Even if you have never been to a Cuban restaurant or tried Cuban food in your entire life (which is really sad and I want to give you a virtual hug) you probably have heard of flan. Flan is a dessert found in many countries, but in Spanish cultures it’s the quintessential dessert. Flan can come in various flavors, from coffee to coconut, but one of my favorites is flan de queso or cheese flan. It’s what would happen if flan and cheesecake had a gorgeous, delicious, baby. It’s rich and creamy and a little goes a long way.
There are tons of recipes out there for flan de queso, but my all time favorite is the recipe from my husband’s abuela, Edith Fernandez. Not only does it taste like a spoonful of heaven, but it’s mixed in the blender for a silky smooth texture. When she made it in the oven, she used an IMUSA aluminum pot, but I found that a flanera (flan pot) fits perfectly in the Instant pot and keeps the moisture off of the flan.
This is a step by step video showing you how to make my Instant Pot Cheesecake Flan.
Instant Pot Cheesecake Flan
Recipe by Lana Horruitiner Perez adapted from Edith M. Fernandez
Caramel:
1/4 cup Water plus 2 tablespoons extra
2/3 cups Sugar
Flan:
2- 8 oz packages of Cream Cheese, room temperature (I’m always forgetting to leave the cream cheese out ahead of time to come to room temperature. If you are like me, you can just put the cream cheese in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for a few seconds on 30% power. You don’t want it to be hot, just so it’s not very cold.)
2- 14 oz cans of Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/4 cup Milk
1 tsp Vanilla
pinch of Salt
1 whole Egg
1 Egg Yolk
-The pan I used to cook the flan in is called a flanera, or a flan pan. Most people have never heard of a flan pan. It is a 6 inch round pan with a top that clips on. If you are an avid Instant Pot user I would recommend buying one online. They are very inexpensive and you can use it for lots of different recipes. (If you don’t have a flan pan, you can use any 6 inch cake pan that has a solid bottom. Do not use a spring form pan.) Here is a link to buy the Flan Pan on Amazon. //ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=drlanaperez-20&marketplace=amazon®ion=US&placement=B0018EAXNQ&asins=B0018EAXNQ&linkId=4d2af22346d94be1c290f9eaa537b533&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066C0&bg_color=FFFFFF
**This is an affiliate link. I receive a small commission when you purchase using this link. However, this does not affect my review. I have used this brand and this pan long before I started this website.**
Making the Caramel:
-Start with the caramel. Pour 1/4 cup Water into a medium saucepan. Slowly pour 2/3 cup Sugar into the center of the saucepan, making sure to not get any sugar on the sides of the pan. Using a spatula, gradually stir the sugar just enough to moisten all the sugar.
-Bring to a boil over medium heat. If your stove has hot spots like mine, you might need to move your pan around on the stove to make sure it browns evenly. Once it starts boiling cook without stirring until the mixture becomes a straw color. This can take anywhere from 7 to 13 minutes. At about the midpoint it’s going to look like it’s not working and that the sugar is just getting crusty. It’s ok. It will start to melt and turn brown. The following pictures show you the different stages of the caramel.
-Once it gets to the straw color stage, gently start to swirl the pan over the heat until it becomes more of an amber color. As soon at it reaches that amber color, remove from heat and add the 2 Tbl of Water while you swirl the pan. This will make the caramel start to bubble and the water will start to incorporate into the caramel.
-Pour the caramel into the flanera. be careful, it is very hot! Swirl the flanera around so the bottom and about 1 inch up the sides is coated with the caramel. Set aside.
Making the Flan:
–Put the 2 packages of Cream Cheese, 2 cans of Sweetened Condensed Milk (don’t throw away the cans just yet), 1 tsp Vanilla, 1 Egg, and 1 Egg Yolk, into a blender. (If you don’t have a blender you can use a hand mixer.)
-Take the empty cans of condensed milk and pour in the 1/4 cup Milk into one of the cans. Use the liquid and a spatula or spoon to get all of the condensed milk out of the can. Pour this into the second can and dot he same. Then pour the liquid into the blender. This was a step that my husband’s grandmother did and for some reason it makes a difference. So don’t skip it!
-Blend all the ingredients together. Start on low and pulse and then move to medium speed. Scrape down the sides if you need to and continue to blend until the mixture is smooth. It’s ok if it is a little frothy on top.
-Pour the mixture into the flanera over the caramel. Leave at least an inch of space from the top rim. It’s ok if there is some of the mixture left over.
