Heavenly Silky Caramel Flan Muffins Recipe: Sweet Bliss in Bites

Moist and decadent caramel flan muffins dance between classic dessert boundaries with their luxurious texture.

Creamy custard swirls through soft, golden batter creating an irresistible treat.

Rich caramel notes weave through each tender bite, promising pure indulgence.

Smooth eggs and delicate vanilla blend seamlessly in this delightful fusion.

European pastry techniques inspire these remarkable muffins that elevate afternoon tea or weekend brunch.

Each muffin delivers a perfect balance of sweetness and sophisticated flavor.

You’ll want to savor every single crumb of this elegant dessert.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Calories: 250 kcal

Servings: 12

Ingredients in Velvety Caramel Flan Muffins

• Sugar: Transforms into rich, golden liquid that coats the muffin base with deep sweetness.
• Water: Helps sugar melt smoothly and create perfect caramel consistency.

• Eggs: Provide structure and creamy texture, binding all ingredients together.
• Sweetened Condensed Milk: Adds luxurious sweetness and silky smooth consistency.
• Whole Milk: Creates rich, tender base with balanced moisture.
• Vanilla: Enhances overall flavor with warm, aromatic undertones.

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides essential structure and tender crumb.
• Baking Powder, Baking Soda: Ensure light, fluffy muffin texture with perfect rise.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and amplifies other flavor profiles.

• Butter: Delivers rich flavor and tender mouthfeel.
• Sugar: Sweetens and helps create golden-brown crust.
• Egg: Binds ingredients and adds moisture.
• Buttermilk: Introduces tangy flavor and helps activate leavening agents.

Tools for Baking Muffins With a Caramel Center

• Blender or Whisk: Essential for smoothly mixing flan ingredients and ensuring no lumps.
• Mixing Bowls: Two separate bowls needed for dry and wet ingredients, preferably medium-sized.
• Saucepan: Small pan for creating golden caramel with sugar and water.
• 12-Cup Muffin Tin: Key tool for shaping and baking individual flan muffins.
• Large Baking Dish: Needed for creating water bath during baking.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient measurements.
• Electric Mixer or Hand Beater: Helps cream butter and sugar to fluffy consistency.
• Knife: Used for loosening muffins from tin after baking.
• Spatula: Helpful for folding and mixing batters smoothly.
• Toothpick: Checks muffin doneness by inserting into center.

How to Make Muffins That Flan Fans Adore

• Craft Caramel Magic

Warm sugar and water in a saucepan, watching closely as it transforms into a golden syrup. Swirl this liquid gold into muffin cups, coating the bottom with a delicious layer.

• Whip Up Flan Foundation

Blend eggs, sweet milk, whole milk, and vanilla until silky smooth. Gently pour a spoonful into each caramel-kissed cup.

• Create Muffin Masterpiece

Mix flour, rising agents, and a pinch of salt in one bowl. In another, cream butter and sugar until fluffy, then fold in egg and vanilla. Alternate adding dry ingredients and buttermilk, stirring just until combined.

• Layer and Prepare

Top the flan layer with a dollop of muffin batter in each cup. Nestle the pan into a larger dish filled with steaming water.

• Bake to Perfection

Slide into a preheated oven and bake until muffin tops turn a beautiful golden brown. A toothpick should emerge clean when inserted.

• Unveil and Enjoy

After a brief cooling, run a knife around the edges and flip onto a plate. Watch as caramel cascades over the luscious flan. Serve warm or chilled, perhaps with a cloud of whipped cream or a sprinkle of fresh berries.

Flavor Tweaks for Flan Muffins With a Velvety Finish

• Allow sugar to melt slowly and evenly without stirring to prevent crystallization, creating a smooth, glossy caramel base for your muffins.
• Use room temperature ingredients to ensure a tender, even-textured muffin that won't become dense or dry.
• Prepare the batter and caramel layer up to a day in advance, refrigerating separately to save time on baking day.
• Replace buttermilk with lactose-free milk or almond milk for dairy-sensitive guests, and use gluten-free flour for a celiac-friendly version.
• Experiment with different extract variations like almond, coconut, or rum to add unique twists to the classic flan muffin recipe.

