If you're looking for a yummy and super-easy dessert, you've come to the right place! Our Phyllo Dough Ricotta Crinkle Cake (Muakacha) is a delightful treat that you can make in no time. This dessert is perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth with minimal effort. With layers of crispy phyllo dough and a sweet, gooey centre, it's a dessert that everyone will love.
🍽️ Serves 12 | 🕒 50-Min Total | 🌿 Vegetarian | ✨ 7-Ingredients
No baking skills are needed for this one - just a few simple steps, and you'll have a fabulous dessert ready to impress your friends and family. We'll guide you through the process of creating this mouthwatering Phyllo Crinkle Cake step by step. It's the perfect choice for a quick, delicious treat.
Looking for some delightful dessert recipes? Try our Brownies Topped with Pink Berry Cream for a rich and fruity twist on a classic treat. If you enjoy layered cakes, you'll love the Pink Crèpes Cake, a beautiful and delicate dessert perfect for any celebration.
For coffee lovers, the Mocha Loaf offers a delicious mix of chocolate and espresso in every bite. Our Vegan Carrot Cake Banana Bread is a healthy and tasty option that everyone can enjoy. If you crave something tangy and sweet, the Lemon Cake with Cheese Frosting is a must-try. Lastly, don't miss out on the Cherry Clafoutis, a classic French dessert that's both simple and elegant.
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💗 Why this recipe works
Why does this Crinkle Cake rock? It's pure magic! Layers of crispy phyllo dough, creamy ricotta (or curd cheese), and sweet yoghurt create a delightful combo. Baking makes it golden and delicious, and melted butter adds extra yum. A dollop of double cream takes it to dreamy heights. Perfect for celebrations and a breeze to make. The result? A tasty, beautiful dessert your taste buds will adore!
🥧 Ingredients
*See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
- Phyllo Sheets (Defrosted): These are thin pastry sheets that add a wonderful crunch to the cake.
- Melted Salt-Free Butter: Butter gives a rich and buttery flavour to the cake without the extra salt.
- Plain Yoghurt: Creamy yoghurt adds moisture and a hint of tanginess to the cake.
- Ricotta or Curd Cheese: Creamy cheese that brings a delightful richness to the cake.
- Eggs: Eggs help bind everything together and give structure to the cake.
- Demerara Sugar: Sweet sugar for that perfect sweetness.
- Vanilla Extract: A touch of vanilla adds a lovely flavour to the cake.
- Double Cream (To Serve): Cream to make the cake even more indulgent.
♻️ Substitutions
- Phyllo Sheets: If you can't find phyllo sheets, you could swap them for puff pastry or even croissant dough for a different twist.
- Butter: For a healthier option, you can use unsalted butter or a dairy-free alternative like margarine.
- Plain Yoghurt: Greek yoghurt works perfectly, or even a dairy-free yoghurt if you prefer.
- Ricotta or Curd Cheese: Exchange ricotta with cottage cheese for a similar creamy texture, or go dairy-free with almond or tofu-based alternatives.
- Eggs: To make it egg-free, try using mashed bananas or applesauce for binding.
- Demerara Sugar: Light brown sugar is a great substitute, and honey or maple syrup can add a unique sweetness.
- Vanilla Extract: Almond extract or even a pinch of cinnamon can bring a different flavour twist.
- Double Cream: Swap it with whipped coconut cream for a dairy-free choice or Greek yoghurt for a tangy note.
📖 Variations
- Chocolate Lovers: Add cocoa powder and sprinkle chocolate chips between the layers.
- Fruit Delight: Layer your favourite fruits like strawberries or peaches, and a touch of cinnamon.
- Nutty Surprise: Mix in chopped walnuts or almonds and drizzle with honey or caramel.
- Citrus Zest: Grate orange or lemon zest into the filling for a fresh twist.
- Spiced Sensation: Add cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom, and top with powdered sugar.
- Berry Bliss: Layer fresh berries and drizzle with berry compote.
- Savoury Spin: Use feta, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes with basil or oregano.
- Nutella: Swirl Nutella between the layers for a chocolate-hazelnut treat.
- Caramel Crunch: Drizzle caramel sauce and sprinkle crushed toffee or nuts.
- Holiday Spice: Add pumpkin or gingerbread spice and festive sprinkles.
👩🍳 How To Make Phyllo Dough Ricotta Crinkle Cake (Muakacha)
Making Phyllo Crinkle Cake Muachaka is so simple, you'll feel like a pro! Just layer the phyllo, fill it with your delicious mixture, and let the oven do the work while you enjoy the process.
