This Twist on the Viral Crinkle Cake Is My New Favorite Easy Dessert

I love the holidays, but not the pressure of making picture-perfect food. I don’t have the time or patience to ensure my cake slices are cut evenly or that the crumbs have been brushed off the serving plate. It’s why I always settle on brownies or cookies. That is, until now. After seeing a fun and festive take on the viral crinkle cake, I knew my holiday dessert game just got an upgrade.

What Is Crinkle Cake?

The crinkle cake went viral when ramenasaidwow shared it on TikTok. It was kind of a big deal—we even made a video about it. It’s made by gathering sheets of phyllo dough into “crinkled” bundles and nestling them together on a baking sheet. After baking for 10 minutes in a 350-degree F oven, the cake gets a healthy drizzle of melted butter and bakes for another 10 minutes. While that’s baking, you whip up a custard-type concoction that gets poured over the top. It bakes one last time, until toasty and golden, and then gets finished with simple syrup.

How to Make Pear and Brie Crinkle Cake

The holiday version of this crinkle cake has a few twists. It includes thin slices of pear and Brie cheese tucked between the crinkles. The simple custard is made with eggs, milk, and salt, but also vanilla extract. It’s poured over the top before it gets a quick dusting of fresh thyme. After about 35 minutes in the oven, it’s golden and beautiful and you immediately feel like a fancy French pastry chef. The cake gets a finishing drizzle of honey (which replaces the simple syrup) before it’s served and enjoyed by every single guest at the party.

Ingredients

• 1 (16 ounce) package frozen phyllo dough, thawed
• ½ cup melted butter
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¾ cup whole milk
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 medium pear, thinly sliced
• 2 ounces brie cheese, sliced
• ½ teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• Honey for garnish

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 13x9-inch baking sheet with parchment.
2. Gather 2 sheets of phyllo at a time and bunch it up accordion-style and lay into the prepared pan. Repeat with the remaining phyllo dough.
3. Bake for 10 minutes.
4. Remove from the oven and drizzle with butter. Continue baking for another 10 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, whisk eggs, vanilla extract, milk and salt in a large bowl or measuring cup until combined.
6. Tuck slices of pear and brie into the crinkle cake, sprinkle with thyme, then pour the egg mixture over the top. Continue baking until the top is golden, 30 to 40 minutes.
7. Drizzle the top with honey, slice into squares and enjoy. 
   

Why Crinkle Cake Is My New Favorite Holiday Dessert

There are plenty of reasons why I love this crinkle cake, but here are my top three:

• It’s simple: Even if you don’t like to bake or feel you’re not a “baker,” you can absolutely make this cake. I would even go so far as to say it’s impossible to screw up. Unless, of course, you forget to set your timer. Otherwise, make a mess and go for it.
• It’s not perfect: You can try your hardest to make this cake look awful, but you won’t succeed. All of those crinkles and that perfectly premade phyllo dough won’t let you fail. It’ll be beautiful every time.
• It’s customizable: There are plenty of ways to “play” with this recipe. Swap fruits or cheeses. Add spices or other flavorings to the custard. Use other favorite desserts and flavor combinations as inspiration and have fun!