Plating These Muffins for Dessert or Brunch

• Dessert Decadence Delight: Serve these velvety caramel flan muffins as a stunning after-dinner centerpiece that will wow your guests.
• Brunch Bliss Bite: Perfect for weekend brunch gatherings, pair with fresh coffee or mimosas for a luxurious morning treat.
• Sweet Celebration Special: Elevate birthday parties or family gatherings by presenting these elegant individual desserts that combine two classic treats in one delightful package.
• Gifting Gourmet Touch: Wrap individually in clear cellophane with a ribbon for a homemade gift that showcases your baking skills and culinary creativity.

Muffin Storage Tips to Preserve the Texture

• Store these delightful muffins in an airtight container within the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, ensuring maximum flavor preservation and preventing moisture loss.
• Prepare the entire batch a day before serving, allowing flavors to meld and caramel to develop deeper, richer notes that enhance the overall taste experience.
• Wrap individual muffins tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. These treats can be frozen for approximately 2 weeks, perfect for spontaneous dessert cravings.
• Remove refrigerated or frozen muffins 15-20 minutes before serving to reach optimal room temperature, which helps restore their luxurious texture and allows the caramel to soften beautifully.

Silky Caramel Flan Muffins Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.9 from 29 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 13 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Silky Mexican caramel flan muffins blend classic dessert magic with surprising pastry charm. Smooth custard and golden caramel create an irresistible fusion you’ll crave from first delightful bite.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• ½ cups (100 grams) granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) water
• ½ cups (100 grams) granulated sugar
• ½ cups (113 grams) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 1 large egg
• 1 (14 oz / 397 grams) can sweetened condensed milk
• ½ cups (120 ml) whole milk (or evaporated milk)
• ¼ cups (60 ml) buttermilk
• 1 cups (125 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoons baking soda
• ¼ teaspoons salt

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Caramel Preparation: Melt sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat until achieving a rich golden hue, stirring consistently to prevent burning.
2. Muffin Tin Setup: Grease a 12-cup muffin tin and distribute caramel evenly across the bottom, creating a smooth coating in each cup.
3. Flan Mixture Creation: Whisk eggs, sweetened condensed milk, whole milk, and vanilla in a bowl until completely smooth and well-integrated.
4. Flan Layer Distribution: Carefully pour approximately one tablespoon of flan mixture into each caramel-coated muffin cup.
5. Dry Ingredient Combination: Blend flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a separate mixing bowl, ensuring even distribution of leavening agents.
6. Muffin Batter Assembly: Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then incorporate egg and vanilla, mixing thoroughly.
7. Batter Integration: Gently fold dry ingredients and buttermilk into the butter mixture, stirring minimally to maintain a tender texture.
8. Final Layer Construction: Spoon one tablespoon of muffin batter atop the flan layer in each muffin cup.
9. Baking Process: Position muffin tin inside a larger water-filled baking dish, creating a gentle steam bath, and bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes until golden and set.
10. Cooling and Presentation: Allow muffins to rest for 10 minutes, then carefully invert onto a serving plate, permitting caramel to cascade over the flan surface.
11. Serving Suggestion: Enjoy immediately while warm or chill for a few hours to achieve a traditional flan consistency, optionally garnishing with whipped cream or fresh berries.

Notes

• Watch the caramel closely to prevent burning; remove from heat immediately when it turns golden brown to ensure a smooth, rich flavor without bitterness.
• Gently fold muffin batter until just combined to maintain a tender, light texture and avoid tough, dense muffins that can result from excessive mixing.
• Use hot water when creating the water bath to maintain consistent oven temperature and ensure even, gentle cooking of the delicate flan layer without cracking.
• Allow muffins to cool slightly before inverting to help them release easily from the pan, ensuring the caramel coating remains intact and beautifully drizzled over the flan.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 190
• Sugar: 18 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 7 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 27 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 55 mg