Vegan Flan

Full disclosure: We were a bit intimidated at the thought of making a vegan flan recipe, considering the traditional recipe is made almost entirely of non-vegan ingredients!

But, while this 7-ingredient vegan flan may be dairy- and egg-free, there is no compromise whatsoever when it comes to the flavor and texture.

It’s silky and creamy, and absolutely delicious! Plus, it’s surprisingly easy to make – and in this recipe, we’re showing you how to do it!

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What is Flan?

Flan (also known as crème caramel) is a soft and creamy custard dessert with a thin layer of rich caramel sauce on top.

While flan is enjoyed in many regions around the world, it’s said to have first originated in Rome, while crème caramel is said to have originated in France. The difference between the two is that flan can either be sweet or savory, whereas crème caramel is only served sweet.

As you can imagine, many variations now exist, some of which include regional ingredients. But, for today’s recipe, we’re going to keep it classic… and vegan.

Is Flan Vegan?

No, flan is not vegan! It’s traditionally made with eggs, milk, sugar, and sometimes cream.

We knew this recipe might be a challenge to make vegan, considering the original is made almost entirely of non-vegan ingredients.

But with all the plant-based alternatives available now, it ended up being much easier than we expected. We couldn’t be happier with the results!

Is Flan Vegetarian?

Yes, traditional flan is vegetarian, as it’s made with eggs and dairy.

Is Flan Easy to Make?

It can be! We made this recipe as easy to follow as possible. The hardest part is waiting for the flans to set in the refrigerator, which takes a few hours.

What is Vegan Flan Made Of?

This vegan flan is made with:

• Coconut sugar
• Almond milk (or make your own with Almond Cow – you can get a $15 discount with the code “NATALYA” at checkout!)
• Coconut milk, full fat
• Agar agar
• Maple syrup
• Arrowroot
• Vanilla extract

We replaced regular milk and cream with almond milk and full-fat coconut milk. Almond milk adds creaminess, and full-fat coconut milk adds stability (and more creaminess!).

We also combined the two because full-fat coconut milk has a strong coconut flavor, and we didn’t want the flan to taste like coconut. 🥥

Finally, we replaced egg with a combination of agar agar powder (a vegan thickener and stabilizer – more on this below) and arrowroot (a starch thickener), as the two of these combined really help to hold the flan in place.

How to Make Vegan Flan

Make the caramel first. Add the coconut sugar and water to a small saucepan over a medium heat, and stir constantly as the sugar dissolves, bubbles, and thickens. This should take less than 5 minutes.

Pour the caramel in a thin layer into four small ramekins. Set these aside while making the custard.

For the custard, add all the ingredients to a saucepan, and whisk until incorporated.

Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. As soon as it starts to boil, turn the heat down to low, and let it simmer for a couple of minutes. Then remove the saucepan from the heat.

Pour the custard into the ramekins, and transfer to the fridge to set overnight (or at least 3-4 hours).

When you are ready to serve, you can eat the flan straight from the ramekins with a spoon, or remove them by loosening the edges with a knife or spatula, and turning them upside down onto a plate.

FAQ

How to Store Vegan Flan?

We recommend storing this flan covered and in the refrigerator. It will last for up to 3 days.

We don’t recommend freezing it!

What is Agar Agar?

While the other ingredients may be familiar, agar agar is a little mysterious to some!

Agar agar is simply a powder derived from algae. It’s basically the equivalent of vegan gelatin, and super useful in recipes like this.

It has stronger gelling properties than gelatin though, so keep in mind that you can’t use agar agar in the same quantities as you would gelatin.

Agar agar also comes in flakes, but be sure to use the powder for this recipe. You can’t substitute one for the other!