Basic Crumble Topping Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a crumble topping made of? ›

Classic crumble

Sometimes simplicity is best and a basic crumble topping of sugar, flour and butter is all you need for the perfect pudding. In Raymond Blanc's popular apple & blackberry crumble, the topping is pre-baked so it retains a light, crumbly texture and doesn't stick together.

Butter, which encourages both browning and crispness, is the magic ingredient in getting your topping just right, so follow the recipe instructions. But if you feel your topping is still too dry and crumbly, (even for a crumble) add a bit more melted butter, a tablespoon at a time.

You can use white or wholemeal flour for a crumble topping, plain usually, but if all you've got is self-raising it doesn't really make a difference.

A crisp contains oats in the topping, while a crumble does not. Baking powder can also be added to a crumble topping (like it is here) to ensure it's extra light and tender.

This can't be easier for perfect results every time. If you are wondering what the difference is between crumb topping and streusel, not much is the answer. Both are crumb toppings containing the same ingredients but streusel often has more sugar, cinnamon, nuts and or oats included.

The main reason your crumble topping isn't crunchy is probably because you haven't used Demerara sugar. Although, it could also be that you've got your topping ingredient quantities wrong: either too much or not enough flour and butter alongside the sugar.

A well-made crumb should be firm yet tender, and chewy, with big chunks—like granola. The best way to achieve this is to use cold cubed butter. Using room-temperature or melted butter will cause the topping to spread out and flatten when it bakes, rather than standing pert and perky.

You add streusel topping before baking your pies, cakes, or muffins. It bakes along with whatever you are making. Why is my streusel topping not crumbly? If your crumb topping isn't crumbly you need to add a little more butter.

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.

How long does homemade crumble topping last? ›

The crumble topping should be stored in a freezer-proof airtight container or tightly sealed in a freezer bag. For the best results the topping should be used within 3 months of freezing as beyond that ice crystals can build up in the mixture, which can make it slightly less crisp on baking.

So what's a crumble vs. a crisp? A crumble is just a crisp without oats in the streusel. It may feature nuts, but the streusel topping is usually a simple combination of butter, flour, and sugar that is more clumpy than that of a crisp.

Then, make sure to bake the crumble long enough so that the fruit filling comes to a profuse simmer at the edges of the pan. This shows that the cornstarch has been activated enough to thicken the juices, turning them supple and silky.

Just having one is a victory! And yet, some recipes demand light and others dark. The good news is that light and dark brown sugar are interchangeable: You're not going to ruin your cookies, your crumble, or your banana bread by swapping one for the other.

I always get the best reactions when the crumble is really crunchy. And for that crunchy topping, it's best to use brown sugar. White sugar is fine, and the crumble texture is a bit lighter.

Apple crumble recipe topping is typically made of butter, sugar and flour which gets topped on the cooked fruit filling. To add an extra element of texture and flavour, oats, coconut, nuts and cinnamon can be added to the crumble mix.

Crisps are essentially crumbles with the addition of oats and optional nuts, which causes the topping to “crisp” in the oven. Due to the higher ratio of oats to flour, crisps are often enjoyed for breakfast and are just as tasty eaten cold from the fridge as they are warmed up in the oven.

Aunt Bessie's quick and easy crumble mix, just as it should be. We blend flour, sugar and oats for a satisfyingly sweet, golden, crunchy topping. Ready for you to sprinkle over fruit, bake in the oven, then ask the all-important question: ice-cream or custard?