Basic Streusel Recipe
You’ll use this basic streusel recipe over & over! Easy to make in just one bowl, & great on everything from muffins to pies to fruit crisps.
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 put it on so many things!
Blueberry muffins? Check. Cinnamon crumb cake? Check. Dutch apple pie? Checkity-check-check.
This simple and versatile streusel topping recipe works for everything from fruit crisps and pies to muffins, quick breads, and cakes.
Table of Contents
- What is streusel?
- What does streusel taste like?
- Ingredients
- Special equipment
- How to make streusel topping
- Frequently asked questions
- A few more of my favorite topping recipes
What is streusel?
Streusel, aka: crumb topping, is a really simple way to jazz up all your favorite baked goods.
It’s made from just a handful of pantry staples, in just a minute or two, and it can be flavored in all sorts of different ways.
When it’s first made, it seems kinda doughy? But as it cools it crumbles in the most delicious way.
It’s buttery, just sweet enough, and has a tender crunch, and it just brings everything it touches to a whole different level!
Here is what I like about it:
- 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!
- 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.
- It’s versatile. I use this buttery crumble topping on everything from muffins and breads, to fruit crisps and pies, even donuts!
- 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.
What does streusel taste like?
The base is buttery and a little sweet, but honestly you can flavor this however you like!
I’ll often add warm spices such as cinnamon, ginger, or cardamom. Or sometimes I’ll add citrus zest instead. Even the seeds from a vanilla bean!
And the texture can go from tender to chewy to crunchy, with the simple addition of oats or nuts.
Ingredients
You probably already have everything you need to make this in your kitchen already!
Butter
I like to use unsalted butter because it lets me control the amount of salt in the dish. Different brands of butter can contain different amounts of salt, so this way you get a more consistent result.
For a vegan or dairy-free streusel recipe, use a plant-based butter that can substitute for dairy butter 1:1.
Flour
All-purpose flour is my go-to, but you can swap it out for any kind of whole-grain option if you like. You may need slightly less if you go that route.
A gluten-free flour blend that can sub 1:1 for regular flour should also work just fine, if you’d like to make a gluten-free crumb topping.
Sugar
Sugar adds sweetness (obvs!) but it also aids in browning and keeps things moist, since it’s hydrophilic (this means it loves water, in other words, it draws moisture in).
Most of the time, I reach for light brown sugar. But, depending on the recipe, sometimes I’ll go for regular white sugar instead. Or dark brown sugar.
You could also sub for another type of sweetener if you like. As long as it swaps 1:1 for granulated sugar it should work.
Salt
Salt carries the flavors and intensifies them. The end result won’t taste salty, but it will make everything so much more flavorful!
I like kosher salt best because it doesn’t have any additives (table salt usually contains iodine which can leave a bitter taste), so the flavor is pure. It’s also inexpensive and easy to find in a regular grocery store.
Add-ins
These are completely optional. You can totally make your crumb topping recipe with just the above.
But if you want to add some additional flavor and texture, think about also throwing in some spices, zest, cocoa powder, vanilla bean, oats, seeds, and/or nuts.
Special equipment
Here are the tools you’ll need to make this recipe.
- Measuring cups and spoons: To measure out the ingredients.
- Small pot: In which to melt the butter and mix up the topping. You could also use a microwave-safe bowl.
- Fork: I find this to be the best tool for mixing everything together.
How to make streusel topping
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.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make this streusel topping without brown sugar?
Absolutely!
You can use any kind of sweetener you like. As long as it swaps 1:1 for regular sugar, it should work just fine.
Does it have to be baked?
Not really.
Consuming raw flour comes with risks. So if you want a no-bake streusel topping, just heat everything on the stove for a few minutes, to cook the rawness out.
The texture will be slightly different (more sandy than crunchy), but I still really like it this way!
Can this be made ahead of time?
Fo shizzle. Mix up a big batch and it should keep in the fridge for around a week, or in the freezer for a month or two.
Thaw it at room temperature or in the fridge and throw it on all your best recipes!
What is the serving size?
This recipe makes about 2 1/2 cups of topping, which is plenty for any pie, cake, donut, muffin, crisp, or pie recipe.
The nutritional info in the recipe card below is for 1/12th of the whole batch. That’s about 3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon.
These numbers include the oats, but if you use nuts or seeds instead of, or in addition to, that would change things a bit.
A few more of my favorite topping recipes
** HERE’S ANOTHER VIDEO! THIS WAS A LIVE RECIPE DEMO AND IT’S GOT TONS OF GREAT INFO! **
This post contains affiliate sales links.
Basic Streusel Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (112 g) unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups (187.5 g) all-purpose flour, (or whole wheat)
- 1/2 cup (110 g) light brown sugar, (or dark brown, or granulated (white) sugar)
- 1/4 teaspoon (1.5 g) kosher salt
- 1 to 2 teaspoons (2 g) ground cinnamon, (or 1 tablespoon citrus zest)
- 1/3 cup (27.03 g) oats, nuts, or seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Place the butter in a small pot over medium-low heat, until melted.
