Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
- 3 large eggs
- 2 large egg yolks
- Pinch salt
Directions
To make the caramel: have ready a 2-quart round flan mold and a large roasting pan. Combine 1 cup of the sugar and 2 tablespoons of water in a heavy-bottomed pot or pan. Place over medium-high heat and cook until the sugar begins to melt. Swirl the pan over the heat until the syrup darkens to a medium amber color, about 10 minutes; don't stir with a spoon. Remove from the heat and immediately add the lemon juice, swirl the pan again to combine, and then pour into the flan mold. Tilt the dish so that the caramel evenly coats the bottom and a bit up the sides, place in the roasting pan and set aside.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F, bring a kettle of water to a boil for the water bath and keep it hot.
Combine the cream, cinnamon, and vanilla in a small saucepan over medium-low flame. Bring the cream to a brief simmer, stirring occasionally. Take care not to let the cream come to a full boil to prevent it from spilling over.
In a large bowl, cream together the whole eggs and yolks with the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar; add a pinch of salt. Whisk until the mixture is pale yellow and thick. Temper the egg mixture by gradually whisking in the hot cream mixture; don't add it too quickly or the eggs will cook. Pass the mixture through a strainer into a large measuring cup to ensure that the flan will be perfectly smooth. Pour the custard into the caramel-coated mold.
To create the water bath: pour the hot (not boiling) water into the roasting pan to come halfway up the side of the mold; be careful not get water into the custard. Carefully transfer to the middle oven rack, and bake for 30 to 45 minutes, until the custard is barely set and just jiggles slightly. Let the flan cool in the water bath, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
When you are ready to serve, run a knife around the inside of the mold to loosen the flan. Place a dessert plate on top of the flan and invert to pop it out.
Photo: Flan Recipe



















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By mgg242_8324893
Arvada, CO
on October 27, 2011
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Tried this today as my first try at flan. My fiance loved it! Said he liked his flan and little thicker and curdled. Carmel was awesome, used no lemon juice.
By auntietoya
Tropical Paradise
on October 19, 2011
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Sometimes people think too highly of their cooking skills. If a recipe doesn't work out for you, despite "meticulously following directions', maybe you still did something wrong. This is the first time that I've made flan from scratch, and it came out lovely. Yeah, my caramel was a little bitter, but I left it on the stove too long. My bad. I baked it a little too long also. But it was creamy and smooth and just sweet enough- not a 'curdled gross egg mixture'. I used the water but not the lemon for the caramel- to each his own, I guess. No big deal. Nothing's wrong with the recipe. Something may be wrong with some of the cooks!
By gracingdansk
Harrisonville, MO
on June 05, 2011
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Couldn't get any closer to the ones my hubby and I enjoyed in Spain!
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