Best Mexican Flan | How To Make At Home

5.0 from 1 vote

Flan, another name for caramel pudding, is a traditional Mexican dessert that is incredibly creamy, smooth, and rich in texture. This Tres Leches Mexican Flan dessert is a show-stopper that will impress friends and family and is suitable for any occasion!

Jump To:
What Is Flan
Little Story Behind This Recipe
Ingredients And Substitutes For The Flan
How To Make Mexican Flan Step-By-Step Tutorial
RECIPE FAQ’S

What Is Flan?

Crème caramel or egg pudding are all different names for the flan dessert that is popular in many countries. It is a custard dessert with a layer of caramel sauce on top.

Flan ingredients are as simple as eggs, milk, sugar, and vanilla extract; in addition to these basics, vanilla and orange zest are usually adds for taste.

The custard is gently baked in a water bath with caramelized sugar at the bottom, which forms a sweet sauce when the flan is inverted onto a serving plate, similar to “Crema Volteada,” which means upside-down cream.

This flan recipe originated in Mexico and is also known as Mexican Flan, Spanish Flan, caramel custard, and Tres Leches Flan. The texture of this creamy leche flan is slightly denser but much richer.

If you love tres leche cake you will surely love this recipe too.

Little Story Behind This Recipe

In Pakistan, flan dessert, also known as egg pudding, is something I always enjoy. I remember when my mom asked to see my wedding menu; all I knew was that I wanted egg pudding and Rice Kheer on my wedding day.

Although I would always have had bad luck with flan recipes; either the texture was off or it smelled like eggs, this one worked so well on the first try that I have not looked back.

This simple, creamy custard dessert is unquestionably the best and most luxurious recipe I have ever used. I have been making it for over 12 years.

Ingredients And Substitutes For The Mexican Flan Dessert

Tres Leches Mexican Flan (which means 3 Milk) is another name for this recipe since it typically calls for three distinct kinds of milk.

• Whole Milk: Try using whole milk or 2%, not less than that for rich flavor and texture.
• Condensed Milk: It adds a more creamy texture and serves as the sweetener for the recipe
• Evaporated milk: Adds richness; if not available, substitute half and half.
• Eggs: The entire mixture thickens once the egg proteins break down and create a soft gel between the milk or cream.
• Vanilla Extract: Helps to bring out rich, subtle flavors in the recipe. Substitute: almond extract
• Orange Zest: Enhances all of the flavors without overpowering other ingredients. Substitute: Lemon zest
• Salt: A pinch of salt highlights the recipe’s brilliance since “less IS MORE.” I love to use Himalayan salt

How To Make Mexican Flan Step-By-Step Tutorial

Make The Caramel Sauce For Flan

• Add the sugar to a medium-size skillet and cook on medium-high heat. Keep stirring the sugar constantly. After about a minute, the sugar hardens, but do not worry; it will melt.
• In a few minutes, the sugar begins to melt. Reduce the heat, continue to stir, and cook until the sugar dissolves completely and the caramel is a light golden brown. Make sure not to overcook the caramel, as it will burn.

How To Make Mexican Flan Mixture

•  Combine all the custard ingredients in a blender, blend on low speed for about a minute, and pour over the caramel layer.

• Place the pan inside another large pan and place the large pan in the oven. Fill the large pan with hot water up to about halfway up the sides of the cake pan.

• Bake at 350 for 60 minutes, or until there is just a tiny wobble in the center. Now, remove from the oven, transfer to a rack, and cool to room temperature for 2 to 3 hours; then cover and chill for at least 4 hours or overnight. 

• Cut a thin line around the borders of the cake pan, place the cake on a dish with a rim, flip the cake over, and tap the pan until it comes free, then remove the pan from the cake.

RECIPE FAQ’S

Yes, caramel can be made either dry (without adding water) or wet (by adding water). For flan dishes, the caramel must be made dry.

Here are some additional dessert recipes that you may want to try out. I’ll be happy to share them with you.

• Quick Sawaiyan (Vermicelli) With Nuts (masalasecret.com)
• Gajrela Recipe For Quick Sweet Tooth
• Kheer (Rice Pudding)
• Double Chocolate Cookies With Caramel Drizzle (masalasecret.com)
• Raspberry Jam Swirl Pound Cake (masalasecret.com)
• Mango Delight | Just 4 Ingredients, No Bake Dessert 

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