Caramel Flans

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Warm caramel flows over these 5-ingredient flan Mexican desserts. These creamy custards are irresistible.

Caramel Flans
Photo: Scott Little
Prep Time:
25 mins
Bake Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
55 mins
Servings:
4
Yield:
4 flans

Ingredients

  • cup sugar

  • 3 eggs, beaten

  • 1 ½ cup half-and-half

  • cup sugar

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

  • Ground nutmeg or cinnamon (optional)

Directions

  1. To caramelize sugar, in an 8-inch heavy skillet cook 1/3 cup sugar over medium-high heat until sugar begins to melt, shaking the skillet occasionally to heat the sugar evenly. Do not stir (see photo 1, below). Once the sugar starts to melt, reduce heat to low and cook about 5 minutes more or until all of the sugar is melted and golden, stirring as needed with a wooden spoon. Immediately divide the caramelized sugar among four 6-ounce custard cups or ramekins; tilt custard cups to coat bottoms evenly. Let stand for 10 minutes.

  2. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Combine eggs, half-and-half, 1/3 cup sugar, and vanilla. Beat until well combined but not foamy. Place the custard cups in a 2-quart square baking dish. Divide egg mixture among custard cups. If desired, sprinkle with nutmeg. Place baking dish on oven rack. Pour boiling water into the baking dish around custard cups to a depth of 1 inch. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes or until a knife inserted near the centers comes out clean.

  3. Remove cups from water. Cool slightly on a wire rack before serving. (Or cool completely in custard cups. Cover and chill until serving time.) To unmold, loosen edges of flans with a knife, slipping point between flans and sides of custard cups. Invert a dessert plate over each flan; turn plate and custard cup over together. Remove custard cups from flans.

  4. Makes 4 flans

Tips

Prepare and bake flans as directed above. Cool flans completely in custard cups on wire rack. Cover and chill until serving time.

Baked Custards:

Prepare as above, except omit the 1/3 cup sugar that is caramelized in step 1. Divide egg mixture among custard cups or one 3-1/2-cup soufflé dish. Bake individual custards as directed for flans or bake in the soufflé dish for 50 to 60 minutes. Serve warm or chilled. Makes 4 individual custards or 1 large custard.Per custard: 236 cal., 14 g total fat (8g sat. fat), 192 mg chol., 90 mg sodium, 0 g fiber, 7 g pro.Daily Values: 10% vit. A, 1% vit. C, 11% calcium, 4% ironExchanges: 1 1/2 Other Carbo, 1 Medium-Fat Meat, 2 Fat

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

298 Calories
14g Fat
36g Carbs
7g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 298
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 14g 18%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Cholesterol 192mg 64%
Sodium 90mg 4%
Total Carbohydrate 36g 13%
Total Sugars 32g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 0.6mg 3%
Calcium 111.1mg 9%
Iron 0.7mg 4%
Potassium 169mg 4%
Folate, total 20.2mcg
Vitamin B-12 0.8mcg
Vitamin B-6 0.1mg

*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.

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