Is Creme Caramel The Same As Flan? – Let’s Investigate!

Dessert is a part of almost all cuisines. We hardly know anyone who doesn’t love desserts. When it comes to dessert, flan or creme caramel is loved by all.

But when it comes to recipes, a lot of similar options pop up. So, many of us can be confused if both of them are the same or not.

You also wanted to know is creme caramel the same as flan?

Well, both of them can be a bit similar in some aspects. Overall, they’re two different dishes. Both of them have different tastes. So in that sense, you can say they’re different. Apart from these the two dishes have different making processes as well.

To know more about whether the dishes are similar, scroll through the next segments.

Is Creme Caramel And Flan Same Or Not?

Surely enough, creme caramel and flan are two different things. But both are absolutely awesome in their own respective manners. These mouth-watering dishes are often thought alike by many people.

Well, the two items do have similarities. They can both be served as desserts. Plus if you have a sweet tooth, both of them will satisfy your taste buds.

However, we know you’d like to choose either one to make. So, let’s clear them up.

Creme Caramel Vs Flan – Differences Explained In Brief!

Though we’ve talked about the similarities between the two already. As they’re different dishes, they ought to have differences in many aspects.

To clear out your confusion on the dishes, we’ve presented a comparison between them. So if you plan to make one of them, you know which one to go for.

Before going to the details, why don’t you look at this quick table overview? And you’ll surely be benefitted.

These are the factors for your quick preview. Now you can move forward to the details.

Classification

Mainly flan is an open sponge base or round-rimmed pastry. What makes it different is that you can fill it in with both types of fillings. So it can either be a dessert or a part of the main dish.

This variety in the same item makes it rather special.

On the other hand, creme caramel is a custard dessert. It is jazzed up with a coating of caramel sauce to give your taste buds a sweet boost.

Origin

Another difference between the dishes is their origin. By that, we refer to the places where the recipe originated. Both of them have different cultural values attached to them due to their origins.

The word flan comes from an old German word “flado” which represents a flat cake or object. The era of flan started during the Roman empire. The Romans used greek techniques to develop new egg-based recipes that gradually ended up in flan. But it was the Spaniards who introduced flan to new lands.

The flan recipe has been accepted in other regions as well. But most of the regions only accepted the flan with sweet fillings. While only a few still practice the savory flan recipe.

No matter which filling people love more, the recipes have changed a lot. Many people have made their own version of flans which might be a lot different from the original recipe. But the base is always the same.

Now coming to creme caramel. It is regarded as a French dessert. But Spain and England have their own demands regarding the recipe. They claim it originated in their own respective counties. Though there’s a dispute regarding where the recipe originated, it is one of the popular dishes.

It was mainly popularised in the late 1990s by restaurants for its easy-to-follow recipe and storage options.

Taste & Texture

Flan has a rich caramel flavor topping. The base is really milky, slightly eggy, and quite sweet. Though in some flans, vegetables and spices are used to create a salty or spicy filling.

Creme caramel has that silky texture that’ll melt into your mouth. From the base to the caramel coating, every part of it ensures that you’re flooded with sweetness. 

Comparatively, creme caramel is creamier than flan in taste and texture.

However, we can’t choose either one for you,  it depends on your tastebuds only.

Ingredients

While flan and creme caramel have quite similar ingredients the main differences are vegetables, pastry, and custard. All of these are used in the vegetable flan. But for sweet flan, the ingredients are all same.

Just some added egg yolks are needed in creme caramel. This is needed to bind the mixture together similar to adding an egg to lasagna.

Making Process

The making process of both items is a lot different. For the flan, you need to make the topping first. Then you’ll pour the flan onto a roaster pan. You also cook it using the bain-marie method for about 50 minutes.

Whereas, for creme caramel, the first step is to make the caramel. Following that, you need to make the base. The caramel then needs to be seated on ramekins on a baking tray. Similar to the flan, creme caramel is made using the bain-marie method in 30-35 minutes.

Flan is easy to make, whereas the quickest option is creme caramel. But the cooking method for both of these is the same.

Served As

Creme caramel is mainly considered a dessert. Flan can be served both as a dessert or as the main course. You can serve both cold or keep them warm in a roaster pan like spaghetti.

So if you’re someone who’s looking for a savory bite to it, flan is for you. However, in the case of a sweet tooth, go for either.

But when it comes to serving these dishes, you can be a bit creative with creme caramel. For example, you can dip hazelnuts on caramel and let them harden.

Then just place them over the creme caramel. But the concern is finding fresh hazelnut can be a hassle. So here are our suggestions on finding the best hazelnuts online.

Oregon Farm To Table Hazelnuts from Premium Growers 

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NUTILLIUS – Premium Quality 1Lb Roasted Hazelnut

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Choose either option from here. Both will impart that lovely nutty flavor to your creme caramel.

Nutritional Value

Now coming to the most concerning part for a lot of you. Whenever we make a dish or plan to consume, one thing to consider is the calorie count. So have a look at the nutrition facts of both dishes.

Flan Nutrition Facts

Creme Caramel Nutrition Facts:

So it can be seen that flan and creme caramel have almost the same calorie count. But they have different levels of nutritional value. Due to the higher nutritional values, flan can be considered healthier in some aspects.

So if you’re looking for a healthier option flan is the one. By adding a savory filling,  you can even avoid sugar intake. 

Verdict- Which One Should You Go for Flan or Creme Caramel?

Well, in many places, people consider both flan and creme caramel to be the same. But they are not fully similar.

So it might get harder to choose between these two. But don’t worry, we’re here to help. 

If you’re thinking of a dessert, both of these can be alternatives to each other.

But if you’re looking for something to add to your main course, flan is the winner. 

So hope you got to know everything about creme caramel and flan.

FAQs

Question: Can I make the flan a combo of sweet and savory?

Answer: Well, yes, if your taste buds feel like a combo of sweet and savory, go for it. Because you’re never wrong with a flan. In that case, you can keep the base sweet. And add spicy fillings to balance.

Question: Can I add chocolate syrup to creme caramel?

Answer: Yes, you can add chocolate syrup to creme caramel. But it’s already sweet so adding syrup will make it even sweeter. And the chocolate flavor might tone down its original flavor.

Question: Can I add fruits to my creme caramel?

Answer: Yes, you can add fruits for decorating the creme caramel. You can dip the fruits in caramel and use them for decorating. 

Wrapping Up

So, that was it for this topic. Hope you got the answer to is creme caramel the same as flan.

If you have any more queries, do let us know by commenting. Show us which one you made in the comment section below.

Good luck!

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Leah Greenstein

Leah Greenstein is a passionate food blogger who has dedicated her life to sharing her love for cooking with the world. Growing up in a family of foodies, Leah was introduced to the joys of cooking at a very young age. Her mother, a professional chef, instilled in her a deep appreciation for the art of cooking and the importance of using high-quality ingredients.

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