Cream Cheese Flan

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups sugar, divided
• 7 egg yolks
• 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 4 egg whites
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

Preparation

1. Cook 1 cup sugar in a medium-size saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, 5 minutes or until sugar melts and turns a light golden brown. Quickly pour hot caramelized sugar into a 2-quart flan dish. Using oven mitts, tilt dish to evenly coat bottom and sides. Let stand 5 minutes. Sugar will harden.
2. Whisk together egg yolks and next 5 ingredients in a large bowl.
3. Process egg whites, cream cheese, and remaining 1/2 cup sugar in blender until smooth. Stir egg white mixture into egg yolk mixture. Pour mixture through a wire-mesh strainer into a large bowl; pour custard over caramelized sugar.
4. Place dish in a large shallow pan. Add hot water to pan to a depth of one-third up sides of dish.
5. Bake at 350° for 1 hour and 45 minutes. Remove dish from water bath; cool completely on a wire rack. Cover and chill at least 3 hours.
6. Run a knife around edge of flan to loosen; invert onto a serving plate.