Streusel Topping For Muffins

Make this streusel topping for muffins with easily available and basic ingredients. This will elevate your muffins with sweet and crunchy layer that is superb for breakfast or just snacking.

This streusel topping recipe is very easy to make and it comes together in just 5 minutes and enough for 12 muffins. I have used this streusel topping on my lemon blueberry muffins.

I am giving you different options so that you can tweak the recipe and make different varieties. For example, you can add cinnamon to the recipe and use it as a streusel topping for apple cinnamon muffins or you can add vanilla and use it for vanilla muffins.

What is streusel topping?

Streusel topping is nothing but crumbly topping. This sweet topping can be eaten on its own or can be used over muffins, cakes, or pies.

Streusel topping is usually made up of flour, sugar, and butter. You can also add spices like cinnamon or nutmeg or your choice of nuts.

Why this is the best streusel topping recipe?

1. This recipe uses just 4 easily available pantry ingredients.
2. Easy and quick to make.
3. Can be used for muffins, cakes, or pies.
4. Can be used on many baked goods. So, It’s versatile.
5. It’s customizable – just tweak the recipe and make different variations.

How to make this streusel topping for muffins? (overview)

I have given step by step instructions with images below but let’s quickly take an overview of the recipe.

Sr. No.	Steps
1	Mix all dry ingredients.
2	Add cubed and cold butter.
2	Crumble butter with dry ingredients and streusel topping is ready to be baked.

Streusel topping for muffins recipe – ingredients

Let’s get started! I am sure that you will have all of the below ingredients in your pantry already. Go, check it out 🙂

All-purpose flour – I have used regular all-purpose flour. No specific brand, you can use it as per your choice. Replace with a gluten-free blend to make a gluten-free version.

Granulated sugar – I have used regular granulated sugar also referred to as caster sugar. Stay away from icing sugar as it will change the texture of topping.

pinch of salt – Do not hesitate to add salt, as a pinch of salt always enhances the flavor.

Unsalted Butter – I have used regular unsalted butter. If you do not have unsalted butter, you can replace it with salted butter but skip the salt in that case.

Don’t you already have these in the pantry? 😉

Any substitute?

All-purpose flour – All-purpose flour can be substituted with any whole grain flour but reduce the quantity by 1 to 2 teaspoons. To make it gluten free, just replace it with same quantity of gluten-free flour.

Granulated sugar – You can replace sugar with brown sugar but reduce the quantity by 1 to 2 teaspoons as brown sugar adds more moisture and the topping can become soggy instead of crumbly. Replace with a sugar-free alternative in a 1:1 ratio.

Streusel topping recipe variations

Spices: Add 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and use it over apple cinnamon muffins. If you are using it over pumpkin bread, use 1 teaspoon.

Extracts: Add 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract and use it over vanilla muffins.

Oats – Crush 2 tablespoons of oats and add it to your favorite oats muffins. I tried using it on Banana oatmeal muffins.

Nuts: Add 2 tablespoons of crushed nuts of your choice.

Tools used

1. Mixing bowl
2. Whisk
3. Measuring cup / spoons
4. Weighing scale

Step-by-step instructions to make homemade streusel topping recipe

Please find my step-by-step instructions to make ultimate streusel topping for muffins every single time.

1. Whisk the flour, sugar and salt in a medium bowl .

2. Add the cubed cold butter.

3. Use your clean fingers to crumble the butter and flour together until you have a shaggy mixture.

4. Your streusel topping is ready to be baked.

Notes –

Use this streusel topping on any baked goods

If you are using this on muffins, cakes, or anything that is going to be baked then you don’t need to pre-bake the streusel. You can add it directly on top, and bake it along with them.

Use this streusel topping on it’s own

If you will be using it as a topping, spread the mixture onto a parchment paper on a baking sheet and bake at 350F (180 C) for 10-12 minutes. Then, let it cool completely and add it to your dessert as soon as it is warm and out of the oven.

Streusel topping for muffins – Storing and Freezing instructions

You can easily make this streusel topping ahead of time and store it at room temperature or refrigerator or freezer.

After baked, you can store in an air tight container and store up to 7 days. You can also store in refrigerator for 2 weeks or in freezer for one to two months.

Sr. No.	Place to Store	Days/ Weeks/Months
1	Room Temperature	7 Days
2	Refrigerator	2 weeks
3	Freezer	up to 3 months

Success tips to make it best every time

Please find my secret tips to make the good streusel topping every single time.

Use cold butter – I would highly recommend using cold butter over melted butter for the nicest crumbly topping. Melted butter might make the topping soggy.

Do not overmix – Overmixing may result in a very moist and batter-like topping rather than the crumbly texture you are looking for. Just combine it until flour and sugar are coated with butter and appear crumbly.

Do not overbake – Even though the streusel topping looks soggy after it comes out of the oven, it will continue to bake. So, please remove it after 10 to 12 minutes to avoid overbaking.

How are we making (video) ?

Streusel topping recipe – FAQ’s

Can I use icing sugar instead of granulated sugar?

I would not recommend replacing regular sugar with icing sugar because streusel topping needs to be crunchy :).

Can I use brown sugar instead of granulated sugar?

Yes, of course. You can use brown sugar but I would reduce the quantity by 1 to 2 teaspoons because brown sugar has more moisture than regular sugar and may become soggy if prepared with the same quantity.

Can I make this streusel topping ahead of time?

Yes, absolutely! Please refer to my storing and freezing instructions for details.

What is the difference between streusel and crumble topping?

There is not much difference between these two. Both are made up of the same ingredients (flour, sugar, salt, and butter) but streusel can be customized with spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or nuts of your choice.

Can I use melted butter rather than cold butter?

I would not recommend using melted butter as I have had soggy topping after using it. If you want to give it a try please make sure it is completely cooled down after it is melted. Stay away from hot or warm melted butter.

Why is my streusel not crumbly?

If streusel absorbs additional moisture, it will become soggy. If you’re using brown sugar instead of white, make sure you reduce the amount. Also, melted butter may make it soggy, so only add cooled melted butter to the topping.

Request

If you have not tried this streusel topping yet then you are missing out on a very tasty treat. Try it out, and I assure you that you won’t be disappointed. Please let me know how this recipe turns out for you in the comments! I really love hearing from you, and your feedback is very much important to me.

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