This is that tiktok famous dessert from a few years ago. I have had it on my list to try for ages and finally got around to making it a few weeks ago! And it did not disappoint! It is easy, flavourful and very versatile. You have to try it!
How to make the TikTok Famous Crinkle Cake
Is it a cake, is it a pie? Hard to tell. It reminds me of an arabic dessert called Omali which is layered puff pastry with a creamy custard and loads of nuts and raisins. Its delicious! This has the same texture of crunchy but also warm and gooey. This version is made with phyllo pastry dough and a simple custard topping. The phyllo is baked first to get crispy, and then the custard is added halfway. It is all baked together so the phyllo gets nice and crunchy golden brown while the custard adds a nice sweet creaminess. It is finished off with a simple syrup glaze, and whatever toppings you like.
The basic recipe is below but I would highly recommend you make this your own by switching up the toppings!
Topping ideas for Crinkle Cake
The first time I made these I went for a faux apple pie feel for a family thanksgiving meal. I baked the crinkle cake as per usual, but instead of a simple syrup topping, I decided to make an apple compote. I baked 6-7 diced apples with cinnamon, cardamom, raisins, sugar and lemon juice until everything got nice and soft. (I’ve included the apple compote recipe below if you want to try it. Makes a great topping for pancakes too!) Scoop warm compote over the freshly baked crinkle cake and boom! Apple pie with a lot less effort!
The next time I made this I wanted a rose flavour so decided to go with almond rose. I added some rose water to the simple syrup and sprinkled the whole thing with slivered almonds before serving. So simple, but so flavourful.
Other topping ideas:
- Apple Pie & Ice Cream – a warm apple compote and cold vanilla ice cream. Enough said! Apple compote recipe is below.
- Rose Pistachio – top with some chopped pistachios and add a tablespoon of rose water to the simple syrup before pouring overtop. (This is probably my favourite flavour combo!)
- Cinnamon Raisin – Add a handfull of raisins and a pinch of cinnamon to the custard before pouring over the phyllo to bake. When baked, drizzle with the simple lemon glaze from this recipe while it is still warm. YUMMM!
- Nutty Coconut – Probably the closes to the original Omali in flavour – for this one you will add about 1/4 cup each of chopped walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, and raisins to the custard batter. Add 1 tbsp coconut flakes and a pinch of cardamom powder to the custard before pouring over the phyllo and baking. When baked, sprinkle with more mixed chopped nuts of your choice, roasted nuts are even better! And finish off with a drizzle of the simple syrup with a tablespoon of rose water added to it.
- Biscoff – Just bake the crinkle cake as normal but skip the simple syrup. Instead drizzle with some melted cookie butter and crumble some biscoff cookies on top.
- Nutella Banana – For the chocolate lover! Bake your crinkle cake as usual. Skip the simple syrup. Drizzle with melted nutella, and sprinkle on some sliced banana, and chopped hazelnuts.
The flavour possibilities are endless!
Which flavour combo would you like on your crinkle cake?
Crinkle Cake
Ingredients
For the Crinkle Cake
- 1 package frozen phyllo pastry sheets, defrosted (about 450g or 16-20 sheets)
- 1 cup butter ( I prefer salted butter but unsalted works too)
- 1 cup milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tbsp vanilla essence
- 1/2 cup sugar
For the Topping
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 1-2 tsp lemon juice
- other topping options listed in blog post
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350F.
- Roll out the defrosted phyllo pastry and cover with a damp clean kitchen towel so they don't dry out. Keep a large rectangular 10×7 baking dish beside you.
- Accordion fold the pastry sheets one at a time and place in the baking dish side by side till the dish is full. You should have enough pastry to fill the dish without them being too cramped.
- Bake for 10 minutes at 350F.
- Meanwhile, while the phyllo bakes, melt 1 cup of butter.
- Take the phyllo out of the oven when the 10 minutes are up, and pour the melted butter all over. Return to the oven for another 10 minutes.
- While the phyllo bakes, in a large mixing bowl mix together the milk, eggs, vanilla, and sugar (and any other flavours you want to add). Mix well.
- When the phyllo is out of the oven pour the custard over the baked phyllo so it is evenly distributed. Return to the oven for 30-35 minutes.
- While the phyllo is baking, make the simple syrup. In a small saucepan mix together 1 cup water with 1 cup sugar and 1-2 tsp lemon juice. Allow to come to a boil and stir till the sugar is dissolved. Turn off the heat and set aside to cool.
- When the crinkle cake comes out of the oven, drizzle with simple syrup, and/or any other flavour toppings you like (see above). Slice and serve! I prefer this served warm, but it also does well at room temperature. Enjoy!
Notes
- This is best served warm out of the oven or at room temperature within a few hours of being baked. If you do have leftovers, I recommend you warm them up again in an air fryer or in the oven to get the crispness back before serving.
- Flavour Topping Options:
- Apple Pie & Ice Cream – a warm apple compote and cold vanilla ice cream. Enough said! Apple compote recipe is below.
-
- Rose Pistachio – top with some chopped pistachios and add a tablespoon of rose water to the simple syrup before pouring overtop. (this was probably my favourite flavour combo!)
-
- Cinnamon Raisin – Add a handful of raisins and a pinch of cinnamon to the custard before pouring over the phyllo to bake. When baked drizzle with the simple lemon glaze from this recipe while it is still warm. YUMMM!
-
- Nutty Coconut – Probably the closes to an omali in flavour – for this one you will add chopped walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, raisins, coconut flakes and a pinch of cardamom powder to the custard before pouring over the phyllo and baking. When baked, sprinkle with more mixed chopped nuts of your choice. But Roasted nuts is even better! And finish off with a drizzle of the simple syrup with a tablespoon of rose water added to it.
-
- Biscoff – Just bake the crinkle cake as normal but instead of topping with a simple syrup, drizzle with some melted cookie butter and crumble some biscoff cookies on top.
-
- Nutella Banana – For the chocolate lover! Bake your crinkle cake as usual, then drizzle with melted nutella, a sliced banana, and chopped hazelnuts.
Warm Apple Compote
Ingredients
- 6 large apples (any apples will do, but I prefer something sweet and tart like a Mcintosh or honey crisp)
- 1 tbsp flour
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 cup raisins (optional)
- handful walnuts or pecans (optional)
Instructions
- In a large saucepan with a tight fitting lid, mix together all the above ingredients.
- Cover and cook on medium low for about 30-40 minutes till the apples start to get softened and breakdown into the sauce. Add a handful of chopped nuts, if using.
- Remove from heat and serve warm. The cooked compote can be store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 month.
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