Irresistible French Custard Pie with Apples (Flan Parisien) Recipe

French custard pie captures the essence of elegant Parisian dessert craftsmanship with its silky smooth texture and delicate apple undertones.

Bakers adore this classic recipe for its rich, velvety consistency that melts effortlessly on the tongue.

Each slice promises a delightful balance between creamy custard and subtle fruit notes that dance across your palate.

Traditional techniques merge with simple ingredients to create a dessert that whispers sophisticated comfort.

Regional culinary traditions shine through in this carefully constructed sweet treat that reflects generations of French pastry expertise.

Thick, luxurious custard nestles within a perfectly golden crust, promising a sensory experience that transports you straight to a charming Parisian café.

French Custard Pie with Apples: A Flan Parisien Classic

• Creamy Custard Comfort: This French dessert delivers an ultra-smooth, silky texture that melts beautifully in your mouth, creating a luxurious sensory experience with every single bite.
• Effortless Elegance: The recipe requires minimal technical skills, making it perfect for home bakers who want to create a sophisticated dessert without complex techniques or advanced pastry training.
• Seasonal Apple Twist: Adding thinly sliced apples transforms the classic custard into a charming seasonal treat, bringing delightful fruity freshness and subtle natural sweetness to the traditional flan base.
• Quick Weekend Delight: With simple preparation steps and a total time of around 1.5 hours (including chilling and baking), this dessert becomes an ideal weekend project for casual home cooking and spontaneous baking adventures.

What You Need for French Custard Apple Pie

Main Ingredients:

• Flour: Provides structure and thickness to the custard base.
• Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps with caramelization.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.

• Eggs, Cream, Milk: Create rich, smooth custard texture with creamy consistency.
• Vanilla Extract: Provides classic sweet, aromatic flavor.

• Apples: Fresh, sweet-tart fruit that adds texture and natural sweetness to the pie, best when thinly sliced and evenly arranged.

• Parchment Paper: Ensures easy removal and prevents sticking.
• Cake Pan: Round shape helps create uniform custard pie.

Step-by-Step Guide to Flan Parisien with Apples

Step 1: Create Smooth Batter

In a spacious mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt. Crack eggs into the mixture, then pour in cream, milk, and vanilla extract. Whisk vigorously until the batter becomes silky and free of lumps. The key is smooth, consistent blending.

Step 2: Chill and Rest

Transfer the batter to the refrigerator and let it relax for a minimum of 1 hour. This crucial resting period allows ingredients to mingle and flour to absorb liquid, creating a more refined texture.

Step 3: Prepare Baking Setup

Warm up your oven to 325°F (170°C). Line a 7.5-inch round cake pan with parchment paper, letting edges hang over for easy removal. Spray edges lightly with cooking spray to prevent sticking.

Step 4: Slice Apple Layers

Wash and core apples. Using a sharp knife, slice them into thin, uniform pieces. The thinner and more consistent the slices, the more beautiful your final presentation.

Step 5: Assemble Custard Pie

Remove chilled batter and give it a gentle stir. Pour batter into prepared pan. Artfully arrange apple slices in a circular pattern across the top, slightly overlapping for an elegant look.

Step 6: Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide pan into preheated oven. Bake for 45-50 minutes, watching carefully. Insert a clean skewer into the center- it should come out without wet batter. If the top browns too quickly, loosely tent with foil.

Step 7: Cool and Serve

Once baked, remove from oven and let pie settle in pan for 15-20 minutes. This helps custard set perfectly. Use parchment paper edges to lift pie out. Slice and serve warm, or chill for a refreshing dessert.

Pro Tips for Baking French Custard Pies Just Right

• Master the Whisking Technique: Blend ingredients thoroughly but gently to create a silky-smooth batter without overmixing, which can make the texture tough.
• Chill for Perfect Consistency: Refrigerating the batter allows flour to absorb liquid and develop a richer, more complex flavor profile.
• Slice Apples Uniformly: Use a sharp mandoline or knife to cut apple slices of equal thickness, ensuring even cooking and a beautiful presentation.
• Monitor Baking Carefully: Watch the pie's surface color, covering with foil if browning too quickly to prevent burning while maintaining a creamy custard texture.
• Rest Before Serving: Allow the pie to cool in the pan for 15-20 minutes, which helps the custard set and makes slicing cleaner and more precise.

