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Flan parisien

17/11/2023

The Flan Parisien, also known as flan pâtissier, is a classic French dessert. It consists of a base of pâte brisée or puff pastry filled with a soft pastry cream. Here’s how to prepare it with an Italian touch, using, for example, good Italian vanilla or organic lemon zest to enrich the flavor of the cream.

Ingredients

Per the pâte brisée:

  • 200 g all-purpose flour
  • 100 g cold butter, cubed
  • 40 g powdered sugar
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 30 ml cold water (approximately)

Per the pastry cream filling:

  • 500 ml whole milk
  • 1 vanilla bean (or the equivalent in extract)
  • 120 g sugar
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 50 g cornstarch
  • A small piece of lemon zest (optional, for an Italian touch)
  • A pinch of salt

Preparation

  1. Pâte Brisée: Begin by preparing the pâte brisée by mixing the flour, powdered sugar, and salt. Add the cold butter and work with your fingertips until the mixture resembles sand. Add the cold water a little at a time until a dough ball forms. Wrap it in plastic wrap and let it rest in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.

  2. Pastry Cream: Meanwhile, bring the milk to a boil with the vanilla bean split lengthwise and the lemon zest. In a bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the sugar until pale and frothy, then add the cornstarch and a pinch of salt.

  3. Remove the vanilla bean and lemon zest from the milk and pour a little of the hot milk over the egg yolk mixture, stirring quickly. Then pour the egg yolk mixture into the remaining milk in the saucepan.

  4. Cook the cream over medium heat, stirring constantly until it thickens and begins to boil. Remove from the heat and let cool, stirring occasionally to prevent a skin from forming on the surface.

  5. Roll out the pâte brisée into a thin layer and line a previously buttered tart pan. Pour the cooled pastry cream over the pastry base.

  6. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 40-45 minutes or until the cream has set and the surface is golden.

  7. Allow to cool completely before serving. If desired, you can dust the surface of the flan with a little powdered sugar or cinnamon.

Fun Facts

The Flan Parisien is often found in French boulangeries as a grab-and-go dessert, eaten by hand without the need for cutlery. It is a timeless classic, appreciated for its simplicity and rich creaminess.