Chocolate Flan Food

CHOCOLATE FLAN CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat 12-cup fluted tube pan with no-stick cooking spray. Place piece of rolled up foil in tube of pan to prevent cake from baking over top. Pour caramel topping into prepared pan.
• Prepare cake mix according to package directions using the water, oil and eggs. Pour evenly over caramel topping.
• Combine cream cheese, eggs, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk and vanilla in blender container. Process until blended. Pour slowly over cake batter. NOTE: While baking, the cake rises and the milk mixture goes to the bottom.
• Coat piece of foil with no-stick cooking spray. Cover pan, coated side down, tightly with foil. Place pan in large roasting pan. Pour hot water into roasting pan to a depth of 2 inches.
• Bake 2 hours or until toothpick in center still has a few moist crumbs. Place cake on cooling rack. Cool 15 minutes. Remove foil and invert onto serving plate. Cool 1 hour at room temperature. Chill 4 hours or overnight.

CHOCOLATE FLAN

Steps:

• Cook ½ cup sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat until it begins to melt and turn brown around the edges. Using a heatproof rubber spatula, pull melted sugar at edges toward center of unmelted sugar. Continue cooking, pulling in melted sugar, until all the sugar is melted and caramel is uniformly dark brown (it should smell toasty but not burnt), 10-12 minutes total (if you still have undissolved lumps of sugar, stir off heat until they melt). Pour caramel into 8"-diameter cake pan to create an even, ⅛"-¼" deep layer. Let cool.
• Bring 1 cup water to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk in cocoa powder until no lumps remain, then add cream, milk, vanilla bean and cinnamon stick and return to a simmer. Remove from heat and let steep 30 minutes.
• Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 350°. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Purée eggs with sugar and ¼ teaspoon salt in a blender until smooth and sugar is dissolved, about 1 minute. Strain chocolate mixture into egg mixture and blend at low speed to combine, discard solids. Skim foam off the top and transfer to prepared baking dish.
• Line a roasting pan with a thick kitchen towel; this will keep baking dish from sliding and will insulate flan, preventing it from overcooking. Set dishes on towel and place roasting pan in oven. Pour boiling water into pan until it reaches the same level as flan in baking dishes. Bake flan until it looks set like Jell-O (it will wobble when gently shaken), 35-45 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool. Cover with plastic and chill until set and cold, at least 3 hours and up to 24.
• Meanwhile, increase oven to 350°. Toss sesame seeds, syrup, and ¼ teaspoons salt in a small bowl. Scrape onto a silpat- or parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet and spread in a even layer. Bake brittle until sesame are golden brown and syrup is bubbly, 15-20 minutes. Let cool until hardened, then break up into small pieces; discard any dark brown, bitter pieces.
• Run a small knife around edges of flan to loosen. Invert onto a platter and top with crushed candy.
• Do Ahead: Flan can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Unmold and serve.

CHOCOLATE FLAN WITH TOFFEE POPCORN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Place six 6-ounce ramekins in a roasting pan and set aside.
• In a saucepan over medium-high heat, mix 2/3 cup granulated sugar with 1/3 cup water. Bring to a boil, then cook until a medium-amber caramel forms, 7 to 10 minutes. Pour the caramel evenly among the ramekins.
• Whisk together the eggs and egg yolks, remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar and a pinch of salt in a bowl until pale and thickened.
• Heat the whole milk, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla seeds and pods and cinnamon stick in a saucepan until simmering. Temper the hot liquid into the egg mixture by adding one ladle of the hot liquid into the eggs at a time while whisking constantly. Strain the mixture back into the pot, then whisk in the melted chocolate. Pour evenly into the ramekins. Place the roasting pan in the oven and pour hot water into the pan, allowing it to come halfway up the ramekins. Bake until just set, 20 to 25 minutes.
• In the meantime, make the toffee popcorn. Pop the popcorn using an air popper and place it in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the peanuts.
• To a saucepan, add the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup and a remaining pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then cook to a temperature of 240 degrees F, not exceeding 260 degrees F. Remove from the heat and whisk in the baking soda and vanilla. Pour over the popcorn and peanuts and mix to combine, coating all of the popcorn. Pour out onto a silicone liner or piece of parchment and spread into an even layer, getting as much separation as you can. Sprinkle with the flaked sea salt. Allow to cool.
• Top each flan with toffee popcorn.