-Place the top on the flanera and clip in place. If you are using a regular pan, cover tightly with foil.
-Add 4 cups of water to the Instant Pot liner and place the trivet in the Instant Pot. Place the Flanera in the Instant Pot on top of the trivet. The water should be half way up the side of the flanera. If the water comes up more than half way, there is too much a water and should take some out before placing the flanera back in the pot.
-Lock the Instant Pot lid into place and make sure the valve is set to SEALED.
-Cook on High Pressure for 25 – 30 minutes and then allow to Natural Release for 30 minutes. Remove the flanera from the Instant Pot and remove the lid. It should be a little jiggly in the middle, but when you place a toothpick int he center it should come out clean. You can also check the temperature which should be 180 degrees. (if you feel like it needs more time, that’s no problem, just cover it again and place it back in the IP and set the time for another 2 mins. NPR for 10 mins and then release the rest of the pressure slowly.) Place the uncovered pan on a wire rack and allow to cool for an hour.
-Once it’s room temperature, cover with a cling wrap and place int he fridge for at least 6 hours. Overnight is best.
-To umold, slide a pairing knife around the edge of the flan. Place a serving dish on top of the flanera and invert. It’s probable that the flan will not just pop out. Don’t worry! Here are a few tips to release it.
- Use the hot water method and slowly place the flan pan into a shallow pan of hot water for a fee minutes. Be careful not to get water in the pan.
- Invert on a plate and use a hair dryer on HOT to warm the bottom of the pan. Move the hair dryer around. This may take up to 5 mins but be patient, it will unmold.
- Wet a towel and wring it out so it is damp, not soaked.
- Place the damp towel in the microwave for 30 seconds so it gets hot.
- Place the hot towel on the underside of the flanera. This should slightly melt the sugar inside and release the flan. You might have to warm the towel 2 or 3 times until it starts to release.
Lana Under Pressure 
Gracias!!
Una pregunta, podria cambiar la textura si uso solamente una de condensed milk? Como o con que la sustituiria? La tradicilnal receta que uso es 1 de carnation 1 condensada i queso 3 eggs, mas le de usted se ve super creamy n delicious yummy, 😉😊 mi pregunta es x lo dulce? Gxs bendiciones
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La receta sulla resultaría en un Flan de queso tradicional. Esta receta es para un Flan de “Cheesecake.” (Una combinación de un Cheesecake Norteamericano y un Flan de queso.) La textura y dulzura cambiará si usás sólo una lata. Si vas a usa la receta sulla, Le daría el consejo de cocinar el Flan por menos tiempo en el InstantPot- 15 minutos en ves de 25 minutos. Muchísimas gracias por su pregunta. ¡Buen Provecho!
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Thank you so much. I can’t wait to try your cheesecake flan.
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Your recipes and blog are very easy, thorough, and fool proof.
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Awwwe thank you so much! So glad you enjoy it.
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if I dont have a flan pan what would you suggest.? can i cover a cake pan?
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Absolutely. Just cover with foil.❤👍
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I learned from my Cuban MIL.
I can sweetened condensed milk
1 can of milk (same can)
Vanilla
5 egg yolks
Mix everything and strain out the eggy bits.
Put water and sugar into a clean coffee can and melt on the stove until you get a dark caramel. Run the hot caramel around the sides of the can to coat it, then let it cool.
Once the can is cool, add strains egg mixture. Cover with foil and secure with a strong rubber band. Place in pressure cooker with water half way up the can. Bring to pressure and cook 25 min. Let cool slow, then refrigerate a few hours. Pour into a dish and slice into rounds.
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I love this! That’s very much like my great grandmother’s flan. But using a coffee can sound very much like a Cuban idea.
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Hello. This is Renee Rebel. Last week, on Facebook, I contacted you about making a Cuban flan in the IP. You replied that you would be posting the recipe this week. Is this the recipe to which you were referring? It sounds delicious but my Cuban flan calls for evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk; therefore, it would have more liquid than your recipe with the cream cheese. What would be the timings for a flan which uses more liquid?
Also, I made your Cuban bread pudding and it was incredible! I wanted to let you know that I made it with croissants instead of Hawaiian rolls. I live on the east coast of Canada and I couldn’t find any Hawaiian rolls. I assumed those rolls would be sweet so I decided to use croissants.
I love your Ropa Vieja and I will be making your black bean recipe soon.
Thank you!
