If you'd like to learn how to make a crumb topping for muffins, bread, cakes, and other desserts, check out my easy recipe. A crumbly brown sugar and cinnamon topping adds a wonderful textural element to baked goods, so knowing how to make a crumb topping comes in handy if you love to whip up desserts and other sweet treats.
In a small bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Mix until the ingredients are well distributed before adding melted or cold butter.
⅓ cup brown sugar, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¾ cup all-purpose flour
Pour the melted butter in with the combined dry ingredients.
4 tablespoon butter
Mix the topping until all of the dry ingredients are incorporated. You should see that the mixture is forming crumbs and will hold together if you pinch it.
Use when baking to top breads, cakes, or other desserts.
Notes
Nutritional values are all approximate and depend on the amount you use in any given recipe.
A crumb topping may also be referred to as a streusel topping.
When using with baked goods, add the crumb topping before baking. *Recipes with long baking times (like a Dutch apple pie) can be topped with the crumb mixture for the last 15-20 minutes of baking time.
Granulated sugar can replace brown sugar in a pinch, but it will make a crumb topping that is paler, drier, and crunchier because it has less moisture than brown sugar. It is still tasty nonetheless.
This crumb topping can be made in advance. Simply place it in an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to 3 days.