flan

noun

ˈflan  ˈflän 

1

a

: an open pie containing any of various sweet or savory fillings

b

: custard baked with a caramel glaze

2

: the metal disk of a coin, token, or medal as distinguished from the design and lettering stamped on it

Examples of flan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Maybe they are destined for a quivering leche flan or a quick-to-vanish cupcake. —Ligaya Mishan Melody Melamed, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2023

The flan with coconut custard, pineapple caramel and caramelized pineapple makes a strong case for dessert. —Georgann Yara, The Arizona Republic, 7 Sep. 2023

In one, her grandmother showed her how to make flan. —Camille Bordas, The New Yorker, 3 July 2023

Testing a ‘smart cafe’ Taco Borga, co-owner of Dallas bakery La Duni, has avoided the difficulties of operating a traditional food-stand business by installing machines at the Exchange that shell out jars of cheesecake, cookie dough, flan and other baked goods with the swipe of a credit card. —Dallas News, 8 Dec. 2022

Available throughout September in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the flan pastelito is a flaky Frankenstein of sorts. —Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 14 Sep. 2022

The condensed and evaporated milks of New World flans, now common, are nowhere to be found in flan a la antigua (or old-fashioned flan), which leans into the rounded bitterness of cooked sugar and the rich, eggy flavor of six whole eggs plus two yolks. —New York Times, 6 May 2022

Margarita Manzke, who is known for her French baking and pastries at République, puts together an extraordinary Angeleno version of halo halo, the Filipino dessert, at her small restaurant inside Grand Central Market, using housemade flan and jellies along with seasonal fruits. —New York Times, 6 June 2022

Perez said 21 food trucks will sell tacos, tamales, tres leches cake, guacamole, carne aside, burritos, nachos, flautas, street corn, empanadas, Spanish rice, cemita, quesadillas, flan and other Mexican goodies, including vegetarian and vegan options. —Susan Dunne, courant.com, 28 July 2021

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Word History

Etymology

French, from Old French flaon, from Late Latin fladon-, flado flat cake, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German flado flat cake

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1a