Sent from my Bell Samsung device over Canada’s largest network.
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Hi! Actually I’ll be posting a more traditional flan next week that is more like what you are talking about. The timing is 15 mins for a regular flan. I’m so glad you liked the bread pudding. I think using croissants is brilliant!
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If I wanted to make half the recipe in a 6 inch pan would i alter the cooking time? It’s just for two people. Thank you.
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Hmmm good question. You are only diminishing the size of the pan by an inch but having the recipe so it will be thinner. I might try 15 mins instead of 25 which is the time for a regular flan. When is done see if its 180 degrees in the middle. If not put it back in for another 3 mins.
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This was amazing! I missed your comment on not using a spring form pan, luckily mine still worked out! I look forward to the more traditional one .
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Oh im so glad it worked out! I think I fiest have a cheaper spring form so the kater seeped right out, lol. Ii’ll be posting my abuela’s traditional flan soon.
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What is the size of your Instant Pot and flan pan? I only see 7″ flan pan in amazon.
Thanks.
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I have a 6 Qt and the 7 inch pan fits perfectly. If you use the link in my blog it will take you to the exact size. Good luck!
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you say 2 cans of sweetened milk, but you don’t say how many ounces. this is my 1st time making flan de queso
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Good point! It’s the 2 of the 14 oz cans. Thanks for letting me know. I’m going to add that to the recipe.❤
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Oh shoot… Ok, I’ve been dreaming of making this. Finally getting up the will power and courage to attempt it this weekend – but we have a huge Instant Pot (the 8-quart one). Do we change anything with regards to ingredient amounts or pan sizes?
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Nope, not at all! You can use a slightly larger pan and maybe then add an extra 4 mins cooking time. But if you use the same size pan or a flanera, keep everything the same. Good luck. You got this! 👍😁
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Oh.my.gosh. So I accidentally used 1 egg white instead of the yolk – c’est la vie. I’ll let you know what happens. This is what I get when I attempt something like cooking late in the day. LOL
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Lol. I love you! Maybe you came up with a genius new thing?
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Haha. You overestimate me. 🙂 But also I was wondering if you really have to leave an entire inch from the top of the pan. Sorry for the gazillion questions… It just seems a little short. Maybe there’s a deeper pan we can get?
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You could probably push the inch to a half inch. You might have to add a few more minutes though since you have more batter.
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Thank you!
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I’m about to purchase a 7″ flan pan as it will be more versatile to use with other recipes. I have a 6qt IP. Is the cook time the same with a 7″ pan? I can’t wait to try this…thanks!
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Yep, keep everything the same. Hope you like it.❤
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Thanks for the info! I think it will be a big hit in our house!
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Does this work for an 8 quart instant pot?
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Absolutely!
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Can I used a pressure cooker instead of the IP
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The IP is just a fancy electric pressure cooker, do you absolutely can use a regular pressure cooker. 🙂 You can also fo it in the oven with a ban Marie at 350 for 55 mins.
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Absolutely! An IP I’d just an electric pressure cooker. You could even make this in the oven which is the traditional method.
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I have a RIDICULOUS amount of filling leftover from this. More than half of the mixture. What the heck am I supposed to do with it?! Will it keep in the fridge? Do I make another flan tonight??
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It depends on the size of the pan you use, I usually only have a cup left. You can absolutely make a serving one or even individual ones in ramekins. It will keep in the fridge for a day just remix it before using.
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Is the 1/4 cup of milk on top of the 2 cans of condensed milk? Is the texture more cheesecake or more like flan? Hope to hear from you thank you
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I’m sorry I didn’t see your post sooner. Yes that is a 1/4 regular milk on top of the condensed. The texture is like cheesecake with the flavor of flan.
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I made the caramel topping FIVE times! It still hasn’t come out right:( I tried 2 pans, 2 silicone spatulas, 2 different gas burners and a timer. Your video instructions are great and I follow them to the letter. What am I doing wrong?
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Oh no. Caramel is one of the toughest things to mate, but once you get it, it’s super easy. But it can be frustrating. When you say it doesn’t come out, what happens? Did it get too dark? Did it never melt? If you want to PM me on FB some info Ill help you and between the 2 of us we will work it out. 😁
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I found out using sweet condensed milk is way too sweet, one time I just used 1 can, my daughter didn’t like it, way way too sweet she said. Prior to that I just use evaporated milk. Any substitute for condensed milk? Just sugar may be?
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