Nutella Chocolate Flan Recipe
If you’re looking to wow your sweetheart or just treat yourself to something insanely delicious, this Nutella Chocolate Flan Recipe is exactly what you need. It’s the kind of dessert that feels fancy but is surprisingly easy to make. Imagine rich, creamy chocolatey custard with that irresistible Nutella swirl—plus a smooth, glossy finish that you can dress up with fresh berries and mint. Trust me, once you try this, it’s going to be your go-to for special occasions or anytime you want a decadent yet comforting dessert.
Why This Recipe Works
- Perfect Texture: The combination of condensed and evaporated milk creates a silky smooth flan base that’s just right—not too firm, not too soft.
- Nutella Meets Chocolate: Melting Nutella along with dark chocolate gives a rich, layered flavor that feels gourmet without extra fuss.
- Water Bath Baking: Using a water bath keeps the flan from cracking and ensures it cooks evenly for that creamy consistency.
- Simple Yet Elegant: The fresh berry and mint garnish adds a bright, fresh finish that balances the dessert beautifully.
Ingredients & Why They Work
The magic of this Nutella Chocolate Flan Recipe lies in mixing pantry staples with a few special touches. Each ingredient plays a key role in creating its signature creamy texture and rich flavor. Shopping tip: opt for high-quality Nutella and good dark chocolate, it really makes a difference.
- Eggs: Eggs bind the custard and give it structure, ensuring a smooth, firm flan.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: Adds creaminess and sweetness, making the flan luscious without extra sugar.
- Evaporated Milk (or your choice of milk): Balances out richness and keeps the flan silky, not heavy.
- Vanilla Extract: A touch of vanilla brightens those rich chocolate flavors perfectly.
- Nutella: The star ingredient, giving chocolate hazelnut flavor that’s deeply comforting.
- Dark Chocolate: Melts smoothly with Nutella, adding intense depth and balancing sweetness.
- Strawberries, Blueberries, Pomegranate Arils: Fresh, colorful berries add tartness and visual appeal as garnish.
- Fresh Mint: Adds a refreshing note and lovely aroma that complements the chocolate beautifully.
Make It Your Way
I love making this Nutella Chocolate Flan Recipe my own by switching up the chocolate or toppings depending on the occasion—sometimes I add a splash of espresso for an adult twist, or swap out berries for toasted nuts when I want crunch. You can totally personalize it, and I’ll share some ideas to inspire you!
- Espresso Kick: Adding a tablespoon of brewed espresso to the chocolate mix deepens the flavor and gives a mocha vibe I adore.
- Dairy-Free Version: I’ve replaced evaporated milk with coconut milk and it works wonders, making it creamy yet dairy-free.
- Nut-Free Swap: Omit Nutella and use plain melted dark chocolate or chocolate chips instead if you need to avoid nuts.
- Seasonal Fruit: In winter, swap berries for segments of orange or pomegranate to brighten each bite.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Nutella Chocolate Flan Recipe
Step 1: Melt the Chocolate and Nutella Together
Start by heating the almond milk gently in a saucepan over low heat. Add your Nutella and chopped dark chocolate, stirring constantly until everything is melted and completely combined. This step ensures the chocolate flavors are smooth and meld perfectly with the milk. Be patient and keep the heat low to avoid burning the chocolate.
Step 2: Blend to a Silky Chocolate Milk
Pour the warm chocolate milk mixture into a blender and pulse for a few seconds until totally smooth. This might seem like an extra step, but it really helps break up any lumps from the Nutella or chocolate bits so your flan’s texture is flawless.
Step 3: Mix Eggs and Milks for Smooth Custard
In a large bowl, beat four eggs well, then add the sweetened condensed milk, your chocolate milk blend, and vanilla extract. Whisk everything together until silky and uniform. This is the heart of your custard, so take a moment to get it nice and smooth—it makes all the difference in the final texture.
Step 4: Pour into Ramekins and Prepare Water Bath
Divide the custard mixture evenly into individual ramekins or molds. Place these in a square baking dish, then carefully pour boiling water around them until it reaches about one inch deep. The water bath technique helps the flan cook gently and evenly without cracking—don’t skip this step!
Step 5: Bake Until Set
Bake in a preheated oven at 325°F for about 30 to 45 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Don’t rush removing the flan—let it cool completely to room temperature, then refrigerate it to set fully. Patience here really pays off with that luscious, creamy mouthfeel.
Step 6: Unmold and Garnish
This is my favorite step! To unmold without a hitch, take the flan out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes. Dip your ramekins briefly in hot water to loosen the custard’s edges, then tap the sides gently. Flip onto a plate and watch that silky Nutella chocolate flan slide out perfectly. Top with fresh berries, pomegranate arils, and mint leaves for a beautiful finish.
Tips from My Kitchen
- Gentle Heat is Key: Use low heat to melt Nutella and chocolate—rushing can cause the chocolate to seize.
- Water Bath Success: Make sure the water doesn’t splash into your custard—cover ramekins with foil if you like.
- Patience on Cooling: Cool your flan completely before unmolding to avoid cracks or breakage.
- Perfect Unmolding: The hot water dip for five seconds before flipping made my flan slide out silky smooth every time.
