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This recipe for crumble topping is the perfect crumble for any pie recipe. You can make it with brown sugar or granulated sugar and it’s even the perfect topping for muffins or fruit crisp.
Crumble Topping for Pie
When I was in college I created my recipe for crumb apple pie. It was the first pie I’d ever made completely from scratch and it became my signature recipe that is constantly requested at every holiday. (Mel doesn’t even eat my dessert but my apple pie is one he will eat!)
We always joked that the pie would be fantastic with just crust and crumble, no filling. After all, the crust and the crumble are the best parts! That conversation led to this blog being created.
Ever since I first made this crumble recipe, I’ve been topping other pies with it. So many things change over time but the one thing that stays the same is this recipe. It’s the BEST crumble topping recipe you’ll ever make or eat and it goes perfect with any fruit pie.
I’ve also used this recipe with muffins and coffee cake, so it’s a super versatile crumb recipe. The beauty of this crumble topping recipe is that you can use any sugar or combination of sugar you like. Use all white, all brown, or a combination of the two!
4 Ingredients Needed
- Butter: Use slightly softened unsalted butter. You can use salted butter, but then omit the added salt. Soften it just a bit – not as soft as when you’re making cookies but not hard straight from the refrigerator.
- Sugar: You can use granulated sugar, brown sugar, or a combination of sugars in this recipe. Just use 2/3 cup of either or the combination.
- Flour: All-purpose flour gives the crumble it’s body. If you prefer an oat crumble, use this oatmeal crumble recipe.
- Salt: Just add a bit of salt only if using unsalted butter.
How to make Crumble
- Whisk your dry ingredients in a large bowl.
- Add your butter in small chunks or grated (see below)
- Use a pastry cutter to cut the butter into the dry ingredients.
- The crumble is done when it’s crumbly and pea-sized with no loose dry ingredients.
Grating the Butter makes it easier!
There is nothing harder than using a pastry cutter to cut in cubed or diced butter. It takes a lot of time and arm strength, so I created a shortcut: I grate the butter. If you want to make mixing the crumble much easier, grate the butter.
- Freeze the butter for about 30 minutes.
- Grate it using a box grater.
- Use as directed in the recipe.
Tip From Dorothy
Expert Tips
- Grating the butter makes it easier to cut into the ingredients, but it’s not required if you don’t want to.
- Crumble topping is delicate and should be crumbly, so you don’t want to use a mixer. You want to make crumble topping by hand, so I like using a pastry cutter.
- If you don’t have a pastry cutter, you can use a fork or two knives, but a pastry cutter is easier.
- You can make this up to a day ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Uses for Crumble Topping
- Use this recipe on peach pie or apple pie, blueberry pie, blackberry pie or any fruit you like.
- You can also top mini apple pies or mini berry pies.
- It makes enough topping for slab pie also!
- It’s also the perfect topping for peach crisp or apple crisp.
- Make crumble topping for muffins too!
Crumb Topping Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 tablespoons (170g) unsalted butter
- ⅔ cup (133g) sugar (packed brown sugar or granulated sugar or a combination)
- 1 ½ cups (186g) all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Grate cold butter into a large bowl. Alternately, you can dice it small.
- Add sugar: use all brown or all white or a combination to make ⅔ cup. Use whatever combination you like (I like using ⅓ cup each brown and white).
- Add flour and then, using a pastry cutter, work the butter into the flour and sugar until the mixture forms coarse crumbs.
- Use crumble as recipe directs, on a fruit pie or on muffins or coffee cake. Bake as directed in recipe.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- Store crumble in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before using.
- If using salted butter, omit added salt.
Recipe Nutrition
Favorite Pie Recipes
Last Updated on September 28, 2023
I absolutely love this recipe, I use it on pies, muffins, coffee cakes. I have always made 2 double batches ahead of time, store in zip lock gallon bag placed in frig. I bake a lot for our church harvest auction, school fundraiser. Found this recipe during covid when my hair salon had to be closed during a 3 month period. I started baking and selling curbside, everyone take it from me, this recipe is so versatile and can be used so many ways with fruit pies, holiday cookies. I so appreciate the sweet kind perdon who shared this recipe with us all. I do use 1/3 cup each of brown and white sugar, happy baking from Marnee’s Dough Maine. Monroe, Maine
Do you make this ahead and store it for future use? How long can you store it!
You can make it up to a day ahead, store in the refrigerator, then break it up with your fingers before using.
I have stored my crumb mixture in freezer up to 6 months and it still tastes great on my apple pies. I make 4xs the recipe so I have extra as it is hard on my hands to make. I was wondering if I could use a food processor to make it?
The crumble was a great topping for a peach pie. Will definitely use this recipe again!
Best crumble topping I’ve ever made!!
Could I possibly add peaches to the crumb top of peach pie?
I’m not sure I understand what you mean?
Instead of three ingredients for the crumb top, could I add peach, making it four ingredients?
No, it would make it soggy.
It was really good.
This is a good recipe. I know a lady that made the most delicious crumble but never asked her how she made it. Today I made a crumble using your recipe except I added about 3 tsp of a beaten egg. It made larger crumbles so I’m curious how it will turn out.
can i use with mango’
Each time I make this the topping seems to wet. It doesn’t crumble as I’m used to. I am not sure if I’m adding too much butter or not enough flour of both. I can’t figure it out. Any suggestions?
I read somewhere that you want minimal ‘sand’ at the bottom, you want most of it to come together into little pebbles and peas. If it’s too wet, your butter probably melted a bit. Try popping the whole bowl in the fridge and if it’s still too wet then a bit more flour
I have never made a peach pie before so I’m trying it out with the crumble topping. My question is can you make the crumble topping ahead and just put it in the fridge for later use?? I didn’t set my refrigerated pie crust out today to get to room temperature so I was wondering also if I could go ahead and make the peach mixture and set it in the fridge?
Yes you can – wrap it well or put it in an airtight container. Break it up before using – get your hands in there to make it crubmly again.
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