Description
Pressure Cooker Mexican Flan with Caramel (Flan de Cajeta) - a fantastic make-ahead dessert from the Instant Pot or pressure cooker.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 tablespoons Mexican cajeta (or caramel sauce)
- 3 large eggs
- 12-ounce can evaporated milk
- 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare custard cups for cooking: Put 2 tablespoons of cajeta in the bottom of each custard cup or ramekin. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs. (I use a 2 quart Pyrex with a spout, to make pouring easier.) Add the evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla, and whisk until smooth. Divide the custard between the prepared custard cups - this recipe will fill 6 (6-ounce) cups or ramekins, with about 1/2 inch of headspace at the top of each cup. Cover each cup with a piece of aluminum foil, and crimp the edges.
- Pressure cook the cups for 5 minutes with a natural pressure release: Put 1 cup of water and the cooking rack in the pressure cooker pot. Stack the prepared cups in the pressure cooker. I do this in two layers of 3 cups each, with the second layer balanced on top of the first layer. Lock the lid on the cooker. Cook at high pressure for 5 minutes (“manual” or “pressure cook” mode in my Instant Pot), then let the pressure come down naturally, about 15 minutes more, to gently finish the cooking.
- Cool the flans: Remove the cups from the pressure cooker and let rest at room temperature for an hour. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours to set the custard. (You can refrigerate for longer - up to 3 days - but wrap tightly with plastic wrap to keep out fridge odors.)
- Serve: Run a paring knife around the edge of the cup to loosen the custard. Set a plate on top of the cup (like a lid), grab both the cup and the plate, and flip them together. Lift the cup off of the flan - tap gently on the plate to unmold if it sticks. Spoon the cajeta left in the cup over the top of the flan, serve, and enjoy!
Notes
- Cooking time is the same for both electric and stovetop pressure cookers.
- Can’t find cajeta? Use caramel sauce. Authentic cajeta is made with goat’s milk, not cow’s milk, so it has a slightly different taste. But regular caramel is close enough.
Tools
- 6 quart or larger pressure cooker (I love my Instant Pot electric pressure cooker)
- Pressure Cooker Rack (one came with your cooker, but I like this silicone rack for its ease of use)
- 6 (6-ounce) ramekins or custard cups
- Aluminum foil
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizers and Drinks
- Method: Pressure Cooker
- Cuisine: Mexican