Description
This Creamy Caramel Flan is a classic Latin American dessert featuring a smooth, rich custard topped with a luscious caramel sauce. It combines sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and eggs to create a silky, creamy texture that is perfect for any occasion. The flan is baked in a water bath to ensure gentle cooking and a perfectly set custard. Easy to make and irresistibly delicious, this flan is sure to impress your family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
For the caramel:
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup water
For the custard:
- 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the flan.
- Make the caramel: Combine the granulated sugar and water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Without stirring, cook the mixture until the sugar melts and turns a deep golden amber color, about 8 to 10 minutes. Immediately pour the hot caramel into a 9-inch round cake pan or flan dish, swirling it to evenly coat the bottom. Set aside and allow it to harden.
- Prepare the custard: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, eggs, vanilla extract, and salt until the mixture is smooth and fully combined.
- Pour custard over caramel: Carefully pour the custard mixture over the hardened caramel layer in the flan pan.
- Create a water bath: Place the flan pan inside a larger baking dish. Pour hot water into the outer dish until it reaches halfway up the sides of the flan pan. This water bath ensures gentle and even cooking.
- Bake the flan: Transfer the setup carefully to the preheated oven and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until the center is just set and a knife inserted near the edge comes out clean.
- Cool and chill: Remove the flan from the water bath and let it cool at room temperature for one hour. Then refrigerate for at least four hours or overnight to allow it to fully set and chill.
- Serve the flan: To serve, run a knife around the edges of the flan, then invert the pan onto a rimmed plate to release the caramel topping and custard smoothly onto the plate.
Notes
- For an ultra-smooth texture, strain the custard mixture through a fine mesh sieve before pouring it over the caramel.
- This flan can be prepared up to two days in advance and stored covered in the refrigerator.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Latin American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 35g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
