25 Mar
Posted by Chelle as Custard Desserts, Tuesdays with Dorie
Confession #1: Before this week’s recipe, I had never had flan.
Confession #2: After this week’s recipe, I officially do not like flan.
Perhaps it is an acquired taste? I had heard rumors that there existed a love/hate relationship between most people and flan. I thought for sure I would love it. I love pudding, custard, creme brulee, etc. In the end, I had a real problem with the texture and the fact that it was cold. It also tasted a little eggy to me, which may not have come across so much if it wasn’t cold (I’m only guessing). I really didn’t care for it, which was a shame, because it’s such a pretty and elegant-looking dessert!
Thank you to Steph from A Whisk and a Spoon for choosing this week’s recipe because even if I did not necessarily find myself head over heels with the flan, I have conquered yet another first in my kitchen and can now say that I have successfully made flan. I just personally didn’t care for it, but it’s hard to believe that we’ll love every single thing that we ever make! I’m just happy for the opportunity to try out new flavors and techniques.
Next week: Gooey Chocolate Cakes
Last week: Brioche Raisin Snails
Caramel-Topped Flan
(Source: Dorie Greenspan “Baking: From My Home to Yours” pages 395-397)
For the caramel:
1/3 cup sugar
3 tablespoons water
squirt of fresh lemon juice
For the flan:
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 1/4 cups whole milk
3 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Getting ready:
Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a roasting pan or 9″x13″ baking pan with a double thickness of paper towels. Fill a teakettle with water and put it on to boil; when the water boils, turn off heat.
Put a metal 8″x2″ round cake pan –not a nonstick one– in the oven to heat while you prepare the caramel. (If you are using small individual molds or ramekins, then skip this step. Use six 6-oz or seven or eight 4-oz ramekins or containers.) [Note: I cut the recipe in half and used one 16-oz. ramekin.]
To Make the Caramel:
Stir the sugar, water and lemon juice together in a small heavy-bottomed saucepan. Put the pan over medium-high heat and cook until the sugar becomes an amber colored caramel, about 5 minutes–remove the pan from the heat at the first whiff of smoke.
Remove the cake pan from the oven and, working with oven mitts, pour the caramel into the pan and immediately tilt the pan to evenly coat the bottom with the caramel. Set the pan aside.
To Make the Flan:
Bring the milk and heavy cream just to a boil.
Meanwhile, in a 2-quart glass measuring cup or in a bowl, whisk together the eggs, yolks and sugar. Whisk vigorously for a minute or two, and then stir in vanilla. Still whisking, drizzle in about 1/4 of the hot liquid– this will temper the eggs so they won’t curdle. Whisking all the while, slowly pour in the rest of the hot liquid. Using a large spoon, skim off the bubbles and foam that you worked up.
Put your caramel-lined pan into the roasting pan. Pour the custard into the cake pan and slide the setup into the oven. Very carefully pour in enough hot water from the kettle into the roasting pan to come halfway up the sides of the cake pan. (Don’t worry if it sets the cake pan afloat.) Bake the flan for about 35 minutes, or until the top puffs a bit and is golden here and there (small individual molds will take less time–start checking for doneness around the 25-minute mark). A knife inserted into the center should come out clean.
Remove the roasting pan from the oven, transfer the cake pan to a cooling rack and run a knife between the flan and the sides of the pan to loosen. Let the flan cool to room temperature on the rack, then loosely cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
When ready to serve, once more run a knife between the flan and the pan. Choose a rimmed serving platter, place the platter over the cake pan, quickly flip the platter and pan over and remove the cake pan– the flan will shimmy out and the caramel will coat the custard.
Storing:
Covered with plastic wrap in its baking pan, the flan will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. However, once unmolded, its best to enjoy it the same day.
Serving: Bring the flan to the table and cut into wedges. Spoon some of the syrup onto each plate.
Playing Around– Caramel-topped coconut flan: For a more tropical flan with a somewhat lighter texture, replace the heavy cream with a 15-oz can of unsweetened coconut milk and reduce the amount of milk to 1 cup.
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It looks great! I didn’t care for it either. I thought if I try it again really cold, that maybe I would. Probably not though.
Yeah, it’s definitely a love-hate relationship. Luckily, before this week I had already picked which side of the fence I was on - hate. But at least now you know where you stand, and at least it looks pretty!
Thanks April! Yeah, I’m not sure if I would like it no matter how cold it was
I had mixed reviews here also, I love the stuff and can eat it every day.
Ooh well there is always next week recipe.
*Gasp!* I’m so sorry you don’t like flan! I’ll step up and be a good friend. I will sacrifice eating it for you.
I only do these things for really close friends. 
Your flan looks great, though. We didn’t like it either, we prefer the crispy caramel layer of a Crème brûlée and the flan was to rich for my palate.
Great job, it looks wonderful. I think that I would not care to much for Flan but I would love the opportunity to try making it at some point.
LOVE your confessions!!! I was not a huge fan of this recipe but enjoy many other ones that are less jello-y. The more custard like it is, the better I like it!
