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Easy Pumpkin Flan (Flan de Calabaza)

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Pumpkin Flan, also called Flan de Calabaza, is a custard-based dessert. Silky, creamy in texture, sweet, and rich with flavors from the Pumpkin Spice Mix, milk, vanilla, and caramel. It’s the best dessert to prepare in this Fall Season.

For my family, I often make desserts with creamy textures; they enjoy it a lot, and I like to get creative with different recipes.

This flan recipe is the perfect fall dessert. It’s simple to make and is bursting with flavors. I have tried to balance the pumpkin puree and pumpkin spices to maintain the authentic flavor and look.

There are many other recipes that you should try if you like flan. Vanilla Flan Cake is a combination of cake and flan. Easy Cream Caramel is similar to flan but lighter, and of course, you must give my Southern Banana Pudding a try!

❤️ WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE

Simple and available ingredients – I use ingredients available in almost all households.

Easy to prepare – The only step that will require your attention is when making the caramel, which is to prevent it from burning.

Amazing flavor – Combining pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice brings out delicious flavors of the fall. It’s almost like having a pumpkin pie.

Everyone will love it – I don’t know anyone who can refuse flan. Add to it pumpkin and pumpkin spice, and you turn it into an irresistible dessert.

Enjoying a creamy pumpkin flan.

📝 INGREDIENTS

Eggs – We are going to use large eggs and an egg white.

Milk – There are two types of milk in this flan recipe: regular whole milk and evaporated milk.

Pumpkin puree – I add enough to maintain a great texture and flavor. I have used canned plain pumpkin puree.

Sugar – You can go with white or raw sugar. We will use it in the flan mixture and in making the caramel.

Pumpkin pie spice – I made a whole post on making your own pumpkin spice in the comfort of your kitchen. You can go with what you bought from the store or your own mix.

pumpkin flan served in plates.

🥄 HOW TO MAKE IT

To make flan calabaza is super easy. More details are in the recipe card below, but now let’s look at the main steps.

Step 1

To make the caramel, add the sugar and water to a saucepan. Keep swirling the pan to cook the caramel evenly. When done, pour it in the ramekins.

First stage of caramel.
Light golden color of caramel.
The right color for the caramel when ready.

Step 2

To make the flan mix, heat the milk and the evaporated milk until they simmer. Turn off the heat.

Step 3

In a blender, blend all the flan ingredients except the hot milk. You can also make the flan in a bowl, as shown below.

Mixing flan ingredients in a bowl.

Step 4

Add a ladle from the hot milk to the flan mixture and blend or whisk.

Step 5

Pour the remaining milk into the flan mixture while whisking to prevent cooking the eggs.

Step 6

Pour the flan in the ramekins and cover each with aluminum foil.

Step 7

Place the ramekins in a large pan. Pour enough boiling water into the large pan to reach half the ramekins and bake in the oven.

Step 8

Remove the ramekins from the oven and let them cool. Refrigerate the flan while in the ramekin for four hours or overnight.

Step 9

Run a butter knife around the edges of the ramekin and invert it to a serving plate.

Pumpkin flan on a spoon.

👩🏽‍🍳 PRO TIPS

  • It’s best to have all the ingredients at room temperature. It will help them mix together better.
  • Preheat the oven 30 minutes before placing the flan in it.
  • You can use only evaporated milk or only milk in this recipe. If you only use evaporated milk, the flan will be much firmer.
  • Do not flip the flan before refrigerating it, or it will collapse.
  • I have used plain pumpkin puree, so avoid pumpkin puree for pie filling.
Side shot of pumpkin flan recipe.

👪 SERVING SIZE

This recipe makes six medium ramekins.

🌡️ STORING

The Flan de Calabaza can last up to 5 days in the fridge. You can keep it in the ramekin and only flip it when serving.

To release the flan easily, place the ramekin in warm water for three minutes and then run a butter knife along the edges. Place the serving plate over the ramekin and flip it.

