Different Flavors of Spanish Flans

New Twists on a Classic Spanish Dessert

By
Lisa & Tony Sierra
Lisa & Tony Sierra
Lisa and Tony Sierra are freelance writers and Spanish food experts who lead culinary tours of the country.
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Updated on 05/25/20

The original, classic flan is a vanilla egg custard, baked in a water bath and its own caramel sauce. It’s an easy recipe to prepare and is a favorite in Spain and abroad. So, it’s no surprise that it’s popular all over Latin America since Spanish women for centuries brought their own family’s version of flan when immigrating to America. Today, with many different kinds of foods and flavorings available in local markets, it’s easy to see how the variations on this classic got started.

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  • 01 of 04

    Orange Flan – Flan de Naranja

    Orange flan recipe

    ​The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

    This orange flan variation is lighter, but has an intense orange flavor that refreshes the palate as well as satisfying a sweet tooth. The sauce is made with sugar and orange juice, giving it a deep orange color and flavor.

  • 02 of 04

    Chocolate Flan – Flan de Chocolate

    Chocolate Flan

    The Spruce Eats / Elaine Lemm

    For a decadent twist on the original, try this chocolate flan recipe. Dark chocolate ensures it's full of rich flavor and it's most impressive when decorated with fresh berries, caramel sauce, or extra chocolate.

  • 03 of 04

    Coffee Flan – Flan de Café

    Coffee flan in a plate on wood background
    alexat25 / Getty Images

    Espresso coffee gives this version of coffee flan a wonderfully rich flavor, and makes it a perfect dessert to enjoy with a glass of after-dinner liqueur.

  • 04 of 04

    Classic Vanilla Flan

    Spanish flan with caramel sauce

    The Spruce Eats / Teena Agnel

    Still the most common and most popular, the original classic vanilla flan is a vanilla egg custard, topped with caramel sauce.