Flan Parisien Recipe: Creamy French Custard Tart Classic 2026

Flan parisien is a classic French dessert that takes the silky custard we all love and bakes it inside a buttery shortcrust pastry shell. The result is a stunning tart with a golden top and a creamy, trembling center that feels both rustic and elegant at once. It is the kind of dessert that looks impressive on a celebration table but is surprisingly simple to make at home.

The filling comes together from a simple infusion of milk, cream, and vanilla that gets whisked into eggs, yolks, sugar, and cornstarch. After a gentle thickening on the stove and a long, slow bake, the flan finishes setting in the fridge overnight. That patience is what gives it the perfect custardy texture.

Ingredients for Flan Parisien

This recipe yields 8 servings and uses a 20 cm (8-inch) springform pan about 7 cm (2.75 inches) tall.

• 1 sheet of shortcrust pastry
• 700 ml whole milk
• 200 ml heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 6 medium egg yolks
• 2 medium eggs
• 180 g sugar
• 80 g cornstarch

How to Make Flan Parisien Step by Step

1. Line the Pan with Pastry

First, line a tall round mold with 1 sheet of shortcrust pastry, covering the walls first and then the base, pressing the inner edges together for a neat finish. Prick the base with a fork and keep the mold in the freezer while you prepare the filling. It is important that the pastry is very cold before baking.

2. Infuse the Milk and Cream

In a saucepan, combine 700 ml whole milk with 200 ml heavy cream and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract. Heat over medium heat without letting it boil for 10 minutes.

3. Whisk Eggs, Sugar, and Cornstarch

In a bowl, whisk 6 medium egg yolks with 2 medium eggs, 180 g sugar, and 80 g cornstarch until smooth.

4. Combine the Hot Milk with the Eggs

Slowly pour the hot milk and cream mixture into the bowl with the eggs, whisking quickly so the eggs do not curdle from the heat.

5. Thicken the Custard

Return the mixture to a saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens to a custard-like consistency. Pour the mixture onto a wide tray, cover with plastic wrap touching the surface to prevent a skin from forming, let cool, and refrigerate, preferably until the next day.

6. Blend and Fill the Pastry Shell

Preheat the oven to 200 °C (400 °F). Blend the chilled custard with an immersion blender until smooth and lump-free, then pour it into the pastry-lined mold.

7. Bake the Flan Parisien

Bake the flan parisien at 175 °C (350 °F) for 90 minutes, until golden on top and still slightly jiggly in the center. After the first hour of baking, if the surface is browning too much, cover it with aluminum foil. Let cool and refrigerate the flan without unmolding, preferably overnight.

8. Unmold and Serve

Once the chilling time has passed, unmold the flan parisien and serve it cut into portions.

Tips for the Best Flan Parisien

Keep the Pastry Very Cold

The shortcrust pastry must be well chilled before it goes into the oven, so once you line the mold, keep it in the freezer until the moment you bake. This prevents the pastry from shrinking or slumping as it bakes.

Let It Rest Overnight

The flan parisien finishes setting to its perfect texture while resting in the fridge. Leave it overnight if you can, or for at least 4 hours, so the custard becomes fully firm and creamy.

Bring It to Room Temperature Before Serving

For the best flavor, take the flan out of the fridge about 30 minutes before serving so it warms up slightly and its flavors can be enjoyed fully.

30 Go-To Recipes I Keep Coming Back to in My Own Kitchen

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a rotation that covers cozy classics, dishes from around the world, and sweets that make everyone happy.

Some nights I want something luxuriously rich, and that's when I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a truly indulgent Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when I'm after something fruity and soothing, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my reliable pick.

For mornings that call for something easy and for lighter plates, I'll whip up these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And whenever I need a gluten-free staple for the pantry, this straightforward Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the job.

When tapas and Mediterranean cooking are calling, I tend to cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crispy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is another one I love to serve when the occasion feels a bit more special.

Hearty midday meals and comforting suppers? These are the ones I'm always recommending: this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, traditional Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When I'm after something more substantial, I'll bake up this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, rustic Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street-food cravings and party spreads usually lead me to this juicy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crackly Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These effortless Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another favorite of mine for a quick appetizer or snack.

And when I'm hosting and putting together drinks alongside a full menu, I'll often serve dinner with this refreshing Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this potent Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To bring the whole table together, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side, or finishing things off with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes to Cook for Your Family

After years of cooking, testing, and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes boil down to three things: straightforward methods, techniques you can trust, and serious flavor.

Every recipe gathered here is one I genuinely cook over and over—whether it's a fast meal just for me or something a little more celebratory for friends and family.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a go-to when I want something that feels fancy yet comes together without fuss. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture helps a lot, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something light and uncomplicated is what I'm after, I'll usually make the classic Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For cozier, more filling meals, I frequently point people to the satisfying Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the fast weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm also a big fan of sharing dishes with roots in other countries, such as the authentic Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another category I turn to often, since it cuts down on time without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and deeply satisfying without any gluten.

Gluten free Empanada Dough Recipe 🍕 Fluffy Apple Cake Recipe 🍔 Langos Hungarian Fried Bread Recipe 🌭 Gluten Free French Brioche Recipe 🍟 Madeira British Sponge Cake Recipe 🌮 Chocolate Argentinian Cookies Alfajores Recipe 🌯 Barmbrack Irish Sweet Bread Recipe 🥙 Gluten free Cookies Recipe 🥗 Homemade cream Maruxas Galician Biscuit Recipe 🍝 Japanese Dumplings Gyoza Dough Recipe

American Gluten Free Cookies Recipe 🍜 Gluten Free King Cake Recipe 🍲 Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Recipe 🍛 Extremadura Style Chard Recipe 🍣 Keto Sliced Sandwich Bread Recipe 🍱 Gluten Free Waffles Recipe 🍤 Low Carb Keto Pizza Recipe 🍗 Gluten Free Bread Rolls Recipe 🍖 Flourless Gluten Free Bread Buns Recipe 🥓 Protein Ice Cream Recipe 🥞 Chia Pudding Dessert with Seeds Recipe

Fluffy Cloud Bread Pan Nube Recipe 🧇 Quinoa Bread Recipe 🍞 Schiacciata Tuscan Focaccia Flat Bread Recipe 🥐 Shokupan Japanese Milk Bread Recipe 🥨 Potato Sandwich Bread Recipe 🧀 Homemade Breadsticks Recipe 🍳 Stollen German Dried Fruits Cake Recipe 🥚 French Gingerbread Spiced Cake Recipe 🍰 Gluten Free Pancakes Recipe

🥔 Potato-omelet-in-Thermomix 🍓 Smores-Sandwich-Dessert 🍰 Womens-Day-Mimosa-cake ☕ Coffee-Sorbet 🍆 Eggplant-pizza 🍋 Ciambella-Italian-Lemon-Cake 🥖 Zapiekanka-Polish-Snack 🌰 Dukkah-Egyptian-Nuts-Mix 🧆 Best-Hummus 🥑 Best-Avocado

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