Caitlin - Good to know that it may not be an “acquired taste” and I shouldn’t keep trying to eat it
noskos - I am looking forward to next week! Gooey chocolate cakes!
Aud - You’re such a great friend
You can have my flan!
Ulrike - Thank you! I agree - I love creme brulee, but just wasn’t a fan of the flan!
Amber - Thank you! While I didn’t care for it, I was happy to have been able to try something new and make it successfully!
Gretchen - Glad you enjoyed the confessions
I agree - I love custards, but I just didn’t enjoy this!
jbw - Chuckles on a Tuesday are always a good thing! Glad your husband could take care of your share!
Well it sure does look pretty! We’ll find out later today if I like flan, some husband got behind on the dishes and when I finally mustered up the motivation to make my flan I realized I had nothing to make it in
nikki - Hehe gotta get him on the ball! I was glad to have at least tried it!
Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!
PS Happy Birthday! Hope it’s a good one!
Haha I know!
But more importantly HAPPY B-DAY!!!
Happy Birthday!!
Flan looks great - I’m with you though - I always fing eating flan feels like eating mucus (sorry to be so descriptive!) Ugh! I chickened out this week but def on baord for chocolate goodness!
Happy birthday ! Enjoy your day!
That stinks that you didn’t like it. I think it’s beautiful though. Hopefully you’ll like the chocolate cakes next week!
I bailed, so I cannot say much. It looks like a wicked good flan, as far as flans go?? And Happy Birthday babe! Hope its a fab one!
Thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes!
Helen - Thank you! And I can’t wait for the chocolate!
Amanda - I have no doubt that I’ll loooooove the chocolate cakes next week
slush - Yeah, I have no idea what a flan should look like, but I thought it was pretty haha. And thank you!
Lovely looking flan even if you weren’t thrilled with it! I think the chocolate cakes next week will be a real favourite with a lot of people! I can’t imagine anyone not liking chocolate, but then again, there are a few sick people in this world!
Lovely Flan and Happy Birthday!!
I love creme brulee and panna cotta, which are definitely in the same family as flan, but flan is definitely on the bottom of my list.
My confessions are the same as yours… it was not all I dreamed it would be (I am partially to blame).
P.S. I hear it’s your birthday! Happy Birthday!
Sorry you didn’t like it. It looks great though!
Your presentation looks great! I didn’t like the flan either. I hope you have a happy birthday and eat some dessert you do like!
Marie - Chocolate is certainly a crowd pleaser!
breadchick - Thank you, and thank you!
Kate - I, too, love creme brulee so I thought I would like flan, but lo and behold, I do not!
Carrie - Glad I’m not alone! And thank you!
Dianne - Can’t win ‘em all
But thank you!
Erin - Thank you! After hearing everyone’s reactions to the flan, I am convinced it is love/hate!
Happy Birthday!!!
I looks wonderful! I’m kinda with you on the whole custard thing…definitely a love or hate thing. BTW, Happy Birthday!
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHELLE MI BELLE!! 21 right?
Too bad that flan was a flub for you but I do agree that its an acquired taste. I like flan but I don’t like bananas. I think its the same concept - texture, taste. Picture still looks flan-tastic as always…
Clara @ I♥food4thought
Its definitely love/hate with flan. I’m not sure how I feel about it. I was disappointed with mine but this was the first time I had flan so I can’t be sure I don’t like it. Your flan looks great though!
joythebaker - Thank you!
Annemarie - I do like other types of custards so I was surprised that I didn’t like flan… oh well!
CB - Thank you Dah-ling
Heather - Thanks! Maybe I will give flan another shot at a later date and see what I think!
I thought it was eggy, too! Goodbye, Flan. Hellooooo, Gooey Chocolate Cakes.
Rebecca - Amen sista! Bring on the chocolate!
I officially don’t like flan either!
well it looks really pretty! i’ve had flan once in my life and i was not a fan. so you’re definitely not alone. Happy Birthday
Melissa - It looks like there is a fairly large group of us!
kayte - Thanks!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! (I keep trying flan hoping to like it some day…but nay, it’s just not for me) Hope your birthday is FANTASTIC!! :O)
Yeah, so, I’ve never been a flan fan either. Don’t know why. Oh well, it still looks lovely!
Happy Birthday!
Happy (Belated) Birthday Chelle!
Too bad the flan didn’t do it for you, cause it sure looked spectacular!
Beth - Thank you!!
hnhanks - Yeah, I don’t think flan is for me either!
Jennifer - Thank you!!
mari - Thanks, on both accounts!
Hope your birthday was great! Sorry you didn’t like the flan. I guess we can’t win them all!
It looks so good!
Despite your confessions this looks most professional and yes elegant. Well done
Rachel - Thanks! And you’re right - can’t win ‘em all, but at least I got to try something new!
Natalie - Thank you!
african - Aw, well thank you!
Hmm…I’ve always thought that creme brulee and flan tasted the same. I’m going to try making creme brulee sometime soon to see why I thought that.
Anyway, I’m sorry you didn’t like the flan. Yours turned it so prettily, and they seem to have such nice and smooth finish in your pictures.