Creamy Mexican Flan Recipe Easy Homemade Golden Caramel Dessert
A rich and velvety Mexican flan with golden caramel, easy to make and perfect for any occasion. This creamy custard dessert delivers nostalgic comfort with a smooth texture and luscious caramel glaze.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50-60 minutes
- Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup (60ml) water
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 can (14 oz / 400g) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 can (12 oz / 354ml) evaporated milk (or whole milk for a lighter version)
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Make the Golden Caramel: In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 cup water, and 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Heat over medium heat without stirring, swirling occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and turns a deep golden amber color (about 8-10 minutes). Immediately pour the caramel into a 9-inch flan pan, tilting to coat the bottom evenly. Set aside to harden.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Boil water for the water bath.
- Prepare the custard: In a large bowl, whisk 4 large eggs until smooth. Add sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, vanilla extract, and salt. Whisk gently until combined. Strain through a fine mesh sieve for extra smoothness.
- Pour custard over set caramel in the flan pan. Place flan pan inside a larger roasting pan. Pour boiling water into roasting pan until it reaches halfway up the sides of the flan pan (bain-marie).
- Bake for 50-60 minutes until edges are set and center jiggles slightly when shaken.
- Remove flan from water bath and cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
- To serve: Run a thin knife around edges to loosen. Invert onto a serving plate so caramel drizzles over custard.
Notes
Do not stir caramel while cooking to prevent crystallization; swirl pan gently instead. Avoid overmixing custard to prevent bubbles. Use a water bath to ensure even cooking and prevent cracking. Refrigerate overnight for best texture and flavor. If caramel hardens before pouring custard, gently warm pan to soften.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1/8th
- Calories: 280
- Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Protein: 7
Keywords: Mexican flan, creamy flan, caramel flan, homemade flan, easy dessert, custard dessert, golden caramel, traditional flan