The Best Homemade Crumble Topping (2024)

This crumble topping is a delicious and versatile streusel that can be used on many fruit desserts like pies, cobblers, crisps, and crumbles. It's made with a simple mix of flour, oats, butter, and sugar. Baked until golden brown, this crumble topping is endlessly adaptable and can be made with variations and additions so it's perfect for whatever dessert you're making.

There are so many crumble, crisp, and cobbler recipes on this website but no stand-alone recipe for crumble topping. But when you have your own favourite fruit or mixed berry filling you just want an incredible recipe for the best crumble topping you've ever had.

This is that recipe. I've been using this crumble for the last 15 years and know it by heart. It is one of my most treasured and frequently made dessert recipes. You'll find it on this fruit crumble, the raspberry and peach crumble and of course, the rhubarb and ginger crumble. But it would also be an incredible topping to this apple tart or this strawberry puff pastry tart. Or, just bake it up and serve it warm and crunchy over plain vanilla ice cream.

🧾 Key ingredients and why

• oats- preferably rolled oats rather than quick cooking for more texture.
• butter- salted or unsalted work brilliantly in this recipe. *I use salted.
• sugar- caster or granulated *use golden caster sugar for extra depth
• flour- plain or all-purpose flour is all you need.
• *Add-ins- see the substitutions and variations section of all the ways you can customise this simple crumble topping

See recipe card for quantities.

👩🏻‍🍳 How to make buttery oat crumble topping step-by-step

• In a food processor
  • Cube the cold butter and measure all the ingredients into the bowl of a food processor and use the pulse setting to incorporate the butter and blend the topping.
  • This will only take about 2 minutes. The topping should look like coarse breadcrumbs.
  • *Be sure to not over mix the crumble.

• In a mixing bowl
  • Weight the dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl.
  • Using a fork or your fingers cut the butter into the dry ingredients until you have a crumbly mixture that looks like coarse breadcrumbs.

Once the butter is incorporated you can add in any chopped nuts, dried fruit, or spices. Either use the crumble right away or store it in the fridge or freezer for later use.

🍯 Storage

• Storage: In an airtight container in the fridge for 2 days and the freezer for 2 months.
• Thawing and Reheating from Frozen: There's no need to thaw the crumble topping before using. Simply place the frozen crumble topping over your dessert and bake as usual.

Choose your own crumble

• nuts- add 100g chopped nuts into the mixture- almond or pistachio with peaches and walnuts or hazelnuts with mixed berries or apples
• dried fruit- add in some dried currants, raisins or apricots for extra sweetness and texture.
• chocolate- white, milk or dark go well with almost any variation of crumble. Elevating your dessert from comforting and cosy to indlugent and elegant.
• coconut- stir in some dessicted coconut when using peaches or apricots for the perfect tropical twist.
• gingersnap- brings a warming flavour to any crumble. Perfect for winter desserts. shortbread- adding in some crushed shortbread will make your cumble topping even more buttery and melt in your mouth.
• graham cracker or digestive biscuits- adds a sweet crunchy twist to a crumble topping. Perfect for when you add chocolate to your crumble.

❓FAQ

More Easy Dinners