Coconut Flan

From the kitchen of Carly

Silky coconut custard with a dark caramel shell that cracks under your spoon. Rum and toasted coconut keep things interesting while condensed milk does the heavy lifting. Individual ramekins make these feel fancy without the fuss.

Prep
n/a
Cook
n/a
Total
n/a
Servings
4
Difficulty
medium

Ingredients

4 servings

  • 11 cup sugar
  • 11/4 cup water
  • 13 1/2 cups whole milk, divided
  • 11 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
  • 13 large eggs
  • 11/4 cup sweetened flaked coconut
  • 13 tablespoons dark rum
  • 1Equipment: 12 (4-ounce) ramekins

Instructions

  1. Bring sugar and water to a boil in a small heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved, then wash down any sugar crystals from side of pan with a pastry brush dipped in cold water. Boil, without stirring, swirling pan occasionally so caramel colors evenly, until dark amber.

  2. Immediately pour into ramekins and swirl so caramel coats bottom of each, then put ramekins in a large roasting pan.

  3. Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.

  4. Blend 2 cups milk with remaining flan ingredients in a blender until smooth, about 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl and stir in remaining 1 1/2 cups milk, then divide among ramekins.

  5. Bake flan in a water bath until just set but still wobbly in center, 1 to 1 1/4 hours.

  6. Remove ramekins from water bath and cool slightly on a rack, at least 15 minutes (flan will continue to set as it cools).

  7. Just before serving, run a thin knife around each flan, then invert onto plates.