Crumb Topping

Our crumb topping recipe is so easy to make and adds a deliciously sweet, crunchy contrast to all kinds of desserts. 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.

We suggest you prep some crumb topping now and keep it in your freezer so you can enjoy wonderful baked treats all year round, think 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.

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 prior to 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, so they offer a different texture and flavour 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.

1½ cups all-purpose flour, unbleached
¾ cup light-brown sugar
⅓ cup granulated sugar
¼ tsp. sea salt
¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
1½ sticks butter, chilled, cut into pieces

In a bowl, mix 1½ cups flour, ¾ cup light-brown sugar, ⅓ cup granulated sugar and ¼ tsp. each salt and cinnamon.

Crumb Topping:
Cut 1½ sticks chilled butter into pieces. With your hands, work in butter pieces with the dry ingredients, until large clumps form.

Divide mixture in half; freeze in plastic storage bags for future use.

Makes 2 cups.

Storage: The best way to store crumb topping is in a freezer-safe bag in 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 it's easy to remove just as much or as little as you need.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Is melted butter better than cold butter for crumb topping? No, 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 use more butter than the recipe calls for, the crumb topping will be melted and greasy. If you don’t use enough butter it will be dry and floury. Simply follow our recipe for a great crumb topping every time.