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    The Heirloom Pantry » Recipes » Sweets

    Easy Butter Streusel Crumb Topping

    Published: Feb 13, 2023 · Modified: Feb 15, 2024 by Kathleen Higashiyama · The following content may contain paid links. When you click and shop the links, we receive a commission.

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    Butter streusel crumb topping Pinterest pin.

    This Easy Butter Streusel Crumb Topping adds buttery cinnamon flavor and texture to muffins, cakes, quick breads, pies, and more! Make it with a few common pantry ingredients in just 5 minutes.

    Easy butter streusel crumb topping for muffins, quick breads, coffee cake, and more.

    We love this streusel topping recipe on coffee cake or our Matcha Muffins. It is even delicious on Brioche French Toast. The crumbly and crispy mixture is delicious on so many dishes!

    This crumb topping is made with melted butter, brown and granulated sugar, flour, and salt, and cinnamon. For extra texture and nutty flavor, add chopped pecans or walnuts to the mixture. Add on top of fruit pies or crisps, banana bread, blackberry lemon bread, sweet potato casserole, coffee cake, and more.

    Jump to:
    • About Butter Streusel Crumb Topping
    • Ingredients
    • Substitutions and Variations
    • Instructions
    • Storage
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Related Recipes
    • Did You Like This Recipe?
    • 📖 Recipe

    About Butter Streusel Crumb Topping

    • Taste - The streusel is rich and buttery with a warm cinnamon undertone.
    • Texture - The streusel should be spreadable and crumbly with a light crunch.
    • Effort - All you need to do is mix the ingredients then sprinkle them.
    • Time - It takes just 5 minutes to mix the ingredients.

    Ingredients

    Ingredients to make easy butter streusel crumb topping, including salt, melted butter, cinnamon, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and flour.
    • Butter - Butter is the rich flavor base of the streusel.
    • All-purpose flour - All-purpose flour is the base of the streusel.
    • Granulated sugar - Sugar adds sweetness.
    • Brown sugar - Brown sugar adds a rich caramel, molasses-like sweetness.
    • Kosher salt or sea salt - Salt accentuates the rich flavor of the streusel.
    • Ground cinnamon -  Ground cinnamon adds a warm and woodsy flavor.

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Substitutions and Variations

    • Toasted walnuts or pecans - Add chopped walnuts or pecans for extra crunchiness.
    • Light brown sugar - Use light brown sugar for a lighter molasses flavor.

    Instructions

    Steps to make an easy butter streusel crumb topping, including mixing the ingredients, placing on top of batter for muffins, quick breads, coffee cake, and more, and baking.
    • Melt butter - Melt the butter and allow it to cool to room temperature.
    • Combine ingredients - In a medium mixing bowl, add flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and nuts, if using. Use a fork or whisk to combine the ingredients. (Photo 1)
    • Add melted butter - Add the melted butter to the flour and use a fork or whisk to combine the ingredients. The melted butter will turn the flour mixture into a coarse crumb. (Photo 2)
    • Refrigerate - Place the bowl in the refrigerator to cool then use to top muffins, quick breads, french toast, coffee cakes, and more. (Photo 3 and 4)

    Pro tip - Mix the ingredients well but don't over mix. This ensures that the ingredients are incorporated but there are still nice chunks.

    Storage

    Store leftover butter streusel in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also freeze the crumb topping in a freezer bag for up to 1 month.

    Recipe FAQs

    Why is it called streusel?

    In German, streusel means scattered or sprinkled. The streusel is strewn or scattered across baked goodies.

    Is streusel supposed to be crunchy?

    Yes, streusel should be crunchy with an almost cookie like texture and buttery chunks.

    What is the difference between strudel and streusel?

    Strudel typically refers to a filling with pastry wrapped around it. Streusel is a buttery crumb topping.

    Why is my streusel not crumbly?

    This can happen if you over mix the ingredients. When you overmix, the butter can become too hot and soft making the streusel pasty.

    What happens if you put too much butter in your crumble?

    If you put too much butter, your crumble can become too soggy. If you don't put enough butter, it will be too dry.

    Can you eat streusel raw?

    No, streusel contains raw flour which should not be consumed.

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      Meyer Lemon Olive Oil Cake
    • Closeup of easy cinnamon apple curd in a jar.
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    Did You Like This Recipe?

    Love this crumb topping recipe? Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment below. Thanks!

    Sign up for THP's newsletter and keep in touch on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, TikTok, and YouTube. If you make this recipe, tag #theheirloompantry so we can see your butter streusel!

    📖 Recipe

    Easy butter streusel crumb topping for muffins, quick breads, coffee cake, and more.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Easy Butter Streusel Crumb Topping

    This Easy Butter Streusel Crumb Topping adds buttery cinnamon flavor and texture to muffins, cakes, quick breads, pies, and more! Make it with a few common pantry ingredients in just 5 minutes.
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Total Time5 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert, Sweets
    Cuisine: American, German
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 89kcal
    Author: Kathleen Higashiyama

    Equipment

    • 1 Measuring spoons
    • 1 mixing bowl
    • 1 whisk

    Ingredients 

    • 4 tablespoon unsalted butter melted and cooled
    • ¾ cups all-purpose flour
    • 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
    • ¼ cup brown sugar packed
    • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt or sea salt
    • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
    • Toasted walnuts or pecans chopped, optional
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Melt butter - Melt the butter and allow it to cool to room temperature.
      4 tablespoon unsalted butter
    • Combine ingredients - In a medium mixing bowl, add flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and nuts, if using. Use a fork or whisk to combine the ingredients.
      ¾ cups all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoon granulated sugar, ¼ cup brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt or sea salt, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, Toasted walnuts or pecans
    • Add melted butter - Add the melted butter to the flour and use a fork or whisk to combine the ingredients. The melted butter will turn the flour mixture into a coarse crumb.
    • Refrigerate - Place the bowl in the refrigerator to cool then use to top muffins, quick breads, french toast, cakes, and more.

    Video

    Notes

    Top Tips
    • Mix the ingredients well but don't over mix. This ensures that the ingredients are incorporated but there are still nice chunks.
    Storage
    • Refrigerate leftover butter streusel in an air-tight container for up to 3 days. You can also freeze the crumb topping for up to 1 month.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 89kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 50mg | Potassium: 18mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 119IU | Vitamin C: 0.02mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 0.5mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @theheirloompantry or tag #theheirloompantry!

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    About the Author

    Kat Higashiyama and Alec Totto are recipe developers, food photographers, and the authors behind The Heirloom Pantry. Since 2017, they have shared recipes inspired by their Japanese and Italian heritage and California and Hawaii roots. They reside in San Jose with their two dogs, Peeps and Paisley. Read More…

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