Crinkle Cake

When a TikTok food video stops you in your tracks, it’s a great one. When it blows up on the internet and hundreds of people begin making their own riff on the original, it’s a viral one. That’s exactly what happened with this crinkle cake recipe from @RamenaSaidWow, and we were intrigued. Turns out that the phyllo crinkle cake recipe is just as delicious as the internet claims, and it’s so easy to make!

This crinkle cake recipe folds sheets of phyllo dough accordion-style in a pan and drowns them with butter and a simple homemade custard. Everything gets baked until the phyllo is crispy, crackly and golden brown and the custard is set. Simple syrup is drizzled on top for good measure. It’s a unique recipe that’s still approachable, with many people likening it to Greek bougatsa or as a distant cousin of baklava.

Ingredients for Crinkle Cake

• Phyllo layers: To make the phyllo layers for this crinkle cake recipe, you’ll need one package frozen phyllo dough that’s been thawed, plus 1 cup melted butter and some chopped walnuts.
• Whole milk: Whole milk is the base of the custard. We don’t recommend swapping in any other type of milk or cream.
• Eggs: Eggs help thicken the whole milk to create the custard’s signature creamy texture.
• Extracts: Almond and vanilla extracts add gorgeously nutty and delicately floral flavors to the crinkle cake’s custard.
• Simple syrup: The phyllo crinkle cake recipe is finished with a simple syrup infused with lemon juice for a bright, subtle citrus flavor.

Directions

Step 1: Fold up the phyllo

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Preheat your oven to 350°F and unwrap your thawed phyllo dough. Grab two sheets of phyllo dough and hold them together so they line up from corner to corner. Starting on one of the short ends, fold the dough together into an accordion fold. Place the accordion-folded phyllo on one of the short sides of a 13×9-inch baking pan. Repeat until all the phyllo dough is used and the pan is full.

Step 2: Bake the phyllo

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Pop the baking pan in the oven and bake the phyllo dough for 10 minutes. Remove the phyllo from the oven and sprinkle the chopped walnuts within the folds of the phyllo dough. Then, evenly drizzle the melted butter all over the top. Bake the phyllo dough for an additional 10 minutes.

Step 3: Make the custard

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Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the whole milk, eggs, sugar and extracts until they’re combined.

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Evenly pour the custard mixture all over the phyllo. Return the baking pan to the oven and bake until the phyllo is browned and crisp, 35 to 40 minutes.

Step 4: Drizzle the cake with simple syrup

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In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the water, sugar and lemon juice. Microwave until the mixture just begins to boil, three to four minutes. Stir the mixture to dissolve the sugar.

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Drizzle the simple syrup evenly over the warm cake.

Let the phyllo crinkle cake cool at room temperature before serving. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.

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Recipe Variations

• Add spices to the custard: A really easy way to enliven the custard is to take a peek in your cabinet and break out some fall spices. Cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, apple pie spice or a chai spice blend would all be excellent additions to the custard.
• Flavor the syrup: While we flavored our simple syrup recipe with lemon for brightness, you could just as easily leave out the lemon or replace it with rose water. Or, to fit this for fall, swap in apple brown sugar syrup for the simple syrup.
• Tuck in fruit, cheese or chocolate: Thinly slice pears, apples or cheese and nestle them in between a few phyllo layers before baking. You could also dot in chocolate chips or berries!

How to Store Crinkle Cake

Before you store your crinkle cake, let it come to room temperature, then cover the top of the pan with storage wrap. Store the crinkle cake in the fridge for up to three days.

Can you freeze crinkle cake?

We don’t recommend freezing crinkle cake. After freezing and thawing, the phyllo dough will turn soggy and the custard will break.

Crinkle Cake Tips

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How should I serve crinkle cake?

Crinkle cake can be served warm, cold or at room temperature, although it’s best served at room temperature. It’s lovely with a mug of warm tea or coffee. Dust it with confectioners’ sugar, or dollop fresh sweetened whipped cream on top.

Can I bake this crinkle cake in a different-sized pan?

Yes, you can bake phyllo crinkle cake in a pan other than a 13×9-inch baking pan. Instead, use a 12-inch cast-iron skillet or divide the cake components evenly between two 8-inch square pans or two 9-inch round pans.