Apple Caramel Flan (Vegan + Gluten-Free)

⭐️ Why You Should Try It

• The perfect Fall dessert. With plenty of apples, a delicate cinnamon aroma, and salted caramel syrup, this dessert is just perfect for Fall! The flan has a tender texture and a delightful vanilla flavor without being too sugary.
• Simple ingredients and process. You will need only 8 simple ingredients and about 20 minutes of prep time to prepare this vegan flan.

🍰 What is Flan?

Flan is a classic French dessert that consists of a vanilla custard baked on a shortcrust pastry. The original version, “Flan Parisien,” does not include any add-ins and is baked until the top is golden brown.

Many other desserts based on vanilla custard are also called flan in France. Here, we will prepare a crustless flan baked in a loaf pan and packed with soft apple chunks! It’s very different from the original version but incredibly delicious!

🍎 Ingredient Notes

Here are the ingredients you will need to prepare this apple flan:

• Apples – Preferably use apples that soften during cooking. For example, Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, or Cortland. I do not recommend using Pink Lady or Granny Smith.
• Sugar – Use granulated white sugar to make the caramel. I highly advise against using coconut or light brown sugar, as you won’t be able to tell when the caramel is done due to the color of those sugars.
• Plant-based milk – Use your favorite unsweetened plant-based milk. I went with soy milk, but almond, oat, or cashew milk will work too.
• Maple syrup – To sweeten the flan and give it a subtle caramelized flavor.
• Cornstarch – Cornstarch is essential to thicken the flan.
• Vanilla extract – Use high-quality store-bought vanilla extract or homemade vanilla extract.
• Ground cinnamon – A pinch of ground cinnamon brings that extra Fall flavor and enhances the flavor of the apples.

🥣 How to Make Apple Flan

1. Make the caramel

1. Combine the sugar and water. Add the sugar, water, and salt to a light-bottomed saucepan.
2. Heat over medium heat. Heat over medium heat for 3-5 minutes without whisking. The sugar will melt and start to bubble. Keep heating until it gets a golden brown color.
3. Transfer to a baking dish or loaf pan. Once the sugar has turned into a brown caramel, remove it from the heat and pour it into the loaf pan. Tilt the pan to spread the caramel evenly in the bottom.

2. Sauté the apples

Next comes the sautéed cinnamon apples! Apple chunks are sautéed in vegan butter for a few minutes until tender. If you are a cinnamon lover like I am, I definitely recommend adding a good pinch of ground cinnamon for extra flavor!

1. Peel and dice the apples. Peel and core the apples. Next, dice them into 1-inch cubes.
2. Cook until tender. Heat a tablespoon of butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, add the diced apples and cook for 5-7 minutes or until tender. Do not overcook, as you don’t want to turn the apples into a purée.
3. Set aside. Once tender, remove from heat and stir in the cinnamon.

3. Make the cream

1. Whisk together the ingredients. Add the almond milk, maple syrup, sugar, cornstarch, and vanilla extract to a medium-sized saucepan. Whisk to dissolve the cornstarch.
2. Heat. Heat over medium, whisking constantly until it thickens, about 5 minutes. The custard will become very thick. That is normal.

4. Combine and bake

1. Transfer the apples to the vanilla cream. Once the cream has thickened, remove from heat and stir in the sautéed apples. Be gentle when stirring. You don’t want to mash the apples.

2. Pour over the caramel. Transfer the custard and apples to the prepared loaf pan, on top of the caramel. Use a spatula to smooth the top.
3. Transfer to a bain-marie. Cover the loaf pan with foil and place it in a larger baking dish. Add about 2 cups of water to the baking dish to make a bain-marie (water bath). The loaf pan should not be fully immersed, just about 1 inch deep.
4. Bake. Bake for 40 minutes in a 350°F (175°C) preheated oven. Remove from the oven and let cool completely before transferring to the refrigerator.
5. Chill. Chill for at least 4 hours before serving. The caramel will melt and infuse the flan!
6. Flip and serve. Once chilled, carefully flip the whole loaf on a deep serving plate so the caramel is on top of the flan. This apple caramel flan is best served chilled but can also be served at room temperature.

🍐 Variations

While this flan tastes delicious as is, you can customize it to your liking. Here are a few ideas:

• Add spices. Instead of cinnamon, use apple or chai spice for a different flavor. You can also include finely grated fresh ginger for some spiciness.
• Use pears. Instead of apples, use ripe pears (do not cook them before adding them to the vanilla cream).
• Add liquor. Stir a tablespoon of amaretto or apple liquor into the vanilla cream for extra flavor.

💬 FAQ

If you like fresh desserts, you will love this apple flan. The combination of tender and melty chunks of apples, the creamy vanilla custard, and the salted caramel syrup is perfect!

🥧 More Fall Desserts

Classic Apple Tarte Tatin

Roasted Pears in Ginger Syrup

Vegan Pumpkin Bread

Vegan Apple Crisp

⭐️ Did you like this recipe? Let us know in the comments below, and tag us on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!