Mini Flans With Toasted Coconut Food

COCONUT FLAN RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350° F (180° C).
• In a nonstick medium skillet or saucepan, stir together sugar, water, and a few drops of lemon/ medium and cook over medium heat until sugar is melted and turns into an amber color (about 8-10 minutes). Make sure to not stir or disturb the mixture while cooking! Pour into an 8-inch round pan, quickly swirl the caramel around the bottom and sides of the pan to coat, and let sit for at least 3-5 minutes or until hardened.
• In a blender, combine sweetened condensed milk, coconut milk, eggs, and vanilla until smooth (and there are no visible traces of eggs), about 30-60 seconds. Pour the mixture into the pan.
• Prepare the bain-marie (water bath) by placing the flan pan into a 13×9-inch baking pan. Fill the outer pan with boiling water to halfway up the flan pan.
• Bake for 45 minutes or until the coconut flan is set and slightly jiggly. Transfer the flan pan to a wire rack for about 30 minutes. Then, place in the fridge for at least 4 hours or until the flan is chilled.
• To unmold, warm the bottom of the pan on a warm water bath for about 3-5 minutes and gently run a paring knife around the edges of the pan. Place a large plate over the pan and invert while holding tightly to unmold the flan.
• Top with coconut flakes for garnish. Chill until serving time!

TOASTED COCONUT FLAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Combine milk, coconut milk, and coconut cream in a saucepan. Stir, bring to a boil, lower heat, and simmer for 15 minutes until slightly reduced. Remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes. Add toasted coconut and infuse for 15 minutes.
• To make the caramel: combine the sugar, water, and lemon juice in a medium saucepot and cook over high heat, without stirring, until it darkens to amber. Pour the caramel evenly into 6 (4-ounce) ramekins and set aside.
• In a bowl, whisk together the eggs and the yolks. Strain the milk mixture into the eggs and whisk to combine. Fill each ramekin with this mixture, then place ramekin in roasting pan. Create a water bath by filling the roasting pan 1/3 way with hot water, and cook, covered with foil, for 25 minutes. Allow to cool before serving.
• To unmold the flan: take a paring knife and run it around the sides of the ramekin to loosen the flan. To help it along, you may also place the ramekin in a shallow bowl with warm water until it comes halfway up the sides for a few seconds. Invert a serving plate on top of the ramekin and flip over to unmold.

COCONUT-CREAM CHEESE FLAN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Cook 1 cup sugar in small saucepan on medium heat until melted and deep golden brown, stirring constantly. Immediately pour into 9-inch round pan; tilt pan to evenly cover bottom of pan.
• Blend milk and cream cheese in blender until smooth. Add remaining sugar, eggs, coconut and rum extract; blend until smooth. Pour over syrup in pan; place 9-inch pan in large shallow pan. Add enough hot water to large pan to come halfway up side of 9-inch pan.
• Bake 50 min. to 1 hour or until knife inserted near center of flan comes out clean. Cool. Carefully remove flan from water. Refrigerate 4 hours. When ready to serve, unmold flan onto plate. Serve topped with Cool Whip.

COCONUT FLAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Set out eight 6-ounce ramekins, and prepare an ice-water bath. Bring 1 cup sugar and the water to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Continue to cook, without stirring, brushing down sides with a wet pastry brush to prevent crystals from forming, until syrup is medium amber, about 8 minutes. Immediately submerge bottom of pan in ice-water bath to stop cooking. Working quickly, pour a thin layer into each ramekin, swirling to coat bottom. (You won't use all the caramel; discard the remaining.) Place ramekins in a roasting pan.
• Bring a pot of water to a boil. Remove from heat, and cover. Bring coconut cream and milk to a boil in a saucepan, whisking to combine; remove from heat. Whisk together remaining cup sugar, the salt, and eggs in a bowl. Whisking, gradually add coconut mixture. Whisk in vanilla. Pour through a fine sieve into a large liquid measuring cup, and divide among prepared ramekins.
• Add enough reserved hot water to roasting pan to come halfway up sides of ramekins. Carefully transfer to oven, and bake until just set, 55 to 60 minutes. Transfer ramekins to a wire rack to cool. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate at least 6 hours (or overnight). Let stand at room temperature about 10 minutes before unmolding. Run a thin knife around edge of each flan, and invert onto a plate. Garnish with coconut flakes if desired.