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.
I made it. Delicious 😋
That is great to hear! I am glad that you loved this crumble topping!
Excellent. My box blueberry muffins needed something extra, and this was perfect on top !!
Can this topping be frozen and then used at a later date?
I have not tried freezing the crumble topping. You can store it in the refrigerator until ready to use.
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easy and tasty
Yes I love it
Definitely too much butter in this recipe. Probably needs more flour to work with what the recipe is wanting. I used 3 tbsp of butter and it was still too much. Not very crumbly and turned out mushy . It still tastes good :)
I have tried to make this recipe 3 different times, and sadly even 4tbsp of butter is too much and will turn the mixture into a batter. I have to take it down to 2 1/2 tbsp and sometimes this does not work. :(
Hi Brielle, sorry you had trouble with the topping. It could be that you’re melting the butter all the way down, or possibly over mixing. You want to make sure to use a fork to mix and mix just until crumbs have formed.
Great recipe! Often online you find subpar recipes but this one is just right.
I put it on top of apricot bars. Yum!
Woah that sounds delicious! So glad you enjoyed the crumble topping!
Thanks.!!!!
LOVED this topping! Made my apple pie so delicious!
Crumble topping makes everything taste better :) Thanks for sharing, Katie.
Fabulous and so easy! Perfect on top of pumpkin spice muffins. I chose to add extra pumpkin spice to the mix and dusted muffins with cinnamon after they came out of the oven❤️
These are such great variations, Janice. Thanks so much for sharing!
This recipe was great! Easy and the consistency was perfect. Thanks
I am glad you liked it, Deb. Crumble topping makes everything even more delicious!
Recipe was simple, tasted great, and was just what I needed. They crumbs weren’t too crunchy or too soft. Baby-bear…just right. As I was putting them on pumpkin walnut muffins I used the cinnamon and also added 1/2 top of pumpkin spice. My muffins with the crumb topping were delicious.
So glad this crumble topping was exactly what you were looking for, Debbie! Thanks for your comment and review :)
Hi this sounds great but I thought flour is not supposed to be consumed raw. Does the refrigeration process make it safe? Or is it safe in general?
The crumble topping gets mixed raw, but is then baked in the oven with which ever recipe you use it for (muffins, cakes, etc.).
Hi, I tried this for my muffins and it was delicious! I just have one question: are you supposed to bake the crumble topping seperate and then add it to the muffins or do you bake it with the muffins? Thank you for the recipe!
Bake it with the muffins :)
It looks and sounds so good, I’m going to make my husband a blueberry crisp. Took out blueberries from freezer, but did not have everything. Will make it tomorrow.
Mmm sounds delicious! Let us know how it goes :) Here is our favorite blueberry crisp recipe: https://www.iheartnaptime.net/blueberry-crisp/
can i use this to put on top of a cooked cheesecake? Can i put it on the top on the cheesecake when baking in the oven?
I haven’t tried, but I don’t see why not.