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    Home » Desserts » Vegan Flan

    Vegan Flan

    Published: Apr 20, 2020 · Modified: Jul 3, 2022 by Dora S. · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    vegan flan on a small white laced plate with a coffee and another flan in the background

    Flan, silky creamy delicious vegan flan. This custard-like creation is one of the most recognized desserts in all of Latin America and my absolute favorite!!

    four white ceramic remekins the inside bottom coated with caramel

    Making this involved using an ingredient I had never used before. It’s become pretty common in the vegan community for making vegan flan, mousses, cheese, and gummies. The secret ingredient for this flan is a powder called agar agar.

    Coconut milk and agar agar in a stainless steel saucepot
    a spoon dipped into the thickened milk mixture showing it coating the back of the spoon

    What is Agar agar??

    It is a semi-transparent powder derived from red/purple algae. It is the equivalent of vegan gelatin. As you know (or may not know) gelatin is made by prolonged boiling of skin, bones, and cartilage of animals. So since we don’t want to use that this, is where agar agar comes in to play.

    coconut milk liquid poured into the white ramekins

    How to use Agar agar?

    You can buy agar agar right here. Be sure to buy the powdered version not the flakes for this recipe. You can use it just as you would powdered gelatin; you must place it in a liquid and heat it up to dissolve it. However, you can’t use agar agar in the same quantities as you would gelatin. Agar agar’s gelling properties are stronger than gelatin’s.

    vegan flan on a small white laced plate with a coffee and another flan in the background

    Making Vegan Flan at Home

    For this vegan flan recipe, I decided to go with a mixture of coconut milk and oat milk. Coconut milk provides the fat needed to make this creamy and rich. I added oat milk so it wouldn’t taste too much like coconut.

    Vegan flan with a spoonfull taken out of it.

    I used small ceramic ramekins (3.5 oz.), but you can use whatever container you have at hand since these are not going in the oven, like these aluminum ramekins. However, your container must be able to sustain heat since we will be pouring scorching hot caramel into them.

    10 yr old boy wearing a blue shirt holding a plate with flan

    I like my flan thick and creamy ( as many of you expressed on my Instagram DMs), but there is another version of flan that is almost like a French crème caramel, very jiggly and delicate. If you want to make that version of flan, simply reduce the amount of agar-agar to 1 tsp.

    vegan flan covered in caramel in a small white laced plate
    Save Recipe Go to Recipe Box
    5 from 11 votes

    Vegan Flan

    Flan, silky creamy delicious vegan flan. This custard-like creation is one of the most recognized desserts in all of Latin America and my absolute favorite!!
    Pin Recipe Print Recipe
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time5 mins
    4 hrs
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Servings: 6 small flan
    Calories: 292kcal
    Author: Dora S.

    Ingredients

    Caramel:

    • ¾ cup Granulated sugar

    Flan base:

    • 1 can Full fat coconut milk
    • 1 cup Oat milk
    • 1 tsp. Chickpea flour
    • ⅓ cup Sugar
    • 1 tsp. Vanilla
    • 1 ¼ tsp Agar agar powder (see note)
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    Instructions

    • Get ramekins ready to go.
    • Pour sugar into a medium sauce pot and set to medium-low heat. Let the sugar dissolve, gently swirling the pot but not stirring, until mixture turns a deep golden color, 8 to 9 minutes.
    • Immediately remove pot from heat and pour caramel into ramekins. Gently lift and tilt ramekins to coat the inside with caramel. Set aside.
    • Combine coconut milk and agar agar in a medium sauce pot.
    • In the blender combine the oatmilk, sugar, chickpea flour, and vanilla. Process until smooth. Pour this mixture into the pot with the coconut milk.
    • Bring mixture to a simmer for 5 minutes, then remove from the heat. Let cool slightly, then pour into ramekins.
    • Place ramekins in the fridge for 4 hours to let the flan set.
    • To serve, place bottom of ramekin in a container with hot water for 1 -2 minutes, in order to release the flan.
    • Use a small knife or offset spatula to carefully loosen the edges of the flan. Turn flan over onto a plate, shake gently to release flan and remove ramekin.

    Video

    Notes

    • If you don't have access to agar-agar you can use 1/3 cup + 1 tbsp. of cornstarch instead. Dissolve the cornstarch in the oat milk, and then proceed to add it to the blender with the sugar, vanilla, and chickpea flour. Then add to the coconut milk mixture on the stove and simmer for 5 min. 
    • If you would like this flan to be yellow in color you can add a couple drops of yellow food coloring.
    • If you want to make a very jiggly and delicate version of this flan (like crème caramel) simply reduce the amount of agar-agar to 1 tsp.
     

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1flan | Calories: 292kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Sodium: 28mg | Potassium: 167mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 39g | Vitamin A: 82IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @dorastable or tag #mexicangonevegan!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Selenia

      April 10, 2022 at 3:02 pm

      Does chickpea flour have to be used or can you use a different kind of flour?

      Reply
      • Dora S.

        July 23, 2022 at 10:40 am

        You can just omit it. It's to give the flan an eggy flavor

        Reply
    2. Gaby

      January 10, 2022 at 12:21 pm

      Hello, instead of ramekins can I use a round bigger mold?

      Reply
      • Dora S.

        January 28, 2022 at 2:02 pm

        Yes, you should be able to

        Reply
    3. Roxanna

      December 31, 2021 at 6:41 am

      Hi,

      I put all the ingredients in a 9inch pan then placed it in the fridge but the flan didn’t set. Should I put the pan in the oven to bake instead

      Reply
      • Dora S.

        January 06, 2022 at 9:16 pm

        Did you use cornstarch or agar agar?? Did you use agar powder or flakes?

        Reply
        • Daniela Araujo

          November 20, 2022 at 7:27 am

          5 stars
          Hi Dora. I used flakes and it didn’t set. Any tips ?

        • Dora S.

          November 21, 2022 at 9:36 pm

          Hi, I didn't test it with flakes I used powder so I couldn't tell you the amount you would need to use, but I do know you need a larger quantity.

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