Last Updated on 27th January 2023 by
Chocolate flan is an indulgent treat that can be enjoyed at any season of the year. It’s rich, creamy, and full of chocolatey flavour that’ll satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth.
Today, I’ll guide you through how to make the best homemade chocolate flan recipe that’ll have your friends and neighbours craving for more. Let’s get right into it!
What Is Flan?
Flan is a dessert of sweetened egg custard topped with a layer of clear caramel sauce. It’s a treat many enjoy globally.
The flan’s origins are shrouded in mystery; some believe the recipe came from Spain, while others are convinced it’s of French origin. This is primarily because the word “flan” is derived from the Old French word “flaon.”
After a bit of research, I’ve come to believe that flan’s existence started in the Roman Empire, just like many of today’s beloved desserts, including cheesecake, puddings, and soufflés. It first started off as a savoury dish before they started incorporating honey into their recipes.
Today, mostly thanks to Mexico’s influence, flan can be made with coconut, coffee, caramel, and my personal favourite, chocolate but there are many delicious flan dessert recipes!
Classic Chocolate Flan Recipe
The following receta flan de chocolate is inspired by an unforgettable chocolate dessert I had in Mexico. It’s super easy to make and requires only five main ingredients (that I’m sure you have around in your kitchen cabinets). Here’s how to make chocolate flan:
Classic Chocolate Flan Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 large eggs
- 4 to 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate finely chopped
- 1 can (12 ounces) of sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ½ cup sugar
- A pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Over medium heat, add the sugar in a small saucepan. Stir constantly until golden brown and melted. Once done, pour the melted sugar into the bottom of an 8-inch pan and coat it evenly by tilting the pan from side to side. Set it aside while preparing the rest of the flan.
- Whisk in the chocolate with the evaporated milk and melt it in a microwave for 30 seconds at a time. Remember to stir the milk and chocolate every 30 seconds until completely incorporated together. If you don't have a microwave, place the chopped chocolate on top of a double boiler over lightly simmering water.
- Combine the chocolate you've just prepared with sweetened condensed milk, cinnamon, and vanilla in a bowl. Mix together with a whisk while adding the eggs one at a time. You can likewise use a blender or an electric whisk to combine the ingredients thoroughly.
- Pour the mixture into the pan with the caramel you've prepared beforehand.
- Bake the flan for about 50 minutes to an hour or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the middle of the flan.
- Once cooked, allow the flan to cool for 30 minutes before placing it inside your refrigerator for up to 5 hours.
- Before flipping your flan on a serving plate, run a knife around the perimeter of the pan so it'll slide out easily. Place it back in the fridge or serve immediately!
Magic Chocolate Flan Cake
Chocolate flan is a tasty treat by itself, but you know what makes it even better? Combining it with cake! This chocolate flan cake recipe requires several extra steps, but nothing anyone can’t handle.
Classic Chocolate Flan Recipe
Ingredients
Ingredients for the Cake
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 ¾ cups flour
- ¾ tsp baking powder
- ¾ tsp baking soda
- ⅓ cup cocoa powder
- 1 ¼ cups buttermilk
- 10 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp instant coffee
Ingredients for the Flan
- 1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
- 1 can (12 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 3 eggs
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup caramel
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 to 350°F
- Coat an 8-inch pan with a bit of butter and caramel. If you don't have ready-made caramel, you can make one yourself by following step 2 of my classic chocolate flan recipe.
- Place the 8-inch pan in a large roasting pan. Later, it'll serve as a water bath during the baking process.
- To make the cake, you'll first need to beat butter and sugar together using an electric hand mixer until creamy. Once it’s light and fluffy, beat in the egg.
- Mix the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa, and coffee powder) in a medium bowl.
- Add in the buttermilk with the egg mixture and sift in the dry ingredients ⅓ at a time until well incorporated. If you don't have buttermilk, you can make a quick substitute by combining a tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice with a cup of milk. Alternatively, you can use plain yogurt.
- Prepare the flan using the same steps in the classic flan de chocolate recipe mentioned above.
- Scoop the cake batter into the caramel glazed pan evenly. Then, pour the flan mixture directly on top of the first layer. Shake gently to evenly distribute the batter in the pan. Afterward, cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil.
- After adding about an inch or two of water to the roasting pan, gently put the choco-flan in the oven. Bake for about an hour or until the flan is firm to the touch. You can also insert a toothpick to make sure it's completely baked from the inside.
- Remove the pan from the water bath and leave it to cool outside for about 30 minutes to an hour. Once completely cool, scrape the sides of the pan with a knife before flipping the pan over a large plate. Gently wiggle the pan until the flan chocolate cake slips out.
- Garnish your dish with chopped pecans or nuts if desired and serve.
Final Thoughts
Chocolate flan and flan and chocolate cake are desserts to die for. Whether it be for Cinco de Mayo, a birthday party, indulgent weekly dessert, the two recipes above are sure to be a big hit at the dining table.
Not a big fan of chocolate? That’s okay! Instead, substitute the chocolate with coconut, coffee, mango, and even pineapple if you wish!
I'm Pauline, a mother of four grown children, my passion for cooking stemmed from the joy i get cooking for my family. I love to try new dishes, especially when dining out but creating and sharing my own recipes is my favourite thing to do!