- 6 tablespoons chopped raw almonds or pecans, toasted
- 6 large egg yolks
- ½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- ¾ cup pureed cooked pumpkin or butternut squash
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1¼ cups heavy (whipping) cream
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
- 6 tablespoons oven-dried brown sugar or raw sugar for topping
- Have ready the toasted nuts. Preheat the oven to 275°F. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks until pale in color. Whisk in the ½ cup light brown sugar until dissolved. Whisk in the pumpkin, sour cream, heavy cream, cinnamon, ginger, and five-spice powder.
- Place six standard-size flan dishes in a baking pan. Divide the custard mixture among the dishes. Sprinkle with the nuts. Pour warm water into the pan to come halfway up the sides of the dishes. Bake in the oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the center of each custard still jiggles slightly. Remove from the oven and lift the dishes from the hot water. Let cool briefly, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 2 days.
- When ready to serve, place the dishes on a baking sheet and evenly sprinkle 1 tablespoon oven-dried brown sugar or raw sugar over each custard. Using a hand-held blowtorch, caramelize the sugar .