Brown Butter Crinkle Cake Recipe

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.

For brown butter, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat and simmer, stirring frequently, until browned, fragrant, and foamy with brown bits in it, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and pour into a small heat-safe bowl. Let cool.

For syrup, stir together sugar, water, lemon juice, and cinnamon stick in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Reduce heat to low; simmer until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Let cool.

Meanwhile, stack 2 phyllo sheets; starting with a short end, fold accordion-style into a strip, using approximately 1 1/2-inch folds. Arrange folded phyllo along the short end of prepared pan. (Keep remaining phyllo covered with a clean, damp kitchen towel while you work.)

Repeat stacking and folding with remaining phyllo, evenly spacing strips in the pan. Bake for 10 minutes.

Remove from the oven. Stir cooled brown butter, then drizzle over phyllo. Bake for 10 minutes more.

Meanwhile, whisk together milk, eggs, vanilla, and salt in a 2-cup liquid measuring cup until combined. Pour egg mixture evenly over phyllo. Bake until golden, 35 to 40 minutes.

Pour syrup over the warm cake (discard cinnamon stick). Let cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Cut into 20 squares. Serve warm.