Flan
By :The Essential Mexican Instant Pot Cookbook by Deborah Schneider
Flan can be tricky to make in a conventional oven, but the Instant Pot cooks it perfectly—and fast. My recipe contains a bit of cream cheese for extra smoothness and richness, and it makes its own sauce as it sits in the refrigerator. I like the drama of serving one large flan on a platter, surrounded by fresh berries.
Votes: 12
Rating: 4.33
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Course Dessert
Cuisine Mexican
Difficulty Easy
Browse Category Dessert, Kid-Friendly
Duration 15-30 min
Cooking Technique Pressure Cook
Main Ingredient Cream Cheese, Eggs, Sugar
Prep Time 12 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Servings
6 - 8 servings
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 5 large eggs
  • 12 ounces condensed milk 1 can
  • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk 1 can
  • 1/4 cup cream cheese at room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • fresh berries for serving
  • WHIPPED CREAM for serving (optional)
Course Dessert
Cuisine Mexican
Difficulty Easy
Browse Category Dessert, Kid-Friendly
Duration 15-30 min
Cooking Technique Pressure Cook
Main Ingredient Cream Cheese, Eggs, Sugar
Prep Time 12 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Servings
6 - 8 servings
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 5 large eggs
  • 12 ounces condensed milk 1 can
  • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk 1 can
  • 1/4 cup cream cheese at room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • fresh berries for serving
  • WHIPPED CREAM for serving (optional)
Votes: 12
Rating: 4.33
Rate this recipe!
Print Recipe
Instructions
  1. Grease a 7-inch round cake pan with vegetable oil.
  2. Add the sugar to a small saucepan, then set pan over medium-low heat. Cook the sugar, stirring occasionally with a silicone spatula once it begins to melt, until dark golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Very carefully pour the caramel into the prepared pan and, using heat-resistant mitts, swirl the pan to evenly coat the bottom.
  3. In a blender, combine the eggs, condensed milk, evaporated milk, cream cheese, vanilla, and salt. Blend until very smooth, then let stand for 5 minutes. Using a spoon, skim off and discard any foam on the surface. Pour the mixture into the caramel-lined cake pan and cover with aluminum foil.
  4. Pour 2 cups water into the Instant Pot. Place the covered pan on a long-handled wire rack. Holding the handles of the rack, lower it into the pot.
  5. Secure the lid and set the Pressure Release to Sealing. Press Pressure Cook, then set the cooking time for 15 minutes.
  6. When the cooking program is complete, press Cancel. Perform a quick pressure release by moving the Pressure Release to Venting. Open the pot and, wearing heat-resistant mitts, grab the handles of the rack and lift it out of the pot. Carefully remove the foil from the pan; the center of the flan will still be a little jiggly.
28 replies
  1. ParadeRest75
    ParadeRest75 says:

    What do you when cooked?? Take out of pan and into frige? Leave in pan and fridge? Turn it upside down ??

  2. Bellita2
    Bellita2 says:

    My question is, after removing from insta pot, pulling foil off, how long do you wait to place on serving plate?

  3. Cruz
    Cruz says:

    After removing from the Instant Pot, let it cool completely. Then refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Best if left overnight.

  4. Diana
    Diana says:

    Instructions on pressure level way too vague…my flan exploded all over my instant pot. Waste of time on my Thanksgiving morning.

  5. Instant Pot
    Instant Pot says:

    Hi Arshsky786,

    Most recipes use High Pressure. If find a recipe that does not mention a pressure level it should was cooked at High Pressure as it is the default pressure level. Recipes that use Low pressure will mention to set to low pressure.

  6. Fluffy
    Fluffy says:

    Is it ok to use a 7-inch springform pan?

    Please clarify; you seem to say two different things:
    How much sweetened condensed milk – in ounces or milliliters or grams?
    How much evaporated milk – in ounces or milliliters?
    Condensed milk is sold by WEIGHT – 14 oz = 397 grams.
    Evaporated is sold by VOLUME – 12 fluid oz. = 354 mL

    1. Avilaja2: September 11, 2018 Is it one can evaporated milk and one can sweetened evaporated milk?
    Instant Pot: September 12, 2018 Yes, exactly.

    2. SFYiu: September 19, 2018 Is it 1 can of condense milk and 1 can of sweetened evaporate milk?
    Instant Pot: September 19, 2018 It is one can regular condensed milk and 1 sweetened.

  7. Gonzac2
    Gonzac2 says:

    Tried this recipe last night and its the best flan I’ve had and cooking it in the instant pot was a snap! Must try! Thank you!

  8. SPBMom
    SPBMom says:

    It is 1 can evaporated milk and 1 can condensed milk. I’ve been making flan in a double boiler (baño de Maria) for 40 years. It’s definitely not double condensed. Anyway, thanks for the instructions for the Instant Pot. Looking forward to cutting my cooking time in half.

  9. armkar86
    armkar86 says:

    After you cook the flan for 15 minutes and quick release, should the flan be set? It was still liquid in the center, so I put it in for more minutes.

  10. livi400
    livi400 says:

    It exploaded all over the inside of the pot. It was not fluffy/custardy. Recipe needs to say 1 can sweetened condensed milk and 1 can evaporated milk. Also needs to say to let completely cool and put in fridge for 3+ hrs. It may be better if you do the cooling

  11. Oldmanbell
    Oldmanbell says:

    It is delicious ! I would like to get the caramel on top of the flan, instead of the bottom of the pan. What should I do differently?

  12. Glorys
    Glorys says:

    Cookeed ot today , just perfect, woth these changes : so far I donot get along with creamcheese , so replaced with good fat , yes one small avocado, and than coocked for 1:20 hr on midium Pressure.

  13. NOJOsborne
    NOJOsborne says:

    We made this per directions, and cut into it and the center bleed out all over the serving platter. It has a great taste but what would be the changes in cooking time to complete the next one we make?

  14. Jane Charlesworth
    Jane Charlesworth says:

    I just used my instapot for the first time on this recipe. It exploded as other people have said. There was a lot of steam coming out during the cooking time. When I opened the lid there was a lot of liquid on top of the foil that went into the cake pan as I was taking it off.
    We’re going to let it cool and then refrigerate to see what we have. I am not too hopeful. What did I do wrong?

  15. Instant Pot
    Instant Pot says:

    Hi Jane,

    If steam was coming out of the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker then it did not seal. If you are using a different sized cake pan you may have to increase the cooking time. It will also set in the fridge after cooling down.

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