Pudim de Leite (Brazilian Condensed Milk Flan)
In short: A dense, silky flan made with condensed milk, milk and eggs, baked in a water bath over bittersweet caramel and chilled overnight. It takes about 1 h 30 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 1 h 10 min
- Resting
- 6 h
- Total
- 1 h 30 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 270 kcal
Pudim de leite is the classic Brazilian dessert for Sunday lunch and birthdays. Sweetened condensed milk, milk and eggs are blended into a custard that sets denser and silkier than a French flan, and it is baked over a layer of dark caramel that becomes the sauce. It is traditionally baked in a ring mold. Make it a day ahead, because it needs a long chill to unmold cleanly.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 170°C (340°F) and boil a kettle of water. Have a 1.5-liter ring mold or loaf pan ready, plus a deep roasting pan.
- Make the caramel: heat the sugar and water in a small pan over medium heat, swirling but not stirring, for 6 to 8 minutes until deep amber. Pour at once into the mold and tilt to coat the base and sides. It hardens fast.
- Blend the condensed milk, milk, eggs and vanilla for 30 seconds, or whisk gently by hand until smooth. Strain through a fine sieve to remove any bubbles and egg strands.
- Pour the custard over the caramel and cover the mold tightly with foil.
- Set the mold in the roasting pan and pour in hot water to come halfway up its sides. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, until the edges are set, the center has a slight wobble and a thin knife comes out clean.
- Cool the pudding in the water bath for 20 minutes, then chill, covered, for at least 6 hours or overnight.
- Run a thin knife around the edge, set a deep plate on top and flip. Let the caramel run down the sides and serve cold.
Tips
- Pull the caramel off the heat when it is the color of dark honey. Any darker and it turns bitter.
- Straining the custard and baking it covered in a water bath keep the texture smooth and free of holes.
Questions and answers
Why does my pudim have holes?
Holes come from overmixing, which adds air, or from baking at too high a heat. Blend briefly, strain the custard and bake in a covered water bath.
Can I make pudim without a blender?
Yes. Whisk the condensed milk, milk, eggs and vanilla gently by hand until smooth, then strain the mixture before pouring.
How long does pudim keep?
Covered in the fridge it keeps for 4 days. Do not freeze it, because the custard turns watery when thawed.
How long does it take to make Pudim de Leite (Brazilian Condensed Milk Flan)?
About 1 h 30 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 1 h 10 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Pudim de Leite (Brazilian Condensed Milk Flan)?
About 270 kcal per serving, with 8 g of protein, 42 g of carbohydrates and 8 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 270 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 42 g |
| Fat | 8 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 41 g |
| Sodium | 115 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
