Mini Custard Flans Recipe

Combine 3/4 cup of sugar and cream oftartar in a saucepan. Simmer over low heat, without stirring, untilsugar melts completely and forms a thin brown syrup, 15-20 minutes. Whensugar has completely melted, divide equally between small muffin cups orflan molds.

Spoon just enough sugar mixture to coverthe bottoms of each container. Let stand until sugar hardens, about 1minute.

To make the custard mixture, whish thesugar, egg yolks and eggs. Strain into a bowl. Add the lemon zest andvanilla essence and blend well. Set aside.

Divide the custard mixture equally betweenthe muffin cups or flan molds, pouring the custard mixture over thehardened sugar mixture.

Place the muffin cups or flan molds in asteamer above a pan of boiling water. Cover with a tight fitting lid andsteam over low heat for 10 minutes, or until firm, making sure the waterdoes not enter the bolds.

Remove from the heat and set aside to coolslightly. Run a knife gently around the edges of the molds to loosen theflans.

Invert onto a serving platter. Serve withlemon zest and whipped cream, if desired.