How To Make Chocoflan (Impossible Cake)

Super moist and fudgy chocolate cake on the bottom and silky vanilla flan on the top, this Chocoflan recipe might seem complicated but it’s actually pretty easy to make. It just might be our favorite Mexican dessert ever!

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Have you heard the saying, “it only seems impossible until you do it”? Well for years I was afraid to attempt one of the most the classic Mexican desserts, Chocoflan, because it looked way too complicated. The fact that its other name is Pastel Imposible or Impossible Cake didn’t help matters.

I mean somehow you have to get the two batters to invert inside the cake pan while it’s baking and then unmold the whole thing without it sticking or breaking or ahhh! I’m getting anxiety just thinking about it.

But you know what? Pastel Imposible is not so impossible after all. The magic happens on its own and the cake batter and flan mixture both come together with a simple bowl and whisk. It actually is a super fun recipe to make and looks incredibly impressive. You don’t need to tell anyone how simple it really is.

If you’re looking for a more traditional flan recipe, here’s a step-by-step tutorial on how to make authentic flan.

What is Chocoflan?

Chocoflan is a combination of rich chocolate cake and vanilla flan layered on top of each other in one magical dessert. It is a dessert that gives a nod to the French and Spanish who brought introduced créme carmel and chocolate pastries to Mexico.

You layer Cajeta (a goat’s milk caramel), chocolate cake batter, and flan in a single bundt pan and bake it. As it bakes the chocolate cake floats to the top and the flan sinks to the bottom so when you flip it out of the pan the layers are reversed!

Why You Should Give This Chocoflan A Try

Many Chocoflan recipes have cinnamon in the chocolate cake layer and it’s good but this cake has espresso powder and coffee in the batter which doesn’t make it taste like coffee but enhances the chocolate flavor, making it more rich and decadent.

Another thing I love about this recipe is there’s no mixer needed. The cake has vegetable oil instead of butter which not only makes it fluffier but also means you can easily whisk it all together in one bowl.

As for the flan mixture, most Chocoflan recipes have cream cheese but I decided to skip it. The flan layer in this recipe is super silky and smooth and again can be either whisked together in a bowl or blended in the blender.

Ingredients

• Cajeta. Use store-bought cajeta or make your own. You can also substitute dulce de leche or even caramel sauce.
• Large eggs
• Sweetened condensed milk
• Evaporated milk
• Vanilla extract
• Kosher salt
• All purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Unsweetened cocoa powder
• Baking soda
• Baking powder
• Espresso powder
• Vegetable oil
• Buttermilk
• Brewed strong coffee

How To Make This Recipe

step one

Prep the pan. Generously grease a 12-cup bundt pan with cooking spray. Heat the oven to 350°F and put a kettle of water on to boil.

step two

Pour cajeta into pan. Drizzle cajeta into the bottom of the pan.

step three

Blend dry ingredients for cake. Combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and espresso powder in a large bowl. Whisk to break up any lumps until it is evenly mixed.

step four

Add wet. Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and add buttermilk, eggs, vegetable oil, and coffee. Whisk until just combined, don’t over mix.

step five

Mix flan. Whisk all the ingredients for the flan together in a separate large bowl. Whisk very vigorously so the egg incorporates completely and there is no streaks of egg yolk or egg white. You can also blend them together in the blender.

step six

Scrape cake batter into pan. Evenly layer the cake batter over the cajeta in the bundt pan. Smooth the top.

step seven

Pour flan mixture on top. Gently pour the flan mixture over the back of a large spoon on top of the cake batter. The spoon keeps it from disturbing the cake mixture too much but if some does break off and float to the top that’s okay, it will settle back down.

step eight

Create a water bath. Set the bundt pan in a large roasting pan or baking dish large enough to hold it. Pour the hot water from the kettle into the roasting pan until it reaches about an inch up the side of the bundt pan.

step nine

Cover with foil and bake. Spray a piece of aluminum foil with cooking spray and cover the bundt pan with it. Bake in the middle of the oven until the cake is springy to the touch and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 1 hour.

step ten

Let cool. Remove from the roasting pan and place on a wire rack to cool completely, about 2 hours. The bottom of the pan should feel cool to touch or at least feel room temperature, not warm. If it is not cool enough it can fall apart when you take it out of the pan, so don’t skimp on this step.

step eleven

Remove from pan. Place a large platter or cake stand with a lip over the bundt pan and invert the Chocoflan onto the platter. Give it a little jiggle until you feel it sliding out. Scrape any leftover Cajeta on top of the flan. Serve room temperature or put in the refrigerator until it is cold and completely firm.

Chocoflan FAQ’s

Why did my Chocoflan fall apart? The main reason your Chocoflan fell apart was that you probably didn’t let it cool long enough. Don’t worry that it won’t come out of the pan—it will. It is more important that the flan has time to cool completely before you unmold it.

What can I use if I don’t have a bundt pan? You can use a standard 10-inch round cake pan. The Cajeta will absorb a little unevenly though, so you will want to have more on hand for drizzling.

How long does Chocoflan last? This is one of those desserts that gets even better as it sits. You can make it up to 3 days in advance and keep covered in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve.

More Dessert Recipes You’ll Love

• Easy Carrot Cake Recipe with Pineapple
• Soft Ricotta Banana Bread
• Authentic Tres Leches Cake
• Soft Pumpkin Cookies (from our sister site, Kate’s Best Recipes)
• Strawberry Tamales with Horchata Sauce
• The Best Apple Pie From Scratch (again, from Kate’s Best Recipes)
• Coconut Tres Leches Cake

Are You Ready To Try The Impossible?

Of course you are! Let me know when you make it, I always love hearing from you. Snap a pic and tag me on Instagram @holajalapeno and #holajalapeno so I can see or leave me a comment below (don’t forget to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating) ! Also, sign up for my weekly newsletter, lots of good stuff there too!

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