You’ll find yourself using this Basic Streusel Recipe over and over again!  It’s so simple to make, in just one bowl, and it’s great on everything from muffins and breads, to pies and fruit crisps.  This buttery, sweet crumb topping is sure to be a favorite on all your best homemade baked goods!

I find myself using this basic streusel recipe ALL THE TIME! It's so good on breads, muffins, and fruit crisps, and you can customize the recipe in so many different ways.

Yes, you read that right.  This is a recipe for streusel.  Just streusel.  Only streusel.

I know it may sound a bit strange to devote a whole post to crumb topping, but the thing is, I just recently realized just how often I find myself referring back to this simple formula.

I find myself using this basic streusel recipe ALL THE TIME! It's so good on breads, muffins, and fruit crisps, and you can customize the recipe in so many different ways.

Here is what I like about it:

  1. It’s easy.  It all happens in one bowl (or pot, as it were).  No big clunky food processor with tons of pieces to wash.  You don’t even have to get your hands dirty!
  2. You don’t have to bake it.  You can- but if you want to put it on a no-bake type situation, or an already baked type situation, just stir it over medium-low heat for a minute or two, to cook out the raw flour taste.
  3. It’s versatile.  I use this buttery crumble topping on everything from muffins and breads, to fruit crisps and pies, even donuts!
  4. It’s customize-able.  Putting this on a berry dessert?  Sub out the cinnamon for citrus zest.  Want something a little lighter and more subtle?  Use white sugar instead of brown.  Want to add some substance?  Try adding oats, chia seeds, and/or nuts.  My hubby and kids love when I add walnuts or pecans to this.  They give it some added crunch and a toasty flavor that’s just so warm and homey.

I find myself using this basic streusel recipe ALL THE TIME! It's so good on breads, muffins, and fruit crisps, and you can customize the recipe in so many different ways.

It’s all as easy as melting a bit of butter and adding flour, sugar, and salt.  Throw in some cinnamon too!  You can go with as much or as little as you like.  When I’m making something like pumpkin bread or apple pie, I’ll add a lot of cinnamon- two whole teaspoons.  This time, I chose to keep it a little more subtle with just one.

Toss it all together with a fork until the ingredients are evenly dispersed.  I like when there’s an even mix of big, boulder-like hunks and smaller, finer crumbs.

I find myself using this basic streusel recipe ALL THE TIME! It's so good on breads, muffins, and fruit crisps, and you can customize the recipe in so many different ways.

Big fan of anything with streusel?  Here are some more ideas for how to use this recipe:

Blood Orange Mini-Muffins | Baking a Moment

Blood Orange Mini-Muffins

New York Crumb Cheesecake | Baking a Moment

New York Crumb Cheesecake

Best Ever Blueberry Muffins | Baking a Moment

Best Ever Blueberry Muffins

Homemade Crumb Donuts | Baking a Moment

Homemade Crumb Donuts

I think you’ll find yourself looking to this recipe again and again.  It’s just so great on so many things.  If you end up trying it, I’d love to see how you choose to use it!  Shoot me an Instagram pic!  You can tag me with @bakingamoment  😉

** HERE’S ANOTHER VIDEO! THIS WAS A LIVE RECIPE DEMO AND IT’S GOT TONS OF GREAT INFO! **

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5 from 1 vote
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Basic Streusel Recipe
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 

You’ll find yourself using this Basic Streusel Recipe over and over again! It’s so simple to make, in just one bowl, and it’s great on everything from muffins and breads, to pies and fruit crisps. This buttery, sweet crumb topping is sure to be a favorite on all your best homemade baked goods!

Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: basic, crumb, streusel, Topping
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 150 kcal
Ingredients
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (or whole wheat)
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar (or dark brown, or granulated (white) sugar)
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (or 1 tablespoon citrus zest)
  • 1/3 cup oats, nuts, or seeds (optional)
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Place the butter in a small pot over medium-low heat, until melted.
  2. Stir in the remaining ingredients with a fork, until evenly distributed.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

* Enough to top 18 muffins, one loaf of bread, or one 8x8-inch cake.

Nutrition Facts
Basic Streusel Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 150 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g 8%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 15mg 5%
Sodium 52mg 2%
Potassium 37mg 1%
Total Carbohydrates 22g 7%
Sugars 8g
Protein 1g 2%
Vitamin A 3.5%
Calcium 1.3%
Iron 4.9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
I find myself using this basic streusel recipe ALL THE TIME! It's so good on breads, muffins, and fruit crisps, and you can customize the recipe in so many different ways.