Crumble topping is a combination of only 3 simple ingredients: butter, flour and sugar. It adds the perfect sweetness and crunch to any muffin, quick bread or pie!
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Favorite Topping for Muffins
I recently just made my pumpkin crumb muffins with this delicious topping and let me tell you, it was the star of the show! It’s the perfect combination of rich, buttery and sweet and makes a great crumb topping for muffins. I could eat it by the spoonful!
This easy crumble topping is the perfect way to add some extra pizazz to your baked goods. It can be whipped up in just 5 minutes and only requires 3 simple ingredients that I bet you already have in your fridge and pantry.
You can sprinkle this delicious crumb topping over breads, pies, bars, muffins…you name it. One of my favorite recipes to use it in is this brown bag apple pie or Dutch apple pie. It also tastes delicious on top of this razzleberry pie or sprinkled over this easy coffee cake recipe as well.
3 simple ingredients
The base recipe starts with 3 simple ingredients (amounts included in printable recipe below). Feel free to mix in an additional spice or two for even more flavor, like cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice. You can even mix in some chopped pecans for an extra crunch, or add in oats to make it more of a streusel topping.
- Butter: Use salted butter and melt it down in the microwave.
- Flour: All-purpose flour works great.
- Sugar: I love to use granulated sugar or half sugar and half brown sugar.
How to make crumble topping
COMBINE the flour, sugar and melted butter in a bowl. Sprinkle in cinnamon if using. Then use a spoon to combine the mixture until crumbs start to form (do not mix until smooth). Refrigerate until ready to use.
SPRINKLE the crumb topping evenly on top of muffins, pies or breads. Then bake in the oven according to directions.
More ways to use crumb topping:
- Berry crumble pie
- Apple cobbler or peach cobbler
- Pumpkin streusel coffee cake
- Strawberry rhubarb crisp
- Caramel apple pie bars
- Pumpkin crisp
- Peach crumble pie
Crumble Topping
Video
Ingredients
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar or brown sugar (I like to a do 3 TB each)
- 4-6 Tablespoons salted butter , slightly melted
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon , optional
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the flour and sugar. Add cinnamon, if desired. Slowly drizzle the butter into the bowl while stirring the crumbs with a fork. I like to start with 3-4 Tablespoons and add more as needed until the crumbs form. Do not over-mix (you do not want this to become like a dough).
- Store in the refrigerator until ready to use. Evenly spread across muffins, quick breads, or pie.
Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Tamela Gates
Oh my goodness I love this I added a few crushed pecans to the crumble and topped my fresh blueberry muffins for a new family at church! I guess I’m still not quite savvy enough to include pictures. I will say they look and taste better than the fancy bakery ones I baked 36 for what 6 would cost at a bakery! ❤️❤️❤️
Jamielyn Nye
Sounds delicious! So glad you enjoyed the crumble topping.
Maddie Breaux
Adding pecans is such a good idea! Will definitely try that
Bea B
The initial “melted down in the microwave” is a bit misleading. The butter should not be melted to a liquid. It needs to be “room temperature softened”. Leave the butter out for 90 minutes OR search for microwave directions to soften but not melt butter. Using fully melted butter will not generally produce a crumble but more of a batter…
Lilly
Oh thank you. That is probably why my crumble turned out like more of a batter lol!
Liberty
Ohhhhkayy was wondering why mind looks like a batter😭
Brooke
Just used this on a peach pancake loaf and my family is in heaven 🙂
Sarah @IHeartNaptime
That sounds heavenly and that peach pancake loaf with a crumble topping, I am getting hungry! Perfect for the season!
Lele Marie
Tried this recipe! With half and half sugar ratios as you suggested. Delicious
Sarah @IHeartNaptime
So glad you enjoyed the crumble topping!
Margaret Bradley
Easy and yummy
Sarah @IHeartNaptime
Thanks for the review!
Ali mac
Need the recipe in grams otherwise It’s not accurate enough. It looks great otherwise. Yum. Yum
Becky
You can easily convert to grams yourself. Search Conversion calculators. You can even find them for different ingredient densities.
Dottie Schmelia
Made it several times.Absolutely delicious on the muffins I made each time.
Sarah @IHeartNaptime
So glad the crumble garnish has become a muffin topping favorite!
Tricia Albering
I did it was absolutely amazing I did it on top of a cherry Apple dump cake nice and simple with the crumble made it perfect
Sarah @IHeartNaptime
Sounds delicious! Thanks for the review.
Becca
I love this recipe! I use it on breads and muffins all the time! Also, I am thinking of adding some oats for my apple pie cinnamon rolls!
Sarah @IHeartNaptime
So happy to hear this Becca! Feel free to use our recipe for streusel topping which includes oats!
Nicole
This didn’t work for me.. it melted on top of my banana bread.
Sarah @IHeartNaptime
Sorry to hear it didn’t work, note that the butter should only be slightly melted, if it’s fully melted it will not set properly on top of baked goods.
Shelie
When I put on any breads I make I omit the butter. It sticks right to the bread mixture perfect. You do lose some of it when removing from pan but it’s still excellent.
Bea B
So, just flour and sugar? Honestly, I am a bit confused by this– how do you make it a crumb topping without the moisture from the butter? Do you use something else, like applesauce, for the moisture/liquid to produce a crumble?
George Mcloughlin
I don’t Cook or bake but someone gave apples so thought I would make a crumble knew what to do with fruit but crumble how do you make that well now I know its easy
Amanda
I figured after I read the basic melted butter, sugar, and flour in the beginning of your post I was all “oh, I got this”.
Well I most certainly do NOT got this. My first attempt was basically cookie dough. So then like a smart person, I read the entire recipe and tried again. Huge difference!
Reading is important people!
Sarah @IHeartNaptime
Thank you Amanda! Glad you were able to nail the recipe the 2nd time after reading it through :).
Bea B
What was the difference between the first batch and the 2nd? Did you use melted butter the first time and softened, but still formed the second time? There are charts online on how to soften but not melt butter using the microwave. That might be a nice addition to this recipe for crumb topping (unless, I missed it in the recipe).
Sarah @IHeartNaptime
Thank you Bea! We have linked to our post on how to soften butter properly in the recipe card to clear up any confusion.
MKS
Does this make enough to adequately cover a 9×13 cake? Says 12 servings but that doesn’t really mean much in regards to this recipe. Thanks!
Jamielyn Nye
Yes it will cover a 9×13 cake but if you like extra crumb I would 1 1/2 or 2x the recipe.
Louis
Where’s the quantities
Sarah @IHeartNaptime
Hi Louis, scroll to the recipe card or hit ‘jump to recipe’ button at the top of post.
Ariese PATTERSON
I have used this so many times on apple and banana breads .. the last two times idk what was wrong. One was super runny like cake batter and the other was rolls like cookies. Nothing like the first thousands times. 😞 Can’t for the life of me figure out what I’m doing wrong
Jamielyn Nye
Hi Airese! I’m glad you enjoyed the crumb topping in the past. My guess is you added too much butter if it was too runny. I like to start with 3-4 Tablespoons and only add more if it’s not coming together into clumps.