Egg Custard & Flan

Egg custard and flan are classic baked desserts built on the simplest of foundations: eggs, milk, sugar, and vanilla. When baked in a water bath, the mixture sets into a silky, wobbling custard with a delicate texture somewhere between a pudding and a crème caramel.

Baked egg custard is a staple of home cooking across many cultures. In its plainest form it’s a comforting British-style dessert, often finished with a grating of nutmeg. As flan or crème caramel, it’s inverted onto a plate with a layer of liquid caramel — a beloved dessert across Latin America, Spain, France, and Southeast Asia.

It’s one of those preparations that rewards patience and gentle heat. Overbaking produces a grainy, separated custard; done well, it’s impossibly smooth.