Best Crumb Topping for Muffins

Streusel crumb topping for muffins that is sweet with some texture that adds to the deliciousness of your favorite muffin recipes or our blueberry muffin tops. With 4 ingredients you can add crushed nuts or cinnamon too if you like.

Thinking of adding a crumb topping for muffins in this next batch? Do it! Not only does it add a bit more sweetness but it makes them prettier too if you ask me. (affiliate links present)

I mean this isn’t a must but it definitely takes a basic muffin recipe up a notch to a holy moly bite for sure. Just 5 extra minutes to mix this up is all you need for greatness y’all….. You can call it crumb or streusel, they both kinda’ mean the same to me but some people feel there’s a bigger distinction.

What is the difference between streusel and crumb topping?

If you need to know how they generally are differentiated, the first typically includes oats and is less dense. This one is “cakey” while the other you’d more likely find on something like our huckleberry cobbler or something.

To make this crumble or streusel topping for muffins you will need some room temperature butter and a few other ingredients you probably have in your pantry;

Crumble Topping Ingredients

1. All purpose flour will be a base of sorts and give it some ooompf
2. Room temperature butter is necessary binder to combine everything and bring a bit of moisture. Do not use cold or melted, right in between on the counter for a few hours is perfect.
3. Brown sugar will bring sweetness and a warmth to this yummy topping.
4. White sugar is great to add more sweet but not as strong as it’s brown counterpart.
5. A pinch of salt will counterbalance the sweet
6. Cinnamon and vanilla are great flavors to add to all baked goods if you ask me.
7. Oats some like for added texture
8. Nuts like candied pecans in our pumpkin banana muffins are yummy.

Equipment Needed

Use either a fork or pastry cutter to integrate everything together so it is well incorporated. Use a large bowl to triple or quadruple the measurements below. Remember to portion it out for future uses. Store in small pint size freezer bags and suck all the air out so it doesn’t dry out. Then when you have your batter ready you can just scoop some out, combine with butter and you’re ready to use it.

Substitutions

You could leave the butter out if you wanted to make a large batch of this, then combine when you are ready to use it. For a dairy free version use vegan plant based sticks softened to create a soft crumbly texture.

How to Make Crumb Topping for Muffins

You really just throw everything together. Combine with the back of a fork or pastry cutter with the dry flour mixture in a medium bowl. Don’t melt the butter per say but you don’t want it straight out of the fridge either. This crumble topping will go on the top of your muffin batter. You’ll want to gently press down just a tad so it sticks and doesn’t want to fall out of the muffin tins.

1. In a bowl combine the flour and salt together. Then cut room temperature butter into pieces and add this and wet ingredient, vanilla.
2. Use fork to incorporate it together. Mix in vanilla, sugar and cinnamon into crumble.
3. Sprinkle on top of filled muffin cups and touch gently so it doesn’t fall off while baking.

I mean we put this on top of all sorts of baked goods like banana zucchini muffins and the list goes on and on. I’ll list a few of our other favorites to use this on below:

Muffin Recipes with Crumble You’ll Love

We have even added it on top of these muffin tops as you can see here above. If you haven’t tried these they are great. I mean the best part is the top anyway, so eliminate the bottom that gets more “done” and just enjoy the greatness shall we?

• You can put this on a batch of moist zucchini bread if you want to make a whole loaf. OR just cut down the baking time to about 20 minutes and turn this batter into regular sized muffins too.
• Apple zucchini muffins are yummy with this add on.

We added it to our zucchini blueberry muffins as you see here. Half didn’t have it on top so we compared, the WITH won over big time with everyone I tell you. Now what if you make double batch or have leftovers and want to save them?