What is muakacha? The story behind the phyllo crinkle cake

The phyllo crinkle cake is a Middle Eastern dessert known as muakacha, a name that means wrinkled. Sheets of phyllo are folded accordion-style and bunched into a pan, soaked in butter, and baked with a sweet custard until the tops turn into craggy golden ridges. Syrup goes over the finished pan, along with a scatter of pistachios.

People love it for the contrast. The peaks shatter and crackle, while underneath the layers stay soft, custardy and sticky-sweet. It looks like a showpiece, yet it starts with thawed frozen pastry, and it cuts into squares anyone can pick up and eat.

Where the crinkle cake comes from

The name and the flavors point to the Middle East. One recipe source calls muakacha Middle Eastern in origin, and another cook describes the cake as Greek and Turkish while grouping it with desserts like baklava and knafeh. The custard is often compared to the one in galaktoboureko, the Greek custard pie in phyllo, just without the semolina. Those are family resemblances, though, not a documented line of descent. I could not find a reliable record of who first folded phyllo this way or when.

The part that is well documented is the viral version. A baker named Ramena Avakian shared the cake on TikTok, and it took off a few years ago. She went on to sell it, and one account says it became her number one seller. After customers kept asking for it, she shared her method. Her account is no longer active, but home cooks have kept the cake going, and several food writers have since adapted her recipe.

How it varies

The traditional frame is a phyllo pastry with butter and custard, finished with syrup and pistachios. Within that, cooks tweak the details. Some adapt the custard toward the galaktoboureko style, while the TikTok version keeps it simple with eggs, sugar and vanilla. Home cooks have also swapped in different citrus zests, which brightens the custard and cuts the sweetness.

Modern twists tend to be small and flavor-led. A splash of rose or orange blossom water in the syrup would suit the dessert's roots, and a different nut on top is an easy change if pistachios are hard to find. Some people think of the crinkle as more of a pastry than a cake, and one writer suggests it works well at breakfast, which is a fair point given how closely it resembles a custard-filled Danish.

When to make it

This is a Sunday dinner dessert. It can be assembled in the afternoon, left to settle while the main course goes on, and brought to the table in squares with coffee. It also suits any time you want something sweet without the fuss of layering a cake or fussing with frosting.

It is a good choice for feeding a crowd too. One pan cuts into plenty of portions, and the pieces travel well to a potluck or a holiday gathering. Phyllo is a freezer staple, so the cake is available year-round, but it feels best in winter, when citrus is at its peak. Oranges, clementines and lemons are in season from December through March, and a little zest in the custard or a bowl of segments alongside makes the cake feel lighter. In autumn, pomegranates and pears are at their best and look lovely next to a tray of pistachio-topped squares.

What to serve with it

Strong black coffee or Turkish coffee. Its bitterness balances the syrup and the butter.
Mint or black tea. A hot, fragrant glass keeps a sweet dessert from feeling heavy.
Fresh citrus segments or pomegranate seeds. Tart, juicy fruit freshens each bite.
Plain yogurt or labneh. Its tang and cool creaminess play well against the crisp, sweet pastry.
A light, savory Sunday meal beforehand. Roast chicken, grilled vegetables or a lentil soup leave room for a rich dessert.

Make it at home

The version we cook on Meez comes from CBC. When you are ready to bake, get the recipe, or cook it step by step in Cook Mode so your hands can stay in the butter and off the screen.

Questions about the phyllo crinkle cake

What does muakacha mean?

Muakacha means wrinkled, which describes the ruffled, accordion-folded phyllo that gives the dessert its look. The TikTok version is simply called the crinkle cake, or just a crinkle.

Who invented the TikTok crinkle cake?

The viral version is credited to Ramena Avakian, who shared it on TikTok and sold it as part of her business. The technique itself has older roots in Middle Eastern, Greek and Turkish pastry, and no one seems to have documented who first folded phyllo this way.

Is crinkle cake Greek or Middle Eastern?

It depends on who you ask. Some sources call muakacha Middle Eastern, while others describe it as a Greek and Turkish dessert. It sits comfortably alongside regional favorites like baklava and knafeh.

How is it different from galaktoboureko?

The custard is similar, but the crinkle cake leaves out the semolina. Galaktoboureko is typically a custard pie sealed between phyllo layers, while the crinkle cake bunches the pastry into peaks that bake up crisp on top.

Sources

Last reviewed October 27, 2026. Written by the Meez editorial team with Meez Magic, from the sources above.