Caramel Flans

To make the caramel, in a small saucepan, combine the sugar and water. Place over medium heat and bring to a boil, then cook without stirring until the mixture becomes a golden brown syrup, about 4 minutes.

Distribute the caramel evenly among six 1/2-cup (4 fl. oz./125 ml) flaneras, ramekins or custard cups, turning each mold to coat it with caramel about halfway up the sides.

To make the flans, in a saucepan, combine the milk and the vanilla bean. Place over low heat and heat until small bubbles appear along the edges of the pan, about 7 minutes. Do not allow the milk to boil.

Place a rack in the center of an oven and preheat to 300°F (150°C).

In a bowl, using a balloon whisk, beat together the eggs, egg yolks and the sugar until a pale, creamy mousse forms. Add a little of the hot milk, whisking constantly to prevent the yolks from curdling. Add the remaining milk little by little while continuing to whisk. Remove and discard the vanilla bean. Strain the custard through a fine-mesh sieve into the prepared molds, dividing it evenly.

Place the filled molds in a large baking dish and carefully add boiling water to reach halfway up the sides of the molds, creating a water bath.

Bake the flans until they have just set but the centers still jiggle just slightly, 50 to 60 minutes. To test, touch the surface of the custard lightly with the tip of a knife; it should come away clean. Remove the baking dish from the oven and lift the molds out of the water. Let cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 2 hours or up to 6 hours.

To serve, run a sharp, thin knife blade around the inside of each mold, then turn out the custards onto individual plates. Serves 6.

Adapted from Williams Sonoma Rustic Spanish (Weldon Owen, 2016)