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Hi Bold Bakers!
After the success of my Tres Leches Cake recipe, I wanted to share with you another traditional Spanish dessert: Creme Caramel (aka Flan!). This is one of my favorite custard desserts, and for those who have never had it before, imagine a luxurious single serve custard baked in a sweet caramel sauce! Get ready to impress all your friends and family!
What is Flan / What is Creme Caramel?
This is one of the simplest custard-based desserts you can make. While it might sound fancy and look a little fancier, it really is just a custard made of cream, eggs, sugar, and milk. What sets this custard apart and gives it its name is the caramel sauce it’s baked in. Sweet golden brown caramel is poured in the bottom of the ramekin. Once the custard is cooked through, it’s turned out and served in the caramel sauce it was baked in. This method of cooking the egg and cream mixture in the caramel makes this dessert taste decadent and look sophisticated.
Why Does Flan Have Bubbles?
While this really should not happen if you follow the method correctly, sneaky air bubbles can get into the custard 2 ways.
1: If you over whisk your custard and incorporate air into the cream and egg mixture they will remain in the custard after steaming. To avoid this whisk and do not use a “whipping” motion when combining the eggs, cream, and milk.
2: If it’s overcooked. This can result in an overly hard custard and give a more scrambled egg effect to the custard. To avoid this, follow the cooking directions carefully and don’t worry if your flan is slightly jiggly when removing from the oven, as it will continue to cook from residual heat.
Why Does Flan Need a Water Bath?
Cooking the custard in a water bath is what allows the custard to stay moist and creamy while fully cooking and “setting” the eggs if you will. The steam fills the oven and gently cooks the custard in a moist environment, which in turn gently cooks the eggs. Also, the water bath provides a more even, slower heat source and protects the custard from the direct dry heat of the oven and provides more of a temperature regulated environment.
When is Flan Ready?
The Flan is cooked when the outside is fully set and the center has a slight jiggle. A good trick to make sure the custard is cooked evenly is to rotate the pan halfway through baking. Again, have no fear if the custard does not seem totally set. After fully cooling and setting in the fridge overnight the custard will firm up while remaining rich and creamy. Following these steps will ensure you don’t overbake your flan.
How Do I Store Flan?
Flan or Creme Caramel will last for up to 4 days in the fridge. This is a great one to make in advance as it really does need the time to set up overnight anyway and is meant to be served chilled. To keep the Flan fresh while in the fridge, just over it nice and tight with cling wrap.
Tips and Tricks for Making Flan:
- Start with room temperature eggs, this way the shock of the warm milk is less likely to scramble the eggs
- ALWAYS strain the custard mixture after you have combined the eggs, cream, and milk. This will ensure you have a silky smooth custard with no bits of curdled egg
- DO NOT be tempted to use a store-bought caramel! If you have any questions regarding caramel check out my post on Trouble Shooting Caramel
- The first step once you head into the kitchen is to boil the water for the water bath
- If you use different sized ramekins than me then note that your cook time may vary to mine
- After your Flan sets in the fridge, easily remove it by running a small thin knife along the outer rim of the ramekin, this will allow the custard to release and turn out
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Watch The Recipe Video!
How to Make Flan Recipe (Creme Caramel)
Ingredients
For the Caramel:
- 1 cup (8oz/225g) sugar
- 3 tablespoons water
For the Custard:
- 2 cups (16floz/450ml) heavy cream
- 1 cup (8floz/225ml) milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup (8oz/225g) sugar
- 3 egg yolks
- 2 eggs
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 325°F (160°C). Arrange eight (6oz) ramekins in a deep baking pan.
- Fill a kettle with water and bring to a boil. Set aside to use later.
To make the caramel:
- Dissolve the sugar in the water and simmer until you reach a deep caramel. (Watch how to troubleshoot caramel for step-by-step instructions)
- Once you've reached your desired color immediately pour the hot caramel into the bottoms of the ramekins, portioning it equally. Quickly and carefully swirl each ramekin to coat the bottom evenly. Set aside at room temperature to let the caramel harden.
For the Custard:
- Combine the milk, cream, sugar, and salt in a heavy bottomed saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Remove the pan from the heat.
- In a separate large bowl, whisk the eggs, egg yolks, and vanilla together.
- While constantly whisking, slowly add the hot milk mixture to the eggs. Doing this slowly is called ‘tempering’ the eggs.
- Strain the mixture through a fine sieve to remove any lumps.
- Divide the custard evenly between 8 ramekins.
- Pour the hot water from the kettle into the baking pan until it comes one-third of the way up the sides of the ramekins (be careful not to splash water into the custards).
- Bake the custards for roughly 35 minutes or until the edges are set but the centers still jiggle slightly when gently shaken. Note the custards will set firm once they have completely cooled down. (See video for notes on perfectly baked creme caramel).
- Carefully transfer the ramekins to a wire rack and cool completely. Cover the ramekins with cling wrap and refrigerate for at least 12 hours or up to 3 days.
- To serve, run a small knife around the edge of each ramekin to loosen the custard. Quickly invert each custard onto a plate. If it doesn’t release right away, gently shake the ramekin from side to side a few times to help it out.
- Serve as is in the caramel sauce that comes from the ramekin. Add a little cream and fruit if you want to go crazy. Heaven!
- Cover and store the flan in the fridge for up to 4 days.
I have a weekly dessert swap going with my parents who live nearby and the rule is that each presentation needs to have some connection (however nebulous) with the prior entry. Last week Dad made a chocolate caramel parfait so my daughter (who is a chef) suggested flan as a take off on the caramel. I did a search and found this. I cut it in half and used 2 eggs rather than trying to figure out half of “2 eggs plus 3 egg yolks” and it came out great. I slightly overcaramelized the sugar (me, not the recipe) and… Read more »
This is by far the best recipe and explanation of how to bake this treat. I went to culinary school years ago and this was just as I remembered making custards.
I halved the ingredients, and put the entire mixture into one single big bowl. And it came out to be an amazing creamy, smooth, melt in the mouth consistency! Amazing!
hi! i would like to ask if is it possible to make creme flan in the microwave?:) Thanks
Can I use this as a creme brûlée recipe?
Hi Gemma! I wanted to ask if I can substitute the heavy cream for any other ingredient as it is hard to find where I live…
Hey Gemma, I tried your recipe and it’s good but after I set the flan it was icy in the middle. We had to wait for sometime but after that it tasted good. Also the flan doesn’t come out of the mould easily and sticks to the side. Anyways the recipe was brilliant and my whole family enjoyed it a lot, so Thank You.
Hi Gemma,
Can I Make This Flan In A 9 Inch Cake Pan Or An 8×8 Square Glass Dish?
Can I use heavy whipping cream instead of heavy cream?
Hi Gemma,
I have this recipe which is also good and I am using condensed milk instead of white sugar for sweetness and just evaporated milk because heavy cream is more expensive in my country. I am excited for you to try it too! Condensed milk gives more smooth texture on the flan.