It may look like a fancy dessert, but it’s super easy to make. It’s the perfect dish that gives the impression of skilful cooking, without any of the stress! Same as Dubai Chocolate Bar Recipe (Pistachio, Tahini & Kataifi Crunch).
Step 1: Lay the crinkled dough in the baking pan with the folds facing up. Drizzle melted butter evenly over the dough.
Step 2: In a large bowl, combine eggs, sugar, ricotta (or curd cheese), yoghurt, and vanilla extract to create the filling.
Step 3: Pour this filling evenly over the dough and sprinkle some more butter.
Step 4: Bake for 30-40 minutes until it's wonderfully crispy and golden.
Pro Tip: For maximum crispiness, brush melted butter between every phyllo layer and arrange sheets vertically (like an accordion) to create air pockets that bake up golden and flaky!
❓FAQs
Phyllo dough (or filo pastry) is a paper-thin, unleavened dough used in many Greek, Balkan, and Middle Eastern dishes. It's made with just a few simple ingredients—flour, water, and a bit of oil or vinegar. The dough is stretched into delicate sheets, which are often layered with melted butter or oil to make classics like baklava, spanakopita, or börek.
No, they’re different. Puff pastry is made by folding butter into dough over and over to create light, flaky layers. Phyllo dough is much thinner and doesn’t contain butter between layers—it’s an unleavened dough that’s layered with oil or melted butter before baking. The textures and techniques are different.
For muakacha, you'll need to layer about 6 to 8 sheets of phyllo dough. Alternate each sheet, brushing with butter as you go, to fully cover the pan. Once you add the filling, fold the overhanging phyllo dough over the top.
Slice and seal the Crinkle Cake, then store it in the fridge for 3–4 days. If you want to keep it longer, freeze it! When you’re ready, just thaw and enjoy the magic again.
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Phyllo Crinkle Cake (Muakacha)
Equipment
- 1 balloon whisk or hand mixer
- 1 bowl
- 1 baking pan 32 cm x 27 cm
Ingredients
- 1 package phyllo dough defrosted (typically 1 lb or 16 oz)
- ½ cup butter melted salt free, (about 3.5 oz)
- 2 cups plain yogurt or greek, (about 17 oz)
- 1 cup ricotta or curd cheese, (about 8 oz)
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup sugar (about 5 oz)
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
to serve
- double cream
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 180°C (356°F) or Gas Mark 4. Grease a baking tray that's about 32 cm x 27 cm with butter.
- Put the crinkled dough into the baking pan, with the folds facing up.1 package phyllo dough
- Carefully pour melted butter all over the top.½ cup butter melted
- Now, for the filling! In a big bowl, mix eggs, sugar, ricotta, yogurt, and vanilla extract together.2 cups plain yogurt, 1 cup ricotta, 3 large eggs, ½ cup sugar, 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pour this yummy filling evenly over the folded dough.
- Pop it in the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes until it's crispy and golden. For some extra deliciousness, drizzle more butter on top. 😋
- Serve with double cream or yoghurt.
Video
Notes
- Storage: Your Crinkle Cake can chill in the fridge for up to 3-4 days, but it's at its yummiest when it's fresh out of the oven.
- Tip 1: When you put them in the pan, make sure they stand tall, not flat. It makes the cake light, puffy, and yummy.
- Tip 2: Use a spatula to take the cake out of the pan gently.
- Tip 3: This cake loves a drizzle of double cream, homemade custard, or pudding.
Claudia Ciorteanu says
My family loved this!
Cristina says
This phyllo crinkle cake recipe turned out really delicious! My family love it! Even better to have the next day! 😋
Nicole says
This cake was so delicious! My family absolutely adored this recipe.
Swathi says
This phyllo crinkle cake is delicious and easy to make perfect with my homemade ricotta so yumm.
Swathi says
Phyllo crinkle cake is delicious and the perfect treat. I am going to make it more often.
Elizabeth says
I have always wanted to try baking with phyllo and this recipe was perfect for that! So easy to do and delicious. My family loved it!
Ashley says
This sounds delicious and I love that uses only a handful of ingredients. Can't wait to try!
Liz says
Such a fun, yummy dessert! I have made baklava numerous times and it was great to make another dessert using filo dough.
Nisha says
This cake looks so tempting with the layers of crispy phyllo dough and the gooey center and cant wait to try this soon !
Medeea says
This crinkle cake is so creative!! Loved it