flan | thebrookcook

After gobbling up a double batch of chips and guacamole followed by Sam Sifton’s Middle School Tacos, we ate this flan as our celebratory Cinco de Mayo dessert this year.

A while ago, my son read a book that mentioned flan and he really wanted to make it. We actually made it together at that time. 🙂 It really is quite simple to prepare, and he felt like he had achieved a great accomplishment when it came out well. He’s been asking to have it again ever since!

I think that it is particularly delicious served with strawberries. This recipe is a blend of multiple flan recipes- including one from my grandmother.

Yield: One 8-inch flan

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
5 large eggs
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk (low fat can be substituted)
1 12-ounce can evaporated milk
1 T pure vanilla extract
pinch of coarse salt
strawberries, for serving, optional

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees, preferably on convection.
Combine the sugar and water in a saucepan; bring to a simmer and stir until sugar is dissolved.
Increase the heat to medium-high and cook, without stirring, occasionally swirling, until amber, about 5 to 7 minutes.
Pour into a 1 1/2 to 2 qt (8-in) ceramic baking dish or 8-in cake pan, tilting to cover the bottom surface and halfway up the sides of the dish.
Place the prepared dish on a dish towel or a silicone pot holder (to prevent it from shifting) inside a roasting pan. (I used an enameled cast iron lasagna pan.)
Place the eggs, condensed milk, evaporated milk, vanilla, and salt in a Vitamix. Blend for 20 seconds. (Alternatively, mixture can be whisked in a bowl until combined.)
Pour through a fine strainer into the prepared pan.
Slide the oven rack out and place the roasting pan on the hot rack.
Fill the outside of the pan with HOT water halfway up the sides of the flan dish.
Bake for 60-70+ minutes, or until the center is wobbly.
Remove from the oven; let cool to room temperature.
Remove flan from the water bath. Cool and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
Dip the bottom of the dish in warm water, then invert onto a rimmed platter. Serve.