This recipe for an Apple Crinkle Cake creates a dessert with juicy apple slices, a flaky top, honey-sweetened walnuts and a cinnamon-spiced custard. Though it may seem complicated, just follow the recipe, and you'll have a delicious dessert in no time.
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What is a crinkle cake?
A crinkle cake is a dessert known for its unique, crinkled texture on the surface. The folds of phyllo dough give it a slightly wrinkled, crinkly appearance. This texture comes from folding phyllo sheets multiple times, creating a thin, flaky top.
Ingredients
Gather the following ingredients to make this crinkle cake recipe:
- Phyllo dough: 14 sheets phyllo dough (14" x 18" sheets). Defrost and bring to room temperature by following manufacturer's instructions.
- Unsalted butter: butter is melted and brushed on each sheet of phyllo
- Apples: use red baking apples such as Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala. There's no need to peel the apples, as the exposed skin enhances the cake's visual appeal.
- Heavy cream & eggs: bring to room temperature before starting recipe
- Granulated sugar
- Ground cinnamon
- Walnuts: use chopped, toasted walnuts
- Honey
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Follow the instructions below to make the Apple Crinkle Cake:
Make honey walnut and custard filling
1 - Combine walnuts and honey in a bowl. Set aside.
2 - Whisk together heavy cream, granulated sugar, eggs, cinnamon and nutmeg to make the custard. Set aside.
Prepare bottom layer of cake
3 - Take one sheet of phyllo dough and place on a surface - be sure to replace the damp towel over remaining pieces. Brush lightly with melted butter. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon granulated sugar.
4 - Add another sheet of phyllo to the top of the sheet you just worked on. Brush lightly with melted butter.
5 - Carefully pick up both phyllo sheets and place them into a buttered springform pan. Gently fold the overhanging edges into the bottom of the pan.
6 - Pour walnut mixture over phyllo dough in pan. Spread evenly taking care to not rip dough.
Create crinkle spirals
7 - Take one sheet of phyllo dough and place on a surface. Brush lightly with melted butter. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon granulated sugar. Place another sheet of phyllo over top of sheet you just worked on. Brush lightly with melted butter.
8 -Starting with the short end of phyllo, begin creating an accordion shape. To do this take about an inch of phyllo and gather it together using your fingers. Continue gathering until you reach the end of the dough. Note: create loose folds - space is needed between folds to insert apple slices.
9 - Roll folded phyllo into a spiral shape and place in middle of pan over walnut mixture.
10 - Repeat steps #7 and #8. Lift folded phyllo and wrap around spiral already in pan. Repeat this four more times, filling the pan with dough.
Add apples and custard filling
Wash apples and remove core (do not peel). Chop into thin slices (approximately ⅛" thick). Insert apple slices between phyllo folds in pan.
Pour custard evenly over top of crinkle cake.
Bake and serve apple crinkle cake
Bake in preheated 325℉ oven for 35 - 40 minutes. The top will be golden brown. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack. Drizzle ½ cup honey over top of cake while still hot.
Cool for 2 hours, carefully remove from springform pan and place on a serving platter.
Slice, serve and enjoy!
Variations
This cake recipe is quite versatile and can be adapted to suit various tastes. Here are a few ideas to consider:
- Nut-free - simply eliminate the layer of walnuts and honey.
- Pear crinkle cake - replace the apple slices with pear slices. You may also want to swap the walnuts for ¾ cup of chopped, toasted almonds, as pears and almonds complement each other beautifully.
Equipment
You need the following equipment to make the crinkle cake recipe:
- Springform pan: use a 10" round pan. The removeable bottom makes for easy unmolding of the cake.
- Mixing bowls, measuring cups and spoons
- Pastry brush
- Hand whisk
- Sharp knife, apple corer & cutting board
Storage
This apple crinkle cake is best served the day you make it. Pressed for time? No problem! Assemble cake, cover in plastic wrap, place in fridge for up to 1 days and bake when desired.
This cake does not freeze well.
Working with phyllo
The secret to making a great crinkle cake is how you handle the phyllo dough. To get that light, flaky texture, make sure to follow the steps below before starting this recipe:
- Defrost phyllo: follow defrosting instructions on box of phyllo dough you purchased. Typically this includes removing box from freezer and placing in fridge for four hours.
