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Tik Tok Phyllo Crinkle Cake
5 from 36 votes

Tik Tok Phyllo Crinkle Cake

Tik Tok Phyllo Crinkle Cake features layers of delicate phyllo dough folded into loose accordions, baked to a flaky, crisp texture, then topped with a smooth custard and drizzled with a simple syrup. The combination of crispy phyllo and creamy custard creates a distinctive contrast in texture. The recipe includes a light almond extract option for added flavor, and the syrup adds moisture and sweetness to the crisp layers. This cake requires attention to layering and baking times to achieve the ideal crinkled effect.

Prep Time
15 mins
Total Time
1 hr 15 mins
Course: Cake, Baked Goods

Ingredients

  • 1 phyllo dough 2 rolls, package
  • 1 cup butter melted
  • custard
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 egg
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract recommended, but optional
  • syrup
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Thaw phyllo dough completely in refrigerator overnight.
  2. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9x13 pan with parchment paper (if desired).
  3. Working with two sheets of phyllo dough at a time (stacked one on top of the other), hang sheets from your hands and gather/fold into a loose accordion about 1 inch thick. See this video for a demonstration.
  4. Place in prepared pan, folds facing up, and repeat until all phyllo dough has been used. Lightly adjust/fluff your phyllo accordions as needed to make sure they fill the pan loosely with no dense folds.
  5. Move pan to oven and bake phyllo only, for 10 minutes.
  6. Remove from oven and drizzle the melted butter evenly over the phyllo dough. Return to oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
  7. During this second bake, prepare the custard by whisking together the milk, eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract. Hint: a large measuring container or bowl with a spout is best for this step to ease pouring. Remove phyllo from the oven and pour the custard evenly over the top. Return to oven, and bake until the top is golden and crispy, about 30-40 minutes.
  8. When the baking time is nearly up, prepare the syrup. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, water, and lemon juice. Whisk to combine and heat to a simmer. Continue to simmer until some of the moisture has evaporated and the syrup has thickened (think the consistency of maple syrup-- if it's too thin it will result in a soggy cake).  This generally takes me about 10 minutes, but could take longer depending on the pan you're using.  Remove from heat.
  9. When cake is golden and the 30-40 minute bake is complete, remove the pan from the oven and drizzle the warm syrup evenly over the top.
  10. Allow cake to cool to room temperature, cut, and serve.

Notes

  • You can customize the flavor by adding extracts like almond or vanilla to the custard or incorporating fresh berries or mini chocolate chips into the phyllo folds before baking.
  • Ensure the phyllo dough is completely thawed overnight in the refrigerator for best results when folding and baking.
  • Use a 9x13 pan lined with parchment to help with easy removal and cleanup.
  • Drizzle syrup while the cake is still warm for better absorption and flavor balance.