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!
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
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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.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Crisps + Cobblers, Desserts, No-Bake, Toppings
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
The peach pie with this crumb topping is better than any store bought pie. FANTASTIC DELICIOUS. Peaches from my Mom’s peach tree.
Literally was thinking to do a peach pie with this topping and I’m glad I found you comment! Going to go make it now
Delicious on blue berry muffins ❤️
So glad you enjoyed the recipe :)
This is lovely! I used Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 Gluten Free Blend. I actually over-mixed it into a dough before reading the instructions, but added a little more GF flour and it turned back into a crumble. SO delicious! I don’t know whether this fix would work with regular flour, but I’ve noticed that GF blends do not toughen up when over-mixed. Thanks for a great recipe!
So happy to hear the gluten-free version turned out great for you, Leah! :)
So easy and quick to make, also very delicious!
Thank you for the review and comment, Angie. Glad you loved it!
so good. i made some baked apples to put this on, and we can’t stop eating it by itself! might have to make another batch for the apples
Mmm sounds so delicious!
Do you add to the top of your muffins before you put in the oven?
Yes, just sprinkle on top of the muffin batter before putting in oven :)
This is such a great and simple combination. Instead of cinnamon I add Pumpkin Spice. Same concept as cinnamon. Just adds that extra deliciousness 😋
Mmm that sounds delicious! Glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Diane :)
Can I put this into a buttered and floured bunt cake pan before I add the yellow cake mix with blueberries? Or, I could add it onto the mix in the pan and serve the cake upside down.
I haven’t tried, but I don’t see why not. Sounds delicious :)
ive done it to a bundt cake before, its like a crust but for a cake
Very easy desert, I added it on top of Apple pie and it came out perfect!!!
Yum, sounds delicious!
yes over canned pears and it was delish!
That sounds amazing! So glad you enjoyed it :)
Great topping .. easy and very good!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it :)
Hello jamielyn !! I love this recipe and i was wondering if it would work if and how to add oats or nuts to it !
Hi, yes definitely! If using oats, I love to make the topping from this recipe: https://www.iheartnaptime.net/streusel-topping/
Loved it! Made it with banana nut muffins. Looks great and tastes great 😍
Sounds delicious! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!!
East and delicious, thank you
You’re welcome! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I doubled the recipe although I only needed to use 10tbsp of melted butter and 1/4 cup more flour for the crumble effect. Easy to make and the crumble effect was beautiful. Peach crumble is in the oven and I’m excited about final product! Thank you for this recipe, I’ve been using cold butter recipe but the melted butter looks so much better!
Looks delicious! Can’t wait to try this one.
I love a good crumble topping! This one is so easy to make and awesome!
This was fantastic and so easy to make! I’ve been putting it on everything all week!
Can you bake this on its own and then add to cake after the cake is baked?
I don’t think it would work as well unfortunately.