some cinco de mayo flan fun

Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner…in my world that means tons of food, margaritas and some delicious sweets…and this Espresso Flan Cake is definately going to be on the menu.

Flan & Cake…really?

Ok, I know what some of you are thinking…flan and cake together?  YES…flan and cake together is a perfect treat.  There is something so decadent about a rich chocolate base topped with a creamy flan and a little caramel flowing over the top.

Oh yeah…it is also really pretty.

Espresso….yes please.

Now if you follow me much at all you know I love espresso with chocolate.  In almost all my brownies, chocolate cakes and cupcakes there is a hint of espresso powder in each one.  You do not necessarily taste it in every recipe but it really does help to intensify the chocolate flavor.  It adds a little something extra and no one will ever know it is espresso in most recipes.

For this flan cake I decided to intensify the espresso flavor a little.  If you are not an espresso fan, you can leave it out of the flan but trust me you want it in the chocolate cake layer.  

Not only does it add a a punch of flavor but it also adds a a few little specks of color making it even prettier to look at.

Just wait until you slice it

[mpprecipe-recipe:327]

The key is…

You have to make this ahead.  Like the day ahead.  The first time I made it I did not let it sit up long enough and lets just say it wasn’t very pretty…but the second one…well it was amazing.

Even though it takes some time to make … it is worth every minute (ok hours).