FLAN DE CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Pour 2 cups of the sugar into the center of a deep saucepan and carefully pour the water around it, trying not to splash any sugar onto the sides of the pan. Do not stir; gently draw your finger through the center of the sugar twice (making a cross) to moisten it. Over medium-high heat, bring to a boil without stirring. Reduce the heat to a fast simmer and cook without stirring until amber-caramel in color, 10 to 20 minutes. Immediately remove from the heat. Set 8 (1-cup) ramekins or shallow coffee cups nearby. When the caramel is cooked, quickly pour about 1/4 cup of caramel into each ramekin and swirl to coat the sides. Set aside to cool. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• In a saucepan, bring the milk, vanilla bean and cinnamon sticks to a boil over medium heat. Immediately turn off the heat and set aside to infuse for 10 minutes. Add the chopped chocolate and whisk to melt and combine. Meanwhile, whisk together the eggs, additional egg yolks, and the remaining cup of sugar. Whisk about 1/2 cup of the hot milk into the egg mixture and then whisk in the remaining hot milk. Strain the mixture into a pitcher to smooth it and to remove the vanilla bean and the cinnamon sticks.
• Pour the mixture into the caramel-lined ramekins and arrange in a hot water bath. Bake in the center of the oven until set in the center, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from the water bath and let cool. Tightly cover each ramekin with plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. (Or refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 24 hours.)
• To serve, turn out flans onto plates (you may need to dip the bottom of each ramekin in hot water to loosen the caramel.) The caramel will pour out and serve as the sauce.

CHOCOLATE WINTER FLAN

Steps:

• In a blender, blend together the eggs, evaporated milk, condensed milk, whole milk, cocoa, allspice and cinnamon until well incorporated and creamy. Bake either using the water bath or double boiler method below.
• To bake using the water bath method: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Caramelize the sugar in a pan over the stovetop until a light golden brown, using a wooden spoon to stir. This is the trickiest part as sugar burns easily, so don't let it get too dark and keep mixing the sugar with the spoon. Don't step away from this process; once the sugar gets hot, it browns quickly. Once it is completely liquefied, pour into an ovensafe 6- to 8-inch round mold (a tempered glass pie dish works well) and coat the bottom and sides three-quarters of the way up.
• Fill an oven roasting pan or baking dish with about 1 inch of water and place the sugar-coated pie dish inside. Add the flan mixture to the pie dish and bake until the top is firm and the flan starts to pull away from the sides, about 45 minutes. Remove from the water bath and let cool to room temperature, about 2 hours.
• To transfer the flan to a serving plate, make sure the sides are loose (you can run a thin knife around the edges to make sure it is not sticking to the sides), put a plate on top and in one fluid motion, invert the flan onto the plate and remove the pie dish. Refrigerate to chill before slicing and serving.
• To bake using the double boiler method: If you have a double boiler pan (which is what I typically use and is easier!), caramelize the sugar in the double boiler insert on the stovetop using the same method as above. Remove from the heat and, using a wooden spoon and by tilting and rotating the pan, coat all sides of the pan three-quarters of the way up.
• Fill the other double boiler pan with water about one-quarter full and bring to a boil while the sugar is caramelizing.
• Pour the flan mixture into the caramel and put the double boiler insert over the pan with the hot water. Cover and cook over medium low until the flan appears more solid and pulls away from the sides, about 45 minutes. Let cool to room temperature for about 2 hours before inverting onto a serving plate using the same method as above. Refrigerate and serve cold.

CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO FLAN

Steps:

• Prepare the caramel and coat a 9-inch round cake pan, reserving the extra sauce in the refrigerator as directed above. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place a heatproof mixing bowl over simmering water or on top a double boiler. Add condensed milk, chocolate and heavy cream. Stir occasionally until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove from heat. In a large mixing bowl combine the remaining ingredients. Beat until well blended. Pour in the melted chocolate mixture. Stir to combine. Pass through a fine strainer into the caramel-coated cake pan. Place pan in a water bath and bake for 1 hour, until the center just feels firm when pressed. Remove from the hot tap water and let cool to room temperature. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Serve with reserved caramel sauce.

