Food & Cooking Recipes Dessert & Treats Recipes Crumb Topping 4.0 (174) 13 Reviews Our crumb topping recipe is so easy to make and adds a deliciously sweet, crunchy contrast to all kinds of desserts. By Martha Stewart Martha Stewart Martha Stewart is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, and lifestyle expert who has taught millions of people through generations the joy of entertaining, cooking, gardening, collecting, crafting, and home renovating via her eponymous magazine, Martha Stewart Living, Emmy-winning television shows, and 99 books (and counting). Based in Katonah, N.Y., where she helms her 156-acre Bedford Farm, Martha is America's first self-made female billionaire. Editorial Guidelines Updated on January 7, 2025 Rate PRINT Share Prep Time: 10 mins Total Time: 10 mins Yield: 2 cups Jump to recipe What's the secret to a great crumb pie? An easy crumb topping, of course! It's so quick to make and is really more of a ratio than a recipe—a combination of butter, light brown and granulated sugar, flour, and a touch of cinnamon. And it's as simple as mixing the ingredients—first the dry ingredients, then rubbing in the butter. That’s it! We suggest you prep some crumb topping now and keep it in your freezer so you can enjoy wonderful baked treats all year round, like peach crumb pie, blueberry crumb pie, apple crumb pie, or crumb muffins. It even tastes delicious sprinkled over warm toast, ice cream, and other frozen desserts. Grant Webster Our Favorite One-Bowl Baking Recipes That Make Cleanup a Breeze What Is Crumb Topping? As its name suggests, crumb topping is a dessert topping. It’s a simple mixture of butter, sugar, and flour and is typically used to top pies or muffins before baking for a crunchy, sweet contrast. Streusel vs. Crumb Topping Streusel is similar to crumb topping and the terms are often used interchangeably. Traditionally, the two have different ratios of the same ingredients, with streusel containing more flour and crumb topping more sugar, offering a different texture and flavor on top of baked goods. Streusel may also include nuts, but crumb topping does not. Crumble vs. Crumb Topping Crumble is similar to crumb topping—another butter-sugar-flour mixture. But while crumb topping is finer and used as a finishing touch and textural contrast, a crumble is used in a thick layer all over a fruit filling or other crumble dessert. It’s like a fruit crisp topping without the oats. 6 Ways to Use Crumb Topping Crumb topping is the last element for desserts before they are baked. Try it on any dessert that would benefit from a sweet, crunchy contrast like these favorites: Muffins Crumb pies Cookies Coffee cakes Quick breads, like banana bread or pumpkin bread As a topping for frozen desserts and fruit: Toast the topping on a baking sheet in a 350 degree-Fahrenheit oven for 15 minutes. Then sprinkle it over ice cream, frozen yogurt, or fresh fruit. Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour ¾ cup light-brown sugar ⅓ cup granulated sugar ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon cinnamon 1 ½ sticks chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces Directions Grant Webster Combine dry ingredients: In a bowl, mix 1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 cup light-brown sugar, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and cinnamon. Grant Webster Cut butter into pieces: Cut 1 1/2 sticks chilled unsalted butter into pieces. Grant Webster Add butter to dry ingredients: With your hands, work in butter pieces, until large clumps form. Grant Webster Grant Webster Divide mixture and freeze: Divide mixture in half; freeze in plastic storage bags for future use. Grant Webster How to Store Crumb Topping You can store crumb topping in the refrigerator for up to three days, but freezing is the best storage. Place the crumb topping in a freezer-safe bag and transfer to the freezer—it will keep for up to three months. We recommend dividing the recipe into two halves for storage. There's no need to portion it out more than that because it's crumbly and easy to remove as much or as little as you need. Frequently Asked Questions Is melted butter better than cold butter for crumb topping? No, melted butter is not better than cold butter for crumb topping. Our crumb topping recipe uses cold butter, which is mixed into the sugar and flour mixture. Melted butter would not work for this recipe. What happens if you put too much butter in crumb topping? If you put too much butter in crumb topping, it will be melted and greasy. If you don’t use enough butter it will be dry and floury. Simply follow our recipe, using just the amount of butter called for and the end result will be a great crumb topping every time. How do you cut butter into crumb topping? The best way to cut butter into crumb topping is to use your hands. We do not recommend using a mixer or food processor or even a pastry blender to cut the butter into the crumb topping. Make sure your hands are clean and use your fingers to lightly work in the butter pieces until large clumps form in the topping. Originally appeared: Everyday Food, July/August 2003 Rate It PRINT Updated by Victoria Spencer Victoria Spencer Victoria Spencer is an experienced food editor, writer, and recipe developer. She manages the Martha Stewart recipe archive and is always curious about new ingredients and the best techniques. She has been working in food media for over 20 years.