📣 MORE PUMPKIN RECIPES

Pumpkin flan is served on a tables with spoons.

⭐PLEASE RATE AND REVIEW

If you have tried this recipe and liked it, please give it a 5-star rating and leave a comment below with your experience!

Pumpkin flan feature image 2023.

Pumpkin Flan Recipe (Flan de Calabaza)

Creamy dessert made of custard and caramel. Perfect to serve in parties and gatherings.
4.50 from 6 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Flan de Calabaza, pumpkin flan recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 183kcal
Author: Muna Kenny

Ingredients

For the flan:

  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 large egg white
  • 7 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 cup milk
  • ¾ cup evaporated milk
  • cup pumpkin puree
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice mix

For the caramel:

  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons water
Get the Conversion Chart

Instructions

TO MAKE THE CARAMEL

  • Add the sugar and two tablespoon water to a saucepan.
  • Swirl the pan occasionally to prevent the caramel from burning. Use medium heat.
  • When the caramel turns dark golden, turn off the heat.
  • Quickly pour the caramel into the ramekins. Swirl the ramekins to spread the caramel evenly. Set aside to cool. Do not put the hot caramel in the fridge.

TO MAKE THE FLAN

  • Preheat the oven, 370F/190C.
  • In sauce pan, add the milk and the eveporated milk. Let it come to a simmer then remove from heat.
  • In a blender, add all the ingredients except the hot milk and blend.
  • Add one ladle of milk to the egg and pumpkin mixture, and blend or whisk immediately and quickly to avoid cooking the eggs.
  • Pour the remaining milk to the egg and pumpkin mixture while whisking.
  • Strain the flan mixture through sieve strainer.
  • Pour the strained flan mixture in the previously prepared ramekins. Cover each ramekin with aluminum foil.
  • Place the ramekins in a large baking pan. Fill the large pan with boiling water until it covers half the ramekins.
  • Place the baking pan on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 40 to 55 minutes until the custard has set.
  • Remove the ramekins from the baking pan and place them on a cooling rack. When cool, refrigerate for four hours or overnight.
  • When serving, run the tip of a knife along the edges of the flan. Place a serving dish on top of the ramekin and flip it upside down.

Notes

  • The ramekins I have used take half a cup of liquid.
  • If the center of the flan is jiggly, but the edges are firm, the flan is ready.
  • You have to use boiling water for the water bath, or the flan will take a longer time to cook.
  • If you have overcooked the flan, it will come out dense with many holes and an overpowering eggy smell.
  • Do not skip refrigerating the flan. It will help it firm, and the flavors will come together.
  • This post was originally published in 2014.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 Serving | Calories: 183kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 99mg | Sodium: 98mg | Potassium: 246mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 2473IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 161mg | Iron: 1mg
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12 Comments

    1. Thanks Angie 🙂 … I think I want to try pumpkin in many recipes to come. I didn’t know what I was missing!

  1. This sounds wonderful! I love cooking with pumpkin (must confess: the canned kind makes it quick and easy) – I make pumpkin chocolate-chip cookies, pumpkin muffins and pumpkin pie (with lots of molasses and spices). For me and my braces-friendly focus, knowing the flan will be tender is an extra plus. Thanks for sharing!

    1. You’re most welcome Pamela, this is a delicate dessert and the pumpkin made it more sophisticated 🙂

    1. Thanks Nagi, I have a big sweet tooth and that’s what’ helping me be creative 😉

  2. 5 stars
    The recipe for the pumpkin flan looks easy. I am going to try it out for Thanksgiving. Will let you know how it turns out.

  3. Mine did not turn out right. Is it right to have an extra egg white or is it supposed to be 1 extra egg yolk?

    1. Hi Deborah, You should use 3 whole eggs with yolks and white, and for the fourth egg, use its white only and discard the yolk. Hope this helped.

4.50 from 6 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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