Mexican Independence Day Flan 

This flan is a beloved dessert in Mexican tradition, featuring a silky custard crowned with a rich, caramelized top. Created to sweeten Mexican Independence Day celebrations, it’s simple yet elegant perfect for sharing with family and friends at any festive gathering.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• ¼ cup water

• 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk

• 1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk

• 3 large eggs

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• ¼ cup whole milk

• ¼ cup heavy cream

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 °F (175 °C).

2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the granulated sugar and water. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then allow the mixture to simmer without stirring for about 5–7 minutes, until it turns a golden brown. Watch carefully to avoid burning.

3. Pour this caramel into a round baking dish or individual ramekins, swirling to coat the bottom evenly. Let the caramel cool for a few minutes to set.

4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, eggs, vanilla extract, salt, whole milk, and heavy cream until the mixture is smooth and uniform.

5. Carefully pour the flan mixture over the set caramel.

6. Place the baking dish or ramekins into a larger pan, then create a water bath by pouring hot water into the outer pan until it reaches halfway up the sides of the flan dish(s).

7. Bake for about 50–60 minutes, or until the flan is set around the edges but still slightly jiggly in the center.

8. Let the flan cool completely, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.

9. When ready to serve, gently run a knife around the edges and invert the flan onto a serving plate to release the caramel topping.

Nutrients

Estimated per serving (1/6 of recipe):

• Calories: ~280 kcal (provided by the recipe) 

For general reference, typical nutrition data for flan suggests these approximate values:

• ½ cup (≈150 g) flan: ~222 kcal, with ~6 g fat, 35 g carbs, 7 g protein 

• 1 cup (~260 g) flan: ~463 kcal, 13 g fat, 73 g carbs, 14 g protein