Most likely you've had crumbly streusel topping on a coffeecake, muffin, or pie, but it can be used for so much more! Sprinkle cinnamon streusel crumbs on ice cream, fruit desserts, yogurt, or layer into a trifle. With only 4 ingredients, you'll have the sweet and crunchy goodness from this easy streusel recipe in no time!
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Why this recipe works
- Only 4 basic pantry ingredients needed
- You can use this streusel topping baked for a mix-in or raw to sprinkle on top of batter to be baked
- Customize the sugar and spices used, and add flavor and texture to fit your preferences
I love a mix of flavors and textures in a dessert. In a trifle, there's the smooth creaminess of pudding, bursts of fruit sweetness, and soft chunks of spirit-soaked pound cake.
Can you add more flavor and texture? Sure! How about adding the sweet, spicy goodness of a cinnamon streusel crumb topping? After all, streusel topping is not just for crumb cakes!
Baked cinnamon streusel crumb topping enhances this Orange Cinnamon Pecan Trifle (picture below) along with the pound cake and vanilla pudding. It adds a nice crunch and a burst of brown sugar sweetness and cinnamon spiciness to the dessert.
The next time you have a hankering for a bit of crunchy sweetness, make a batch of quick streusel. And think beyond crumb cake!
Recipe Ingredients
You'll need the following ingredients to make this streusel crumb topping recipe:
Ingredient Notes
Cinnamon: Like most spices, cinnamon loses its potency the longer it sits. Give it a sniff - if the smell is faint, it's time to open a new jar.
Brown sugar: Using dark brown sugar will contrast more with the cinnamon than light brown sugar. You can customize the streusel to fit your desired flavor profile (more on that below).
See the recipe card for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
How to customize the crumb topping
It's the flavors of what you're using the topping on that can determine what you add or change to the basic streusel topping recipe. Here are some suggestions for you to make streusel your way!
- Choose granulated sugar, brown sugar, or a combination to introduce a molasses flavor (or not)
- Substitute another spice for the cinnamon, like cardamom or nutmeg, for a spice cake
- Add rolled or quick-cooking oats, chopped nuts, and a pinch of salt for a topping for fruit crumble or fruit crisp
- Make the streusel with a dairy-free, vegan butter substitute to help with dietary concerns
How to make streusel crumb topping
Step 1: Combine brown sugar and cinnamon
Stir together the brown sugar and cinnamon until there are no large clumps (photo 1).
Step 2: Add the melted butter
Pour in the melted butter and stir until smooth (photo 2).
Step 3: Stir in the flour
Stir in the flour until the mixture is forming crumbs. It should be able to stay in a clump when squeezed (photo 3).
At this point, you can use the cinnamon crumbs on cakes, muffins, or pies and skip the baking step below and simply sprinkle the raw crumbs onto the batter. Bake as directed.
To use the crumbs as a finishing topping, continue to the next step.
Step 4: Bake the crumbs
Spread the crumbs evenly on a half sheet baking pan lined with a Silpat silicone mat or parchment paper (photo 4). Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes. Shake the pan to redistribute the crumbs, then bake for another 5 minutes.
Storage instructions
Store at room temperature in an airtight container, or freeze in a ziplock bag for longer term storage. Perfect for last-minute snacking!
Questions asked and answered
Here are some questions you might have...
Recipes for streusel topping vary widely, but they're all based on a combination of a sugar, a spice, some fat, and flour, like in this Orange Cranberry Bread.
It's the melted butter in this streusel recipe that holds the mixture together. Baking the streusel dries out the butter, giving the crumb topping it's crunchy texture.
Many streusel coffeecakes (aka crumb cakes) and pies use a thick crumb topping. Same for fruit crumbles and crisps, as well as a crumb topping for muffins. Just top the batter with unbaked streusel crumbs and bake as directed.
You can also use baked crumb topping to sprinkle on ice cream, fruit desserts, yogurt, or layer into trifle. Get creative with it!
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I hope you like this recipe! Let me know if you have any questions, and don't forget to leave a comment and rating. Thanks!
Slainté! L'chaim! Cheers!
- Tammy
More trifle cake recipes to try
Recipe
Cinnamon Streusel Crumb Topping
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup brown sugar, light or dark, packed, see Recipe Notes
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, see Recipe Notes
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 °F, and line a half sheet baking pan with a Silpat silicone mat or parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, stir together ⅓ cup brown sugar and ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon until there are no large clumps. Pour in 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted) and stir until smooth.
- Stir in ¾ cup all-purpose flour until the mixture is forming crumbs. It should be able to stay in a clump when squeezed.
- Spread the crumbs evenly on the baking pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Shake the pan to redistribute the crumbs, then bake for another 5 minutes.
- Cool the crumbs on the baking pan, then use as desired.
- Storage instructions: Store at room temperature in an airtight container, or freeze in a ziplock bag for longer term storage.
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