Chocolate Flan with Red Berries
Updated Feb 02, 2026, Published Dec 18, 2020
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A Decadent Twist on a Classic Dessert
Perfect for a Valentine’s Day date night, this Chocolate Flan with Red Berries recipe is decadent, rich, and screams “I love you!”
If you love rich chocolate and elegant desserts that wow without a fuss, this Chocolate Flan with Red Berries is your next must-make. It takes the silky richness of traditional flan and elevates it with deep chocolate flavor and a bright, juicy berry finish. Whether you’re hosting a dinner party, celebrating a special moment, or just craving something sweet and indulgent, this flan hits all the right notes.
Creamy, smooth, and beautifully balanced, it pairs decadence with simplicity — giving you a dessert that tastes luxurious but doesn’t require hours in the kitchen.
Table of Contents
A Twist on a Beloved Classic
Flan has long been a favorite dessert across many cultures for its custardy texture and caramel sweetness. Traditionally made with vanilla and caramel sauce, this version takes a playful and delicious detour by adding rich chocolate. As a result, you get that familiar, silky flan mouthfeel — only deeper, more indulgent, and paired with a flavor most chocolate lovers will adore.
Even better, adding red berries not only brings vibrant color to your dessert plate but also introduces a fresh contrast that cuts through the richness. The bright fruit keeps every bite balanced and lively, making this dessert feel elegant and thoughtful.
What Makes This Dessert Special
What sets this Chocolate Flan apart isn’t just the chocolate — it’s the harmony of textures and flavors. The custard is luxuriously smooth, with just enough chocolate intensity to satisfy sweet cravings without overwhelming the palate. Meanwhile, the bright berries add juiciness and freshness, balancing the richness with their tart and sweet notes.
Because of this unique pairing, the dessert works beautifully for celebrations, date nights, or anytime you want to impress without stress. The finished presentation — glossy chocolate custard with a ring of jewel-like berries — is naturally photogenic, too, making it a hit at gatherings or for social media sharing.
Why You’ll Love Making This
One of the best parts about this recipe is that it feels gourmet without demanding gourmet skills. You don’t need special tools or complicated techniques to create something that looks and tastes like it came from a restaurant. With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, you end up with:
- A rich, creamy custard that’s smooth and velvety
- Balanced sweetness that isn’t cloying
- A fresh, festive finish from the red berries
- A dessert that holds up beautifully on a platter or individual plates
Whether you’re a seasoned baker or trying something new, this Chocolate Flan strikes the perfect balance of fun and impressive.
Perfect for Every Occasion
This dessert fits beautifully into a variety of entertaining moments. Serve it at:
- Dinner parties as a show-stopping finale
- Holiday gatherings where you want something special
- Romantic dinners or date nights at home
- Celebrations like birthdays or anniversaries
- Casual weekends when chocolate cravings hit
It’s versatile without losing its sense of occasion, which means you’ll find a reason to make it again and again.
Tips for Success
To make your Chocolate Flan turn out perfectly:
Use quality chocolate.
Because chocolate is a star ingredient here, good-quality chocolate makes a noticeable difference in richness and depth of flavor.
Strain the custard.
Straining the mixture before baking removes any tiny lumps and ensures the smoothest possible texture.
Bake in a water bath.
A gentle water bath (bain-marie) helps the custard cook evenly and prevents curdling, giving you that signature silky finish.
Chill before serving.
This dessert truly shines when fully chilled — it sets beautifully and develops even more flavor.
A Dessert Worth Savoring
Chocolate Flan with Red Berries is a dessert that manages to be both comforting and sophisticated. It’s creamy, rich, and visually stunning, yet approachable enough for home cooks of all levels. With its decadent chocolate base and jewel-toned berries, this flan brings a little extra joy to every plate.
So the next time you want a dessert that’s elegant, delicious, and just a bit unexpected, give this chocolate flan a place at your table. Your guests (and your sweet tooth) will be glad you did.
Need More Chocolate?
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Chocolate Flan with Red Berries
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons (36 g) coconut sugar
- 1 tablespoon (15 mL) water
- ¾ cup (180 mL) sweetened condensed milk
- Seeds scraped from ½ vanilla pod
- ½ cup (90 g) chocolate chips
- 1 large egg
- 1 egg yolk
- ½ teaspoon (1.5 g) powdered sugar, for garnish
- 6 fresh mint leaves, , for garnish
- 2 ounces (55 g) red berries (I used red currants)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 355°F. Set two 5-inch round cake pans, ramekins, or custard cups next to the stovetop.
- Combine 3 tablespoons sugar and 1 tablespoon water in a heavy saucepan. Cook over low heat until melted and golden, about 10 minutes, brushing down sides of the pan with a pastry brush and swirling the pan occasionally. Do not stir.
- When ready, pour the caramel into the cake pans, tilting to coat the bottoms. Use oven mitts. Try to work quickly because the caramel will start to harden in a matter of seconds. Let stand for 15 minutes to set.
- In a heavy-bottom medium saucepan, combine condensed milk and vanilla seeds. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Remove from heat, add chocolate chips, and mix well to combine. Set aside for 30 minutes. When cool, beat in the egg and egg yolk, mixing until thoroughly combined.
- Pour the mixture over the caramelized sugar in the cake pans. Place the cake pans in a larger baking pan and pour boiling water into the larger pan to a depth of around 1 inch. Place in the preheated oven and bake until the center is just set, about 40 minutes.
- Transfer the two cake pans with flan to a wire rack and let cool for 1 hour, then refrigerate overnight. To unmold, run a knife around edges and invert onto a rimmed serving plate.
- Decorate with a bit of powdered sugar, fresh mint leaves, and red berries just before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
