Traditional Flan Custard

Written by
Chelsie Kenyon
Chelsie Kenyon, author of "Knack Mexican Cooking," is a former freelance writer and recipe developer with more than 10 years' experience in Mexican cuisine.
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Chelsie Kenyon
Updated 07/15/19
Flan (creme caramel)
Juanmonino / Getty Images
  • Total: 70 mins
  • Prep: 10 mins
  • Cook: 60 mins
  • Yield: 1 flan (6 to 8 servings)
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
357 Calories
10g Fat
57g Carbs
11g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1 flan (6 to 8 servings)
Amount per serving
Calories 357
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10g 13%
Saturated Fat 5g 27%
Cholesterol 139mg 46%
Sodium 183mg 8%
Total Carbohydrate 57g 21%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Protein 11g
Calcium 262mg 20%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Flan, a creamy custard topped with caramel sauce, dates back to the Roman empire and was often made to use up extra milk and eggs. It became popular all over Europe (including Spain) and when Columbus came to America, it is said that he introduced the dish to the natives; the dish then became popular all over the Americas, even in Mexico. Spain invaded Mexico in the 1500s and they exerted a major influence on the Mexican diet; flan was surely a common dish. Flan is sometimes made in individual serving dishes, but this one is made in one dish, and you slice it into the desired portion sizes.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

Baking Dishes

  1. Preheat oven to 325 F.

  2. You will need a 9-inch glass or metal pie plate and an additional large baking pan or dish that you can place the pie plate in for a water bath.

Caramel Sauce

  1. Start by pouring one cup of sugar into a warm pan over medium heat. Constantly stir the sugar.

  2. After a few minutes, it will begin to melt and brown. When it is fully melted and sufficiently browned and gooey, it becomes caramel. If you have a candy thermometer, this will be about 320 F to 350 F.

  3. Once the caramel has reached its golden brown color, quickly pour it into the pie plate, tilting it to swirl the caramel around the sides.

Preparing the Custard

  1. In a mixer or with a whisk, blend the eggs together for about a minute or until they are thoroughly combined and beginning to become frothy.

  2. While mixing the eggs, slowly pour in the condensed milk, followed by the evaporated milk and then slowly mix in the 1/2 cup of sugar and the vanilla.

  3. Blend smooth after each ingredient is added.

Baking the Flan

  1. Pour the custard mixture into the caramel-lined pie plate.

  2. Place the pie plate in a large glass or ceramic baking dish and fill the baking dish (not inside the flan) with about one inch of hot water so that the pie plate is surrounded with water, but not floating. If you can work quickly, it is easiest to pull out an oven rack just far enough so you can put the baking dish in, add the pie plate and add the water, while it is already on the rack. Then you just need to push the rack in. If you have steady hands, you can assemble the water bath on the table or counter and carry it to the oven.

  3. Bake the flan for 45 minutes in the water bath and check with a knife just to the side of the center. If the knife comes out clean, it's ready.

Serving the Flan

  1. Remove and let cool. Let the flan cool in the refrigerator for at least one hour or overnight.

  2. When you are ready to serve it, place a serving dish over the flan and turn the whole thing over so that the flan comes onto the serving dish. The caramel sauce will flow over the top of the custard, and you can scrape out more caramel if it sticks to the sides.

  3. Enjoy immediately. You can refrigerate the leftovers for up to 48 hours.