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Sliced pumpkin flan on a white plate.

Pumpkin Flan (Flan de Calabaza)

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  • Author: Salima Benkhalti
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: Puerto Rican, Latin
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

This Pumpkin Flan (Flan de Calabaza) is a fun Fall twist on the traditional Puerto Rican dessert. It has that signature custard filling with creamy pumpkin and is topped with a classic caramel sauce.


Ingredients

Units Scale

For the Caramel:

  • 1 heaping cup white granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup water

For the Pumpkin Custard Filling:

  • 1 (12oz) can evaporated milk
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • a pinch of salt
  • 5 eggs
  • 1/2 cup white granulated sugar

Instructions

  1. Make the caramel. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees C / 177 degrees F. Pour sugar and water into a pan and melt over medium low heat. Continue to melt as the mixture turns into a transparent liquid and then to a light golden color.
  2. Pour the caramel. Once a light golden liquid forms, carefully pour it into an oven safe baking dish (or dishes). Move the pan around (being very careful not to drip caramel on yourself) to create an even layer.
  3. Make the pumpkin filling. Add all filling ingredients to a blender and blend until velvety smooth. Pour the mixture into the baking dish/dishes over the caramel. Any leftover filling can be poured over the leftover caramel, in a smaller baking dish. 
  4. Bake in a water bath. Add the baking dish/dishes to another larger baking dish with walls high enough to make a water bath. Bake for 60-80 minutes or until the center looks jiggly like jello, but not liquid.
  5. Cool & serve. Cool completely before using a knife to loosen the edges around the baking dish. Refrigerate until ready to serve. When serving, grab a platter and place it over the baking dish/dishes. Carefully flip the flan onto your platter, allowing caramel to drizzle over the top. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

You’ll know the flan is ready to come out of the oven when it appears firm around the edges and somewhat jiggly in the center.

You can also insert a knife or toothpick in the center and if it comes out clean, you’re good to remove it from the oven.