Flan is one of Mexico’s most popular desserts. But do you know what is Mexican flan made of? Follow along to discover the answer plus other interesting facts about flan.
What Is Mexican Flan Made Of?
Mexican flan is a dessert that consists of vanilla custard topped with a caramel sauce.
A treat with well-established European origins, a traditional Mexican flan recipe calls for ingredients easily found in both the Old and New worlds:
- 34 oz milk
- ½ tsp sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- 4 eggs
- 6 egg yolks
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
- 8 cherries (optional, for decoration only)
These are natural ingredients that remain commonplace in Mexico to this day. In fact, even if you don’t live in Mexico, chances are good that you have them all in your fridge right now!
If you are too busy to make your own flan, don’t worry: at El Pollo Norteño, we serve delicious Mexican flan for your enjoyment.
Is Mexican Flan Just Crème Brulée?
If you are familiar with crème brulée (burnt cream in French), you may get the impression that creme brulée is the same as flan. However, these are two completely different desserts.
While their appearance and ingredients may be similar, there are some important differences between Mexican flan and crème brulée.
To begin with, flan is made with milk but crème brulée is made with cream. This gives crème brulée a more pronounced dairy flavor and a firmer consistency.
Additionally, Mexican flan is topped with a liquid sugar sauce, while the signature characteristic of crème brulee is a crust of melted sugar on top of the soft custard.
Interested in learning more about flan? Then be sure to check out our previous posts on this topic, “We Are Fans of Flan,” and “What You Didn’t Know About the Origins of Flan.”
El Pollo Norteño: The Best Authentic Mexican Food
Looking for Authentic Mexican food? Then visit any of our five locations (Anaheim, Santa Ana, Lake Forest, and Garden Grove), order online, get in touch through Facebook, or call 866-MI-POLLO to enjoy our amazing chicken grilled to perfection over real Mesquite charcoal, caldo de pollo, flan, carnitas, carne asada, and more!