Lavender Flan Recipes

Steps:

• To make the caramel:
• Have ready 8 individual 5-ounce ramekins. In a thick sided heavy duty pot, combine the sugar, corn syrup, 1/2 cup of the water, and lemon juice. Cook over high heat until a medium brown caramel forms. Remove from heat and stir in the remaining 1/2 cup of water. Pour about 1 tablespoon of caramel into each ramekin.
• To make the flan:
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Cream together the eggs, egg yolks, and sugar in bowl. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the half-and-half and vanilla bean to a scald. Gradually whisk the half-and-half mixture into the eggs, a little at a time at first and whisking constantly, to temper the egg mixture.
• Fill each ramekin almost to the top with the egg mixture. Set the ramekins in a deep baking dish and fill the dish with hot water that reaches halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Bake until the flan is set (jiggly but not firm), about 90 minutes. Let cool and refrigerate.
• To serve, use a paring knife to cut around the outside of the ramekin and then invert the mold over each serving plate. It may be necessary to shake the flan or gently push it back on one side in order to get the flan to break loose from the ramekin. Serve with the liquid caramel that pours out as a sauce.
• This recipe was provided by professional chefs and has been scaled down from a bulk recipe provided by a restaurant. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.

Steps:

• 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.

Steps:

• To make the custard: Combine the milk, 1/4 cup of the sugar, and the lavender in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Remove from heat and let sit for at least 30 minutes.
• Combine the eggs, egg yolks, and remaining 1/4 cup sugar in a medium bowl and beat until light and frothy. Gradually add half the boiled milk mixture, stirring constantly. Gradually add the yolk mixture back to the milk mixture in the pan, stirring constantly. Strain the custard into a clean container and let cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate overnight. (This may be done 1 day in advance.).
• To make the caramel: lightly oil six 4-ounce ramekins or custard cups. Combine all the caramel ingredients in a small pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar turns a light amber color, about 10 to 12 minutes. Pour an 1/8-inch layer of caramel into the bottom of each prepared ramekin or custard cup.
• To make flans: Preheat the oven to 325°F Place the ramekins or cups in a deep baking pan. Carefully pour the custard into the ramekins or cups.Add warm water halfway up the sides of the ramekins or cups. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the edges have set and a nickel-sized spot in the center jiggles slightly when a flan is shaken. Remove the baking pan from the oven and remove the flans from the baking pan.
• Let cool completely. Place in the fridge at least 6 hours or over night.
• Tip each flan out of the ramekin or cup onto a dessert plate and garnish with strawberries and mint.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 360*. Set out 6-8 OVENPROOF custard cups, soup cups, or large ramekins that will hold at least 6 oz. each. Add the sugar, water and lemon juice to a sauce pan and place over medium-high heat. Allow it to come to a light boil and reduce the heat to simmer.
• Place the evaporated milk in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Add the lavender to the milk and allow it to come to a simmer. Simmer the milk one minute, then turn the heat off and let the lavender steep in the milk until ready to use.
• Meanwhile, watch the caramel! Once the color starts to change, it goes fast. Allow it to bubble until it is a light to medium brown. Quickly pour an equal amount of liquid caramel in each cup. Be very careful-hot sugar can cause serious burns! The caramel will harden up almost instantly.
• Using an electric mixer with a whisk attachment, whisk the cream cheese until it's light and fluffy. You may want to warm it in the microwave for just a few seconds to make sure it's really soft. With the mixer still running, add one egg at a time, to allow the mixture to fluff up as much as possible. Now add the vanilla and salt. Then with the mixer continually running, slowly pour in the sweetened condensed milk and the evaporated milk with lavender. Whisk until smooth.
• Set the custard cups in a larger baking pan, lined with a clean dish towel. Fill the pot used for the caramel with water. Bring to a boil.
• Use a sieve to strain the lavender and any clumps out of the flan mixture. (You could leave the lavender in if you don't mind the texture.) Then pour the mixture equally into each cup. Carefully fill the large pan with boiling water until it comes half way up the sides of the custard cups. Cover the whole pan, loosely with foil.
• Bake for 40-70 minutes. The cook time depends heavily on the size and depth of your custard cups. Check at 40 minutes, then add 10 minute increments until done. The flan is done when a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.
• Cool them to room temperature, then cover with plastic and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• To serve- Run a paring knife around the edges of each flan cup. Cover with an inverted dessert plate and flip. Give it one good shake if necessary. The flan should come out with a light caramel sauce over the top! Serve alone or with berries.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Select 2 oven safe containers, one that can easily fit inside the other.
• The large one will be used for a water bath and the smaller one will actually house the flan.
• Fill the larger container a little less than half way with water and place in the cold oven to heat up while you prepare the caramel and the custard.
• In a large pan, using a wooden spoon caramelize the sugar until it turns a light golden brown.
• While still hot, transfer the melted sugar to the smaller container, swirling it around until the entire bottom is covered then set aside.
• In a blender add the remaining ingredients and blend until smooth.
• Open up the oven where you have placed the water bath and then place the small pan with the caramel inside the large water bath pan.
• Pour the custard into the pan being careful not to splash it.
• Bake for 30- 45 minutes until the top is golden brown and the center passes a toothpick test.
• Remove from oven and allow to cool on rack.
• You may invert this onto a large serving dish with lip or just server out of container you cooked it inches.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Prepare an ice bath and set aside.
• Place eight ramekins in two baking pans lined with kitchen towels or 8-inch round cake pan.
• Bring a large pot of water to boil; keep hot until ready to use.
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, heat 3/4 cup sugar with the water over medium heat; cook until sugar is dissolved, about 5 minutes.
• Swirl pan occasionally, DO NOT STIR.
• Wash down sides of pan with a pastry brush dipped in water to prevent crystals from forming.
• Increase heat to medium-high; continue cooking until caramel is amber, about 8 minutes, gently swirling pan to color evenly.
• Remove from heat,and immerse bottom in ice bath for 3 seconds to stop cooking.
• Dry bottom of pan.
• Working quickly, pour about 1 tablespoon into each ramekin; OR pour all into cake pan and swirl to coat bottom evenly; set aside.
• In a small saucepan heat milk over medium heat just until bubbles form around edges and milk starts to steam,5 to 6 minutes Turn off heat.
• In a large bowl, whisk together yolks, eggs, and remaining 3/4 cup sugar until combined.
• Slowly add hot milk whisking constantly.
• Pour mixture through a fine sieve into clean bowl; skim off surface foam with a spoon.
• Stir in Vanilla, and pour custard into ramekins or cake pan.
• Carefully pour the hot water into baking pan until it reaches halfway up the side of ramekin or cake pan.
• Bake until center is set when gently touched with finger, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Remove from oven transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Cover with plastic wrap, and place in refrigerator to chill, at least 6 hours or overnight.
• To unmold, run a sharp knife around edges and place a serving plate upside down over the top; invert and gently lift pan to remove.
• Serve.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Have ready 9 inch round cake pan.
• In blender or food processor, or using electric mixer, combine eggs, condensed milk and vanilla and blend until smooth. In medium sauce pan, cook sugar, stirring constantly, until it liquefies. When it starts to turn light brown, remove from heat and pour into waiting pan. Pour egg mixture over liquid sugar.
• Line a roasting pan with a damp kitchen towel. Place baking dish on towel, inside roasting pan, and place roasting pan on oven rack. Fill roasting pan with water to reach halfway up the sides of the baking dish.
• Bake 70 minutes in the preheated oven, or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Remove pan from water bath and let cool completely, about 1 hour. Run a knife along the edge of the pan, place a serving plate on top and invert. Serve.