How to Store and Warm Up Apple Custard Pie

• Refrigeration: Wrap the cooled custard pie tightly with plastic wrap or store in an airtight container. Keep refrigerated for up to 3 days to maintain freshness and prevent flavor absorption from other foods.
• Reheating: Gently warm individual slices in the microwave for 20-30 seconds on low power. Alternatively, place slices in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for 5-7 minutes to restore the pie's delicate texture and warmth.
• Freezing: Slice the pie and separate layers with parchment paper before freezing in a sealed freezer-safe container. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat following the previous method for best results.

Drinks and Sides for French Custard Apple Pie

• Pair with Sweet White Wine: Complement the delicate custard and apple flavors with a crisp Sauternes or Moscato d'Asti, which enhance the dessert's creamy texture and light sweetness.
• Match with Cinnamon Coffee: Brew a warm cup of cinnamon-infused coffee to echo the subtle spice notes in the apple-topped custard, creating a harmonious and comforting flavor combination.
• Serve with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: Add a scoop of rich vanilla bean ice cream alongside the warm flan parisien, letting the cold, creamy dessert contrast beautifully with the warm custard pie's temperature and texture.
• Accompany with Calvados Liqueur: Drizzle a small amount of French apple brandy (Calvados) over the slice, intensifying the apple undertones and adding a sophisticated alcoholic warmth to the dessert.

Flavor Spins for Flan Parisien with a Twist

• Tropical Fruit Fusion: Replace apples with a medley of mango, pineapple, and passion fruit slices for a vibrant, exotic flavor profile that transports your taste buds to a sunny paradise.
• Spiced Autumn Comfort: Incorporate warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom into the batter, then top with caramelized pears and a sprinkle of toasted pecans for a cozy, seasonal variation.
• Chocolate Lover's Dream: Blend cocoa powder into the custard base and garnish with dark chocolate shavings and fresh raspberries, creating a rich, indulgent dessert that balances sweetness and depth.
• Savory Herbal Remix: Transform the recipe by adding fresh thyme or rosemary to the batter, then layer with roasted butternut squash and goat cheese for a sophisticated, unexpected take on the classic flan.

French Custard Pie with Apples (Flan Parisien) Recipe

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4.8 from 19 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Delicate flan parisien blends French culinary elegance with rustic apple charm. Silky custard nestled in buttery pastry promises a sublime journey through Paris’ sweet traditions, inviting you to savor each luxurious bite.

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Ingredients

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Primary Ingredients:

• 5 large eggs
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 medium apples

Dry Ingredients:

• ¾ cup all-purpose flour
• ⅔ cup white granulated sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt

Flavor Enhancer:

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

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Instructions

1. Craft a velvety mixture by blending flour, sugar, and salt in a spacious mixing vessel. Incorporate eggs, cream, milk, and vanilla extract, whisking until the texture becomes uniformly smooth and free of lumps.
2. Allow the custard base to rest and develop depth of flavor by chilling in the refrigerator for a minimum of 60 minutes, permitting flour particles to fully absorb liquid and soften.
3. Calibrate the oven temperature to 325°F (170°C), adjusting for fan-assisted settings. Prepare a 7.5-inch round baking vessel by lining with parchment paper, creating extended edges for convenient extraction after baking.
4. Gently stir the chilled custard base to reincorporate any settled ingredients. Transfer the mixture into the prepared pan, ensuring even distribution.
5. Delicately arrange thinly sliced apples across the custard surface, creating an elegant and uniform pattern that will infuse the dessert with fruity essence.
6. Position the pan in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 45-50 minutes. Monitor the custard’s consistency by inserting a slender skewer into its center; it should emerge completely clean.
7. Should the top develop excessive browning, drape a lightweight aluminum foil tent over the pie, carefully avoiding direct contact with the custard surface.
8. After removing from the oven, allow the French custard pie to stabilize within the pan for 15-20 minutes, enabling the delicate structure to set properly.
9. Utilize the overhanging parchment paper to gracefully lift the custard pie from its baking vessel. Slice into elegant portions and serve either warm or chilled, depending on preference.

Notes

• Chilling the batter helps develop a smoother, more integrated texture and allows flour to fully absorb liquid ingredients.
• Use room temperature eggs and dairy for a more consistent mixing process and even custard texture.
• Select firm, slightly tart apples like Granny Smith or Braeburn to provide a balanced flavor contrast to the sweet custard.
• Lower oven temperature ensures gentle, even cooking preventing the custard from cracking or becoming rubbery.
• Parchment paper overhang creates an easy, mess-free removal method for delicate custard pies.
• Cool the pie partially in the pan to help the custard set and maintain its delicate structure before serving.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 50 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Breakfast
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 360
• Sugar: 22 g
• Sodium: 130 mg
• Fat: 24 g
• Saturated Fat: 14 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 34 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 180 mg