Creme Caramel Flan Recipe

close up of creme caramel on a white plate with a spoon.

5 from 3 votes

This is the smoothest custard recipe for creme caramel or flan! Flan, or crème caramel, is a custard baked in a dish coated with caramelized sugar that forms a sauce when the custard is unmolded. I promise, this dessert is a slice of heaven that you just want to keep eating! Don't delay in trying this spectacular and unique dessert. It is a great recipe to wow your guests or keep in the fridge for when that sweet tooth comes calling.

Prep Time10

Total Time40

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: creme caramel, creme caramel recipe, flan recipe, Italian dessert

Servings: servings

Author: Elena Davis

Equipment

1 round bundt pan as the mold another option: about 8 (6 oz individual ramekins)
1 roasting pan or oven-safe dish that is deep enough to fit the baking pan or ramekins with enough room for 2 inches of water at the bottom

Ingredients

4 ¼ cups whole milk 1 liter
1 cup granulated sugar 200 grams, (divided)
6 large whole eggs room temperature
1 vanilla bean cut lengthwise with the seeds scraped out OR 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 pinch salt
2 pieces lemon peel cut lemon skin just the yellow part, or 1 teaspoon lemon zest.

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F
For the caramel, in a stainless small saucepan and add 1/2 cup of sugar. Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. When the sugar is completely dissolved, bring it to a boil without stirring until the color turns dark caramel brown. Quickly pour the caramel into the bottom of the bundt pan (or 6 ramekins) to coat all the sides. Set aside.
Add the milk and lemon peel to a separate medium saucepan. Heat on medium-low heat until just hot, (not boiling!!). Then remove it from the heat.
Beat the eggs with the remaining 1/2 cup sugar until well combined. Slowly whisk the egg mixture in the warm milk, a ladleful at a time until completely incorporated into the eggs. Whisk in the salt and vanilla extract. Stir to combine.
Pour the entire custard mixture through a sieve (mesh strainer) into a large bowl. You can put lemon peel back into the creme mixture and bake with it or discard it at this point. Pour the mixture into the bottom of the pan or individual ramekins lined with caramel. Place bundt pan or ramekins in an oven-safe dish or roasting pan.
Very carefully pour 2-3 cups boiling hot water into the bottom of the roasting pan (it should reach halfway up the side of the baking dish), avoiding splashing or pouring into the creme mixture. Place in the bottom rack of the oven and bake for 1 hour for the bundt pan and 30-35 minutes for the ramekins until the center jiggles just a little bit. Remove the roasting pan from the oven.
Allow to cool slightly and then wrap with the bundt pan or ramekins with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours or up to 24 hours.
When ready to serve gently run a butter knife near the edges just enough to loosen the flan and tip upside down onto a flat plate. Watch the caramel sauce pour out onto the plate. Yum. Enjoy!

Notes

Use warm milk (don’t skip this step!).
Use room temperature eggs.
Incorporate the warm milk into the egg mixture a little bit at a time and stir constantly to avoid scrambling the eggs.
Make sure to pour the final mixture through a Sieve or strainer to avoid any lumps and get a smooth custard.
Bake low and slow at a gentle heat with a water bath (not boiling water!) to ensure the perfect and even bake.
Follow these tips to achieve a perfectly sweet, golden brown custard dessert.

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