How to Serve Nutella Chocolate Flan Recipe
Garnishes
I always top mine with a mix of strawberries, blueberries, and those jewel-like pomegranate arils because they add just the right contrast in flavor and a pop of color that makes the dish irresistible. A few fresh mint leaves brighten the plate and give that subtle herbal note which is surprisingly refreshing against the sweet chocolate.
Side Dishes
This flan is a dessert star so I usually keep sides simple—think a lightly brewed cup of coffee or a glass of ruby red dessert wine. If you’re serving it at brunch, fresh fruit salad or candied nuts pair beautifully.
Creative Ways to Present
For a romantic Valentine’s Day, I’ve poured this Nutella Chocolate Flan Recipe into heart-shaped molds before baking. Then I carefully unmold and plate it with edible rose petals and a light dusting of cocoa powder. It’s so charming and makes the dessert feel extra special and thoughtful.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
After it’s fully cooled and set, cover your Nutella Chocolate Flan tightly with plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container and keep it in the fridge. It lasts beautifully for up to 3 days—just make sure it doesn’t absorb any fridge odors by sealing it well.
Freezing
I’ve tried freezing individual ramekins of this flan, wrapped carefully, and it freezes okay for up to a month. When ready, thaw overnight in the fridge and it still tastes great, though the texture can get a bit less creamy after freezing.
Reheating
This flan is best served chilled, so I don’t recommend reheating. If your custard is a little too firm from the fridge, just leave it at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving to soften slightly.
FAQs
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Can I use regular milk instead of evaporated milk in this Nutella Chocolate Flan Recipe?
Absolutely! While evaporated milk gives a richer, creamier texture, you can swap it with whole milk or almond milk if you prefer a lighter flan. Just keep in mind the consistency might be slightly less dense and creamy.
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How do I prevent cracks in my Nutella Chocolate Flan?
Using a water bath is key to preventing cracks because it gently cooks the flan with steam and even heat. Also, avoid overbaking and don’t open the oven door frequently. Cooling the flan slowly at room temperature before refrigerating also helps maintain a smooth surface.
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What’s the best way to unmold flan without it sticking?
After chilling, let the flan sit at room temperature for 10 minutes, then dip the ramekin in warm water briefly. Tap the edges gently to loosen the custard from the sides. Placing a plate on top and flipping quickly but carefully helps it slide out perfectly.
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Can I make this Nutella Chocolate Flan Recipe ahead of time?
Yes! In fact, it’s wonderful made a day ahead—the flavors meld beautifully, and chilling overnight helps the texture set perfectly. Just store covered in the fridge and unmold right before serving.
Final Thoughts
This Nutella Chocolate Flan Recipe is one of those desserts that feels like a warm hug in every bite. It’s approachable enough for a weekday treat but elegant enough for special occasions. I love how simple ingredients come together to create something truly memorable—whether I’m impressing friends or sneaking a quiet moment to myself. Give it a go, and I promise you’ll be craving this silky, dreamy flan again and again!
Print
Nutella Chocolate Flan Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: International
- Diet: Low Lactose
Description
This Nutella Chocolate Flan Heart Shaped Valentine’s Dessert combines creamy flan with rich Nutella and dark chocolate flavors, topped with fresh berries and mint for an elegant and indulgent treat perfect for special occasions.
Ingredients
Flan Mixture
- 4 eggs
- 1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 12 ounce can evaporated milk (or milk of your choice)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup Nutella
- 4 ounces dark chocolate for melting
Toppings
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Pomegranate arils
- Fresh mint leaves
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the flan.
- Melt Chocolate: In a medium saucepan, heat the milk (almond or your choice), add Nutella and dark chocolate, stirring until the chocolate has fully melted and combined with the milk.
- Blend Chocolate Milk: Pour the chocolate milk into a blender and blend for a few seconds until smooth and well combined.
- Mix Flan Base: In a large bowl, beat the eggs. Add the sweetened condensed milk, the blended chocolate milk, and vanilla extract; beat until the mixture is smooth and homogeneous.
- Prepare Molds: Pour the egg mixture evenly into individual heart-shaped molds or ramekins.
- Set Up Water Bath: Place the filled molds in a 2-quart square baking dish. Then pour boiling water into the baking dish around the molds to reach a depth of 1 inch, creating a water bath for gentle, even cooking.
- Bake Flan: Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, indicating the flan is set.
- Cool Flan: Remove the flan from the oven and allow them to cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate until fully chilled.
- Unmold Flan: Follow the unmolding steps carefully to release the flan from the molds without damage.
- Garnish and Serve: Top each flan with fresh strawberries, blueberries, pomegranate arils, and mint leaves before serving for a festive and flavorful finish.
Notes
- Let the flan sit at room temperature for ten minutes before unmolding to make removal easier.
- Use hot, not boiling, water to warm the molds briefly to loosen the custard.
- Tap gently around the mold’s edges to break the seal between the custard and the mold.
- Invert the mold onto a plate and shake firmly to release the flan smoothly.
- Use heart-shaped molds for a romantic presentation perfect for Valentine’s Day or special occasions.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 35 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