- Stir in the remaining ingredients with a fork, until evenly distributed.
I am a Type 1 diabetic and counting carbs is essential for tight control. The label indicates 23 grams of carbohydrates which usually means per serving but it does not indicate the size of the serving. Very important.
If you look towards the top of the recipe card, you’ll see the recipe makes 12 servings. So 1 serving would be 1/12 of the whole recipe. Hope this helps!
Yum!! Simply the best and oh so easy to make. Thanks
So this is enough to top a 9″ pie? Thank you1
When do you put the streusel topping on the pie? TY
Before you bake it- what kind of pie are you making? If it needs a long bake you may want to wait until like 15 or 20 minutes before it’s done, so the topping doesn’t burn.
I am watching your video on making crumb topping, and it looks wonderful!
I will need to make some adjustments related to my family food intolerances,
Some of your viewers asked questions about using substitutes, so I thought I would share some of my issues and experiences with you. It is too bad that sugar and flour adjustments can majorly change the texture as well as flavor, but we do the best we can… ( I don’t have enough major successes to start my own blog!)
I adjust my desert recipes for my husband since he is diabetic. It turns out that “one-to-one sugar” substitutes have maltodextrin as a base. When I looked maltodextrin up online, I found that had a higher glycemic index than sugar! Russ’s blood sugar had been climbing so quickly after I started using the sweeteners with maltodextrin, that we were concerned he might have to go from oral db meds to insulin.
There are not too many options that taste very good but xylitol containing sweeteners taste pretty good, but can cause diarrhea. (Just beware of maltodextrin!) Xylitol is not as much of a diarrhea problem as some other sugar alcohols (they usually end in “ol” ).
Some recipes I can cut the sugar in half and it still tastes fine. Other substitutions don’t really work for most people.
For cookies and some recipes, I use 1/3 cup sugar, 1 1/2 to 2 Tablespoons liquid stevia (or liquid Splenda) and 1/3 cup applesauce to replace 1 cup of sugar. It really is not a great option. (It is not nearly as good as one-to-one sugar substitutes) He is reasonably satisfied. Increasing flavoring helps as well, so I double or triple vanilla, cinnamon, zest, etc. (I do not like vanilla flavored liquid stevia.)
He is gluten intolerant as well! I like Bob’s Red Mill gf flour in the light blue package, NOT the red package (which contains pea powder). One thing to look for is that the gf flour must contain xanthan gum, or you need to add some,. The amount is according to the xanthan package. I use a little less gf flour than regular in a recipe. Like 1/4 cup less in a cookie recipe.
So you can see how Desserts have been a problem with our family of dessert-aholics!
Take care,
Candy
(Yes that has alway’s been my nickname. And I am a retired Dietitian/Nutritionist as well!)
This is all SUCH great info Candy! I’m so happy you shared it. I know that so many other readers will benefit from this. Thanks so much for taking the time!
I cannot tell you how many years I “cut” the butter in to make streusel! Ugh! Thank you soooooo much for making my baking easier!!
Hello thank you for this recipe!! I only needed half the recipe Is there a way to store or freeze the unused portion?
Yes! Store it in the fridge or freezer, it should keep well for a few weeks at least.
Can this topping be baked to add to already baked cupcakes with frosting?
If so how long should it be baked for?
Thank you
You can bake it on a sheet pan in the oven for 5 or 10 minutes, but if you do that it becomes pretty crunchy. Another alternative would be just to cook it in the pot over low heat, stirring, for 5 minutes or so, just to get the raw taste out of the flour. That’s what I usually do for the type of application you’re describing, but either method will work! Good luck!
Can you add apple to this Streusel recipe? I wanted to add it to an already baked cheesecake.
That sounds delicious!
I’ve been forever searching for a copycat recipe for my favorite chocolate cake from my childhood. It was a box mix – Pillsbury I believe – chocolate streusel swirl bundt cake. I’ve tried a couple things but haven’t yet come close. This looks like it’s worth trying, but how much cocoa should I add/subsitute to the recipe to make it a chocolate crumble ?
Hey Sharie! You can find a chocolate version within this post: https://bakingamoment.com/baked-chocolate-crumb-donuts/. Hope it’s as good as you remember!
I’m going to be making this recipe tonight to top some blueberry mini muffins and I’ll let you know how that turns out. I’ll also be posting it to my Facebook page and perhaps my own blog with a link to yours. My question is, is this a recipe that you could make before hand and keep it on hand for different recipes throughout the week? I am not a baker or a cook, but, I assume if I did try to do that, it would need refrigerated because of the butter. Thank you very much for posting this, I can’t wait to try it!
Hi Erika! You can absolutely do that and yes the fridge is probably a good idea if you’re storing it for long stretches of time. Good luck and I hope you enjoy your muffins!
Great recipe
Thank you!
Looks yummy! Does it get real crunchy? I’m trying to find one that stays kind of soft on top of muffins and coffee cake
Hey Kathy! No it’s not really crunchy, only on the tippy tops and edges. It’s got kind of a sandy texture underneath. That maybe sounds weird but it is really good!