Pumpkin Flan
Similar to crème brûlée, flan is a rich, creamy custard covered in caramel instead of the crisp caramelized sugar topping that creme brulee is known for. Using similar cooking methods to creme brulee, flan is baked with the caramel at the bottom, and when inverted, the golden-colored sauce generously coats the custard, creating a dessert that is also beautiful to look at.
Although there are many recipes for flan, the custard is, in general, made out of a mixture of milk, eggs, sugar, evaporated milk, condensed milk, and spices. Our innovative version incorporates pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and mascarpone, a soft cheese that provides a silky, creamy texture to the flan. The best part is that the custard requires no simmering and is quickly made in the blender. Our maple syrup caramel enhances the autumn flavor profile provided by the pumpkin, and a few pepitas over the top make a beautiful presentation.
Ingredients:
For the Caramel:
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/3 cup water
For the Pumpkin Custard:
- 1 (14-ounce) can condensed milk
- 1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/2 cup mascarpone cheese
- 4 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- Pumpkin seeds, for garnish