cooling, mix the custard. Put all the remaining ingredients into a large bowl and beat until it is fully blended.
-
Carefully pour the mixture on the top of the sugar. Put the lid on the pan and place it in a pot on a rack.
-
Fill the pot with hot water to half way up the side of the flan pan.
-
Bake for about 50 to 60 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes.
-
Remove the lid from the pan, place a plate on the top rim, upside down. Carefully turn the whole thing and let it sit until the custard comes out. It should come out pretty easily. The melted sugar will pour over the top and on to the plate.
-
Top it with some fruit or edible flowers for decoration. Enjoy it hot or cold.
© Copyright 2023 The Lazy Gastronome
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NOTE: A flan pan is not necessary. You can use a regular cake pan, but a flan pan has a lid that locks so water doesn't get into the custard.Â
This was absolutely delicious!
I was surprised and delighted by how easy it was. Delicious!
Such a fun dessert to make on Cinco De Mayo!
Nothing beats the creamy texture of a leche flan!
This was my first attempt at making flan and it was a huge success!!! Thanks for the wonderful recipe!
Perfect recipe for cinco de Mayo! It was so easy to follow!
It came out just how it was showed. Thanks
Oh my, this dessert looks amazingly delicious and it’s very enticing too! Loved it!
Super delicious and cannot wait to make it again. Thank you.
This was so easy! I never knew it was super easy to make flan.
I adore flan and this recipe was divine! The texture was perfect!!!
My family loved it!
Flan is such a great dessert and I really enjoyed the flavors of this recipe!
So easy and delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
We made this flan for Cinco de Mayo and it was a total hit with our friends! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
This flan looks so good! Such a great dessert
What a great flan idea! Thanks so much for sharing and for posting on Fiesta Friday. Hope to see you again at the party.
Perfect Cinco de Mayo recipe! Hope you had an amazing celebration!