Purin is a flan-like cold custard dessert in japan. The name purin comes from pudding, but it is not the same thing as the gooey pudding in the u. S. It has a firmer texture similar to mexican flan and also has caramel sauce on top. It is a very basic sweetsilky, creamy, rich, and smooththat is served chilled, and adored in japan. Purin is a comfort dessert for japanese people. There is a popular instant purin mix you can buy at grocery stores in japan. Add some milk, mix, and chill, and there you areeasy purin. Though, the best kind of purin is made at home from scratch. The ingredients are simple: milk, eggs, sugar, and some vanilla. Purin is baked in a water bath in the oven, so it is hard to overcook. It may be a little more work to make than going to the store, but the outcome is incomparable to store-bought. In japan, there are a few types of purin, including yaki pudding, which is custard cooked in the oven, and mushi pudding, a custard cooked on a stovetop in a steamer or in a bain-marie in a pot or frying pan.