This crunchy, crispy, and melt-in-your-mouth buttery streusel topping is as addicting as you’d think! This sweet brown sugar, cinnamon, and oat mixture comes together in minutes and is the perfect way to top off all of your muffins, cakes, and pies!
An Easy Streusel Recipe
The streusel topping is that crunchy, buttery, sweet crisp oat topping that sits on top of muffins, banana bread, coffee cake, crisps & cobblers. You know, that delicious sweet crunchy stuff you pick off first because it’s too good to resist!
It’s a delicious finishing touch to all kinds of baked goods and is a simple combination of butter, flour, oats, and brown sugar. Streusel is such an easy way to enhance any dessert and comes together so quickly, you’ll want to find any excuse to use it.
Streusel Topping vs. Crumble Topping
The difference between a crumble topping and a streusel topping is that you make a streusel topping with oats. That’s it!
The two recipes are so similar that they can often be used interchangeably. So much so, that people sometimes call them by the wrong name.
For this oatmeal streusel topping, there are oats in it, but you’re welcome to opt to make it without and it will be just as delicious!
Key Ingredients
Made with just a few simple ingredients that you most likely have stocked at home!
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Oats: You can use instant oats, but I prefer the texture and chew of old-fashioned oats for this streusel. They give it a really nice bite and add a little bit of nuttiness.
- Butter: I prefer salted because it saves me an extra step of measuring another ingredient and the salt helps enhance the flavors. The butter coats the oats and gives the topping the necessary moisture to keep everything together.
- Flour: The all-purpose flour gives the streusel its crumbly structure and helps it hold its shape during baking.
- Sugar: Brown sugar adds a depth of sweetness to the topping.
- Cinnamon: I love adding a little cinnamon to give this streusel topping even more warmth.
Boost the flavor: Cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice are delicious spices that can be added to both a streusel and a crumble topping to add a little more essence of delicious fall flavors. Though, it can be used for any reason and on any occasion!
Helpful Tips
- Gluten-free. To make this gluten-free, substitute with a 1:1 all-purpose gluten-free flour.
- Type of oats. You can use old-fashioned or instant oats for this recipe. I do prefer the taste and texture of the old-fashioned oats.
- Melt the butter. Melt the butter slightly so it combines easily and crumbles nicely without big chunks of butter.
- Flavor. Omit the cinnamon for a basic (equally awesome) streusel.
How to Make Streusel Topping
It just takes stirring ingredients together in a bowl to amplify your favorite baked goods with the perfect topping.
- Combine. Stir together butter and flour with a fork or pastry cutter. Mix in oats, brown sugar, cinnamon until crumbly and combined. Add nuts, if desired.
- Sprinkle. Top your favorite cakes, muffins, or pies with a sprinkling of this irresistible streusel.
Favorite Ways to Use Streusel
You won’t find a shortage of uses for a tasty streusel! The best thing about it is you can switch up the toppings for crumbles and on cobblers and vice versa!
- Pumpkin Crisp or Apple Crisp
- Caramel Apple Pie Bars
- Berry Crumble Pie
- Pumpkin Streusel Coffee Cake
- Pumpkin Crumb Muffins
- Blueberry Coffee Cake Recipe
- Peach Cobbler or Apple Cobbler
Recipe FAQs
I hate to waste anything, so I like to bake any leftover topping I have and sprinkle it on yogurt or even ice cream for a treat.
Simply spread out the streusel topping on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake it in 325°F oven for 15 minutes, stirring every 5-minutes, until golden brown. Let it cool completely and keep it in an airtight container.
Of course! Simply swap out the butter for a non-dairy option, like coconut oil.
You can reheat the streusel topping or put it under the toaster oven or broiler for a minute to make it more crisp.
Butter, flour, brown sugar and oats. You can add in cinnamon or nutmeg as well to spice it up. It’s baked on top of breads, muffins and cakes.
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Streusel Topping
Ingredients
- 6 Tablespoons salted butter , slightly melted
- ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup old fashioned oats
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar , packed
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Optional: 1/2 cup chopped nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, stir together the flour and butter with a fork or pastry mixer. Mix in the oatmeal, brown sugar, and cinnamon until well combined. Add nuts, if desired.
- Sprinkle the crumble over muffins, cakes, or quick breads before baking.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
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Mmmm! I made this to go on top of a muffin recipe that I made but honestly, I think I could eat it just by itself, haha!
I always have to sneak a bite ;)
This is my favorite on yellow cake with a vanilla glaze! So delicious.
Sounds delicious!
Delicious!! The topping is the best part, I am so happy we have leftovers.
It is the best part! So yummy!
I spread the mixture in a pyrex baking dish and I’m baking it alone. Im unsure what temp or time to use but I hope it works. I want to use it with peach ice cream from the Penn State Creamery ❤️
That sounds delicious! I haven’t tried this, but let us know how it went. I would personally start at about 325 for 5 minutes and watch carefully so it doesn’t burn.
Streusel means crumb or scattering. Streuselkuchen (German crumb cake) is covered with a streusel topping. It has no oats in it, so true streusel is not made with oats. However, oats can be a variation in the streusel recipe, and it’s a variation I love.
I prefer the oat variation too! I also have a crumb topping recipe without the oats which sounds like the version you are referring to :) https://www.iheartnaptime.net/crumble-topping/
I use this on sweet potatoes, love it!! Quick and easy, Thanks!
Sounds delicious! So glad you enjoyed it, Judy :)
I didn’t know that there’s a difference between streusel and crumble topping. That’s so interesting. Thanks for explaining.
I love this streusel topping! We use it on pies, muffins and cobblers! So good! I just love all your recipes!