Flan

By mutzali

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 tsp cream of tartar (optional)
• 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
• 2 tsps vanilla
• 3 cups milk
• 3 eggs

Preparation

Step 1

Dissolve the sugar and cream of tartar in the water, stirring over low heat in a saucepan. Increase the heat to medium high. DO NOT STIR. Allow the mixture to boil until caramel color begins to appear - usually 5 minutes or so. When sugar is a deep caramel color, remove from heat and pour into a 9″ round baking pan or quickly pour into 6 small ramekins and carefully swirl the caramel around to coat the sides. Set the pan(s) aside. Meanwhile whisk eggs in a large bowl. Then mix in vanilla and sweetened condensed milk. Stir in the milk. Strain custard into the pan or ramekins. Set the pan or ramekins in a water bath up to 1/2 or 3/4 of their height in an oven at 400 degrees F. Bake the 9-inch for 50 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean. Bake the ramekins for about 35 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean. Cool the flan until room temperature (a couple of hours) and then refrigerate for 12 hours. Loosen the sides of the flan with a knife. Invert the pan or ramekin onto a plate and let the flan release.