WHITE CHOCOLATE FLAN

Steps:

• You need a 10-inch flan or cake pan.
• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Make Caramel Syrup: Put the sugar in a small saucepan and stir in enough water to moisten all the sugar. Heat gently until the sugar is dissolved. Then bring to a rapid boil and cook for several minutes until caramel-colored. Do not stir. (Careful! Cooked sugar is very hot and can burn the skin if it spatters.) Immediately pour the hot caramel syrup into the flan pan and swirl the pan until it coats the bottom and a bit of the sides. The caramel will harden at this point and melt again later as the flan bakes.
• To make custard: In a heavy medium saucepan, over medium heat, combine the white chocolate with the coconut milk, half and half, cinnamon, liqueur, orange zest and vanilla extract. Cook over medium heat just until mixture is scalding-hot (not boiling) and chocolate has melted, whisking often. Remove from heat; set aside for 20 minutes or until slightly cool.
• Using a wire whisk, beat eggs and egg yolks, and sugar in a large bowl until blended. Continue whisking the egg mixture as you slowly ladle in the hot chocolate mixture, in a thin stream, until all the hot chocolate mixture has been used up.
• Pour custard mixture into prepared flan pan and set into a slightly larger baking pan. Pour enough boiling-hot water into the larger baking pan to come halfway up the sides of your flan pan.
• Bake flan for one hour. Remove, cool and refrigerate.
• Run the tip of a small, sharp knife around the edge of flan to loosen from pan. Invert onto a serving plate with a lip before serving as the caramel syrup will have melted and created a delicious sauce.

WHITE CHOCOLATE FLAN

Steps:

• Combine white and brown sugar and water in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir occasionally to dissolve the sugar completely, but stop stirring once the mixture comes to a boil to prevent the sugar from crystallizing.
• Swirl the pan gently to redistribute the caramel as the sugar begins to darken. Cook to about 310 degrees F (160 degrees C), or until the sugar turns light golden brown. Remove from heat immediately, as sugar will continue to darken.
• Pour the caramel in an 8-inch baking dish, coating the bottom and sides of the dish. Let caramel harden, about 5 minutes.
• Preheat an oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Melt the white chocolate in a microwave-safe glass or ceramic bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring after each melting, for 1 to 3 minutes (depending on your microwave). Do not overheat or chocolate will scorch.
• Cream together the cream cheese, mascarpone cheese, evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, and melted white chocolate in a bowl until smooth.
• Pour the cream cheese mixture over the hardened caramel.
• Place baking dish in a large roasting pan. Fill the roasting pan with about 1-inch water.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour.
• Refrigerate until completely chilled, 5 to 6 hours. To serve, run a paring knife along the edges of the baking dish to loosen the flan. Cover the baking dish with a plate, and invert it to tip the flan out of the pan and onto the plate.

CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE FLAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees (175 celsius).
• Place one cup of the sugar in a small heavy duty saucepan and cook on medium heat until the sugar is a deep golden brown, stirring constantly to make a caramel sauce; pour into a 9 inch round pan.
• Microwave chocolate squares on high for 1 1/2 minutes or until chocolate is almost melted, stirring after 1 minute; cool.
• Place milk and cream cheese in a blender and blend until smooth.
• Add remaining 1/2 cup sugar, eggs and melted chocolate to the mix in the blender and blend well.
• Pour over caramel sauce in the pan.
• Bake flan in water bath. (Create water bath by setting the round pan of flan into a larger pan and adding water around the smaller pan to half way up the side of the flan pan.).
• Bake 1 hour or until a knife inserted 1 inch from the edge comes out clean; remove from oven.
• Place round pan on a wire rack to cool completely.
• Chill for 4 hours or overnight.
• To unmold, run a metal knife around the edge of the flan and invert onto a plate; shake slightly to loosen.
• Gently twist to remove pan.
• Caramel sauce will drizzle down the sides.
• Add chocolate garnish if desired.

