Modern Mexican Chocolate Flan Food

CHOCOFLAN

Steps:

• Put an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Coat a Bundt pan with a little butter, then coat the bottom with 1/4 cup cajeta and put it in a large roasting pan. (The roasting pan will serve as a water bath during baking.)
• For the cake: Add the butter and sugar to a bowl and using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer, beat until light and fluffy, then beat in the egg. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and cocoa in a medium bowl. Beat 1/3 of the flour mixture, and 1/2 of the buttermilk into the egg mixture. Repeat, ending with the flour mixture. Blend until well incorporated.
• For the flan: In a blender, combine the evaporated milk, condensed milk, cream cheese, eggs and vanilla. Blend on high for 30 seconds.
• Scoop the cake batter into the prepared Bundt pan and spreading evenly. Slowly pour the flan mixture over the cake batter. Cover with foil and add about 1-inch of hot water to the roasting pan.
• Carefully slide the pan into the oven, and bake 1 hour, until the surface of the cake is firm to the touch, or an inserted toothpick comes out clean. When cake is done, remove from the water bath and cool completely to room temperature, about 1 hour.
• Invert a large, rimmed serving platter over the Bundt pan, grasp tightly together, jiggle a little and flip over. Remove the pan and scrape any remaining cajeta from the pan onto the cake, garnish with chopped pecans and serve!

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.

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE FLAN

Steps:

• Combine the first amount of sugar with the water and lemon juice in a small, heavy-based saucepan.
• Cook over gentle heat until the sugar dissolves.
• Swirl the pan from time to time, but do not stir.
• Once the sugar is liquified, bring the syrup to a boil and cook until golden brown.
• While preparing the syrup, heat 4 custard cups in a 350 degree oven.
• When the syrup is ready, pour into the dishes and swirl to coat the sides and base evenly.
• Leave to cool at room temperature.
• Chop the chocolate into small pieces and heat with the milk and cinnamon, stirring occasionally to help the chocolate dissolve.
• Whisk the whole eggs and the yolks together with the remaining sugar until slightly frothy.
• Gradually whisk in the chocolate milk.
• Remove cinnamon stick.
• Carefully pour the chocolate custard into the custard cups and place them in a roasting pan.
• Pour hand hot water in pan to a depth of one inch.
• Place the roasting pan in the oven and bake the custards until just slightly wobbly in the center, about 20-30 minutes.
• Cool at room temperature and refrigerate for several hours or overnight before serving.
• Loosen the custards carefully from the sides of the dishes and invert onto serving plates.
• Shake to allow the custard to drop out.

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE FLAN WITH KAHLUA

Steps:

• Set out 10 small custard cups, and a roasting pan large enough to hold the cups in a water bath.
• To make the caramel, mix the sugar and water in a small saucepan, and bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat.
• Continue to cook, without stirring, until the syrup turns a deep amber color, about 8 minutes.
• Divide the caramel among the custard cups, and tilt the cups to coat the bottom and sides.
• Set the custard cups in the roasting pan.
• To make the custard, pour the half-and-half (or milk and cream mixture) and the milk into a large saucepan.
• Add the chocolate, cinnamon stick and sugar.
• Bring to a low simmer over medium heat, cover and set aside to steep for 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees farenheit.
• In a large bowl, beat together the eggs, Kahlúa, vanilla and almond extracts.
• Slowly beat the hot milk mixture into this.
• Strain all the custard through a fine-mesh sieve and throw out the cinnamon stick.
• Pour the mixture into the caramelized custard cups.
• Place the roasting pan with the custard cups onto the center rack of the oven.
• Pour in enough hot tap water to reach halfway up the sides of the cups, and loosely cover the pan with foil.
• Bake just until the custards are set but still slightly wobbly in the center, usually 20 to 25 minutes.
• They will firm more when chilled, so do not overbake.
• Take the custards out of the water bath, cover them with plastic wrap, and refrigerate at least 2 hours.
• To unmold the flans, run the tip of a knife gently around the edge of each custard cup, then put a plate over the mold and flip over.
• Serve immediately.
• Note: If you can get it, Bayless recommends Mexican Ibarra chocolate.

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE CREAM CHEESE FLAN

Steps:

• PREHEAT oven to 350°F.
• COMBINE sugar and water in medium saucepan; cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for 3 to 4 minutes or until sugar is dissolved.
• Increase heat to medium-high; boil, without stirring, for about 15 minutes or until caramel-colored.
• Quickly pour over bottom and sides of twelve 6-ounce ramekins or custard cups (if syrup hardens, soften over low heat).
• Heat evaporated milk in a small saucepan until it begins to simmer. Remove from heat. Stir in chopped chocolate until melted.
• Place evaporated milk and chocolate mixture, sweetened condensed milk, cream cheese, butter, eggs and vanilla extract in blender; cover. Blend well.
• Pour mixture into prepared custard cups. Arrange in 1 or 2 large baking pans; fill pans with hot water to 1-inch depths.
• Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks for 20 minutes.
• Refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Run knife around rims; gently shake to loosen. Invert onto serving dishes.

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE CREAM CHEESE FLAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan; cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for 3 to 4 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Increase heat to medium-high, boil, without stirring, for about 15 minutes or until caramel-colored. Quickly pour over bottom and sides of twelve 6 ounce ramekins or custard cups (if syrup hardens, soften over low heat.).
• Heat evaporated milk in a small saucepan until it begins to simmer. Remove from heat. Stir in chopped chocolate until melted.
• Place evaporated milk and chocolate mixture, sweetened condensed milk, cream cheese, butter, eggs and vanilla extract in blender; cover. Blend well. Pour mixture into prepared custard cups. Arrange in 1 or 2 large baking pans; fill pans with hot water to 1 inch depths.
• Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks for 20 minutes. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Run knife around rims; gently shake to loosen. Invert onto serving dishes.