Description
Silky smooth French Antilles coconut flan celebrates Caribbean culinary heritage with its luscious, creamy texture and subtle tropical sweetness. Rich condensed milk and fresh coconut blend into a luxurious dessert that transports you to sun-drenched island shores with each delightful spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 can (14 ounces / 400 milliliters) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 can (14 ounces / 400 milliliters) coconut milk
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup (40 grams) shredded unsweetened coconut
Caramel Ingredients:
- ½ cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
Flavoring Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Craft a gleaming caramel foundation by melting sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Swirl the mixture gently until sugar dissolves, then let it simmer without stirring until it transforms into a rich amber hue. Carefully pour the molten caramel into a round baking dish, rotating to create an even coating. Allow the caramel to solidify and form a glossy base.
- Position the oven rack and heat to 350F (175C), creating an ideal environment for the custard’s transformation.
- Blend the creamy flan mixture by whisking sweetened condensed milk, coconut milk, eggs, vanilla extract, and nutmeg until achieving a silky, homogeneous texture. Gently fold in shredded coconut for added depth and tropical character.
- Delicately pour the velvety mixture over the hardened caramel layer. Nestle the baking dish within a larger roasting pan, surrounding it with hot water halfway up its sides to ensure gentle, even cooking.
- Slide the water bath into the preheated oven. Bake until the flan’s edges firm up while maintaining a slight wobble in the center – approximately 45-50 minutes for a large flan or 30-35 minutes for individual portions.
- Remove from the oven and allow the custard to cool completely at room temperature, letting its flavors meld and intensify.
- Refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours, permitting the flan to set and develop a luxurious, creamy consistency.
- When ready to serve, trace a knife around the flan’s perimeter to release it. Invert onto a serving plate, allowing the caramel to cascade dramatically over the surface. Slice and present this French Antilles delicacy chilled, revealing its glossy, golden-topped elegance.
Notes
- Choose ripe, high-quality coconut milk for the most authentic tropical flavor and creamy texture.
- Strain the caramel through a fine-mesh sieve to ensure a smooth, silky surface without any sugar crystals.
- Create a gluten-free version by verifying all ingredients are certified gluten-free, especially the condensed milk and vanilla extract.
- Enhance the coconut profile by toasting shredded coconut before adding to the mixture, which brings out a deeper, nuttier essence and adds delightful complexity to the flan.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Caribbean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg