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unbaked crumb topping in a white bowl.
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How To Make Crumb Topping
Prep Time
10 mins
Total Time
10 mins
 
Let’s talk about how to make crumb topping! This three-ingredient crumb cake topping is made with brown sugar, all purpose flour, and cold butter (plus there are optional mix-ins, like cinnamon). This brown sugar crumble topping isn’t just for crumb cake—I use it on muffins, quick breads, cakes, pies, and fruit desserts.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: crumb topping
Servings: 2 cups
Author: Michelle
Ingredients
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 cup dark brown sugar
  • 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, optional*
Instructions

  1. In a medium sized bowl, mix all purpose flour and dark brown sugar together. (Add in ground cinnamon now, if using.)

  2. Add in the cold, cubed butter. Using a fork or a pastry blender (pastry cutter), work the butter into the mixture until it is completely combined. (The mixture will sort of resemble a paste and have the consistency of wet sand.)

  3. Using your hands, pinch and press the dough together into crumbs, making the crumbs as small or large as you’d like. (I like to do a variety of sizes.)

  4. Sprinkle on top of crumb cake, coffee cake, muffins, fruit crisps, pies, quick breads, etc.

Recipe Notes

*You can also add in other spices, like nutmeg, cardamom, etc.