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Cranberry Crinkle Tart Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 352 reviews

This Cranberry Crinkle Tart features delicate layers of crispy, buttery phyllo dough combined with a luscious orange-infused cranberry custard. The tart is beautifully spiced with fresh orange zest and finished with a homemade orange syrup glaze, making it an elegant dessert perfect for festive occasions or a special treat.

Ingredients

Scale

Phyllo Layer

  • Cooking spray
  • 16 sheets (18″ x 14″) thawed frozen phyllo dough (from a 16-oz. box)
  • 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted

Cranberry Filling

  • 6 tbsp. store-bought or homemade cranberry sauce, plus more for serving

Custard

  • 2 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup whole milk
  • 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • Zest of 1 orange

Orange Syrup

  • 3 oranges, divided (1 zest for custard, peel for syrup)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 cup granulated sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Tart Pan: Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350°F. Grease a 10-inch tart pan with cooking spray and place it on a foil-lined baking sheet to catch any drips.
  2. Assemble Base Phyllo Layers: Unwrap phyllo dough and stack sheets on a clean surface. Remove one sheet and drape it over the tart pan, pressing into bottom and sides, allowing an overhang. Brush with melted butter. Repeat layering with three more sheets, alternating directions (third sheet perpendicular). Trim the overhang to create a neat ruffled border.
  3. Create Pleated Phyllo Strips: Remove another phyllo sheet and fold a 3/4-inch hem on the bottom edge. Then pleat the sheet accordion-style upward to make a long narrow strip, keeping the hem closest.
  4. Arrange Spiral Pleats: Place the pleated strip in the tart pan, pleats facing up along the edge. Add a second pleated strip, aligning and tucking the excess to form a continuous spiral. Repeat with the remaining ten sheets to fill the pan completely with spiraled pleats.
  5. Bake Initial Phyllo Layer: Bake in the oven 10–15 minutes until edges are browned and top is crisp. Brush with more melted butter generously (pastry will absorb it).
  6. Bake to Absorb Butter: Continue baking another 10 minutes until the butter is mostly absorbed and phyllo is golden.
  7. Prepare Cranberry Sauce for Piping: Stir cranberry sauce to loosen if needed, then transfer to a piping bag with a medium round tip or a resealable plastic bag with a small corner cut.
  8. Mix Orange Custard: In a large bowl, gently whisk eggs, milk, kosher salt, 3/4 cup sugar, and orange zest until combined. Avoid vigorous whisking to prevent bubbles.
  9. Pipe Cranberry and Add Custard: Pipe cranberry sauce evenly into the folds of the phyllo dough, targeting the gaps between pleats. Pour the orange custard mixture carefully over the entire tart.
  10. Bake Filled Tart: Bake for 30–40 minutes until the custard is set, the top is browned, and slightly puffed.
  11. Prepare Orange Syrup: Use a vegetable peeler to remove long strips of peel from the remaining two oranges. In a small pot, combine orange peel, water, and 1 cup granulated sugar. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently until thickened and an instant-read thermometer reads 220°F (5–6 minutes). Remove from heat and keep warm.
  12. Glaze and Serve: Brush the baked tart all over with the warm orange syrup. Serve warm or at room temperature as a beautifully fragrant, crispy, and creamy dessert.

Notes

  • Handle phyllo dough carefully and cover it with a damp towel to prevent it from drying out during preparation.
  • Use melted unsalted butter liberally between the phyllo layers for optimal crispiness and flavor.
  • Cranberry sauce piping helps distribute bursts of tartness evenly in the tart without overpowering the custard.
  • The orange syrup glaze adds a glossy, sweet, and citrusy finish enhancing the tart layers.
  • Leftover tart can be stored refrigerated and gently reheated to maintain crispness.

Keywords: Cranberry tart, phyllo dough dessert, orange custard tart, holiday dessert, baked tart, cranberry custard, orange syrup glaze

Find it online: https://zarameals.com/cranberry-crinkle-tart-recipe/