CHOCOFLAN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 12-cup fluted tube cake pan with cooking spray. Pour and spread caramel topping in bottom of pan.
• In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil and 3 eggs with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour batter over caramel topping in pan.
• In blender, place Flan ingredients. Cover; blend on high speed about 20 seconds or until smooth. Slowly pour mixture evenly over batter. (Flan mixture will mix with batter, but they will separate during baking, forming 1 layer of cake and 1 layer of flan.) Spray piece of foil with cooking spray, and place sprayed side down over top of pan; cover tightly.
• Place cake pan in large roasting pan; add 1 inch of hot water to roasting pan.
• Bake 1 hour 20 minutes to ensure cake AND flan layer bake completely (toothpick inserted in center of cake will come out clean). Remove cake pan from water bath to cooling rack; remove foil. Cool at room temperature 1 hour. Refrigerate in pan, uncovered, 2 hours.
• Remove from refrigerator; run thin metal spatula around outer and inside edges of pan to loosen cake. Place serving plate upside down on cake pan; turn plate and pan over. Remove pan. Spoon any remaining caramel from pan over top of cake. Store loosely covered in refrigerator.

MODERN MEXICAN CHOCOLATE FLAN

Steps:

• In a small heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine 3/4 cup sugar with 1/3 cup water and stir to combine. Bring to a boil over moderate heat, using a pastry brush dipped in cold water to wash down any sugar crystals clinging to the side of the pot, then lower the heat and simmer, without stirring, until the syrup begins to color. Swirl the pan continually until the syrup is an even, deep amber color. Immediately divide the caramel among the ramekins, swirling so it coats the bottom of each.
• Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325°F.
• In the bowl of a food processor, process the chocolate until it resembles small pebbles. Transfer to a medium saucepan and add the half-and-half, milk, cinnamon stick, and the remaining 1/2 cup sugar. Place over moderate heat and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, then remove from the heat, cover, and let steep for 20 minutes.
• In a large bowl, combine the eggs, coffee liqueur, and the vanilla and almond extracts and whisk to combine. Slowly pour about 1 1/2 cups of the hot milk/half-and-half mixture into the egg mixture, whisking constantly. Add in the rest of the hot milk and whisk to combine. Pour through a fine-mesh sieve set over a large bowl and divide evenly among the 8 ramekins. Discard solids.
• Transfer ramekins to a large roasting pan and add enough hot water to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Loosely cover the pan with foil and bake until the custard has barely set (a knife inserted halfway between the edge and the center should come out clean), 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool in the water bath, then refrigerate to chill thoroughly. DO AHEAD: The flans can be made ahead and stored, wrapped in plastic in the refrigerator, up to 3 days.
• Just before serving, run a small thin knife around each flan, then invert onto small plates and serve.

CHOCOLATE FLAN CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350ºF.
• Spray a large 12-cup Bundt pan with nonstick coating.
• Soften the cajeta in the jar in the microwave and pour into the prepared pan.
• Prepare cake mix according to package directions.
• Pour the cake batter into the cake pan over the cajeta.
• To make the flan: Pour condensed, evaporated and fresh milks into a blender with the cream cheese, vanilla and eggs.
• Mix well.
• Pour the flan mixture very slowly over the cake batter.
• Spray aluminum foil with non-stick spray (like Pam);.
• cover the pan TIGHTLY with aluminum foil.
• (Covering tightly is very important.) Set the Bundt pan into a large pan and set on the oven rack and slide into the oven.
• Carefully pour hot water into the larger pan to a depth of 2 inches (The Bundt pan will be sitting in 2 inches of water).
• Bake cake for 2 hours (test); do not uncover during this time.
• After two hours, remove cake from water and allow to cool for 15 minutes. Peel off the aluminum foil.
• Invert cake onto a large plate with rim.
• The cajeta will drip down the sides of the cake.
• Cool completely then refrigerate. Refrigerate leftovers.
• Note: Even though the flan is poured on top of the cake batter, it will sink to the bottom of the pan.

CHOCOLATE COCONUT FLAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Set 2 6 cup Savarin (or ring) molds in large baking pan.
• Pour in enough boiling water to come halfway up sides. Set in oven.
• Cook sugar and water in heavy small saucepan until sugar dissolves, swirling pan occasionally.
• Increase heat and boil until syrup caramelizes.
• Pour half of syrup into each mold, tilting to coat sides.
• Quickly return molds to water bath.
• Gently blend milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon (if necessary) and salt in large bowl.
• Stir in coconut and chocolate powder.
• Divide mixture between molds; mixture should come to within 1/4 inch of top.
• Bake until custard is set and tester inserted in center comes out clean, about 50 minutes (reduce oven temperature if water starts to boil or custard may curdle).
• Remove from water bath and cool.
• Refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight.
• Before serving, invert onto platters.