- Bring phyllo to room temperature: Remove phyllo box from fridge and place on a countertop for 2 hours. Note: phyllo dough must be at room temperature for best results.
- Prevent phyllo from drying out: remove dough from box, unwrap and unroll onto countertop. Immediately cover unrolled thawed phyllo with plastic wrap. Next place a damp towel over the plastic wrap. Keep phyllo covered until needed. Uncover to remove sheets as needed then promptly recover remaining dough.
More phyllo dough dessert recipes
Looking for other dessert recipes using phyllo dough? Try these:
I hope you enjoy this Apple Crinkle Cake as much as my family and friends have over the years!
📋 Recipe
Apple Crinkle Cake with Walnuts
Equipment
- 1 10" Springform pan
- Bowls, measuring cups and spoons
- 1 Hand whisk
- 1 Rubber spatula
- 1 Kitchen towel dampened to keep phyllo from drying out
- Sharp knife, apple corer and cutting board
Ingredients
Pastry
- 14 Sheets Phyllo dough 14" x 18" sheets
- ¾ Cup Unsalted butter Melted and cooled slightly
- 3 Tablespoons Granulated sugar For sprinkling on phyllo sheets
Walnut Filling
- 1 ¼ Cup Walnuts Toasted and finely chopped
- ¼ Cup Honey
Apples & Custard
- 3 Medium Apples
- 2 Large Eggs Room temperature
- 1 Cup Heavy cream Room temperature
- ⅓ Cup Granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon Ground nutmeg
Honey Drizzle (optional)
- ½ Cup Honey
Instructions
Defrost Phyllo Dough
- Defrost phyllo according to manufacture's instructions and bring to room temperature before using.14 Sheets Phyllo dough
Preheat Oven / Prepare pan
- Preheat oven to 325℉ (160℃)
- Generously grease inside of 10" springform pan with melted butter.
Prepare Walnut Filling
- Combine walnuts and honey in a bowl. Set aside.1 ¼ Cup Walnuts, ¼ Cup Honey
Line pan with phyllo
- Melt butter and cool slightly.¾ Cup Unsalted butter
- Take one sheet of phyllo dough and place on a surface - be sure to replace the damp towel over remaining pieces. Brush lightly with melted butter. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon granulated sugar.
- Add another sheet of phyllo to the top of the sheet you just worked on. Brush lightly with melted butter.
- Carefully pick up both phyllo sheets and place in prepared springform pan. Gently fold the ends hanging over side of pan into the bottom of pan.
- Pour walnut mixture into springform pan over phyllo dough in pan. Spread evenly taking care to not rip dough.
Add Crinkle Phyllo Dough
- Take one sheet of phyllo dough and place on a surface. Brush lightly with melted butter. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon granulated sugar.
- Place another sheet of phyllo over top of sheet you just worked on. Brush lightly with melted butter.
- Starting with the short end of phyllo, begin creating an accordion shape. To do this take about an inch of phyllo and gather it together using your fingers. Continue gathering until you reach the end of the dough. Note: create loose folds - space is needed between folds to insert apple slices.
- Roll folded phyllo into a spiral shape and place in middle of pan over walnut mixture.
- Repeat layering two sheets phyllo with butter and sugar. Fold into accordion shape. Lift folded phyllo and wrap around spiral already in pan. Repeat this four more times, filling the pan with dough.
Prepare Apples
- Wash apples and remove core (do not peel). Chop into thin slices (approximately ⅛" thick).3 Medium Apples
- Insert apple slices between phyllo folds in pan.
Prepare Custard
- Make custard by whisking together heavy cream, granulated sugar, eggs, cinnamon and nutmeg until well combined.2 Large Eggs, 1 Cup Heavy cream, ⅓ Cup Granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon Ground nutmeg
- Pour custard evenly over top of crinkle cake.
Bake and Serve
- Bake in preheated 325℉ oven for 35 - 40 minutes. The top will be golden brown.
- Remove from oven and place on a wire rack. Optional - drizzle ½ cup honey over top of cake while still hot.½ Cup Honey
- Cool for 2 hours, carefully remove from springform pan and place on a serving platter. Enjoy!
Beth says
I love the flavor and the presentation of this cake. The crinkled layers are so pretty. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to do, too!
Allison says
Definitely one of the most beautiful cakes with fruit ever! It's been a long time since I have baked with phyllo dough. It requires patience. But what a reward at the end! Thank you for posting the recipe