Name: Brown Sugar Crumble
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 12
Ingredients: 140 g (1 cup) all-purpose flour; 165 g (¾ cup) light brown sugar; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional; ½ teaspoon salt; 113 g (½ cup) unsalted butter, melted and cooled

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A sweet, buttery Brown Sugar Crumble Topping adds irresistible taste and texture to any dessert–from fruit crisps to muffins and coffee cake. This easy recipe comes together in just 5 minutes and is the secret ingredient to leveling up your favorite baked goods.

Parchment lined sheet pan with unbaked brown sugar crumble.

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Why You'll Love This Brown Sugar Crumble

There’s something so satisfying about a crisp, golden crumble baked on top of sweet seasonal fruit. This brown sugar crumble is everything you want it to be–sweet, buttery, and just the right amount of crumbly. It bakes up with a gorgeous golden color and slightly crunchy texture, complementing whatever it’s sprinkled over (my favorite–a cherry apple crumble).

The best part? It only takes a handful of pantry staples and a few minutes to put together. I love storing extra in the freezer so I can always have some ready to go for a quick, last-minute dessert. Whether you’re baking a batch of muffins, topping an apple blueberry crumble, or making a cozy blueberry sour cream coffee cake or blackberry coffee cake, this crumble is your go-to finishing touch.

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients for crumble in bowls sets on a flat white surface.

Brown sugar: I like to use light brown sugar for its soft, caramelly sweetness that pairs well with just about everything. It also helps the crumble brown beautifully in the oven. You can swap in dark brown sugar for a deeper, molasses-like flavor.
Baking powder: Just a touch gives the crumble a slight lift as it bakes, making it lighter and more tender.
Butter: Unlike traditional crumble recipes that use cold butter, this version calls for melted butter for one very good reason: it’s easy. It also gives the topping a denser, slightly chewy texture that bakes like the perfect golden crust.
Cinnamon: Totally optional, but adding just a teaspoon of cinnamon provides a warm, cozy flavor that complements almost any dessert. Feel free to skip it or substitute with a favorite spice blend, such as chai or pumpkin pie spice.

Please see the recipe card for the complete list of ingredients and measurements.

2-Step Brown Sugar Streusel Topping

This crumble topping with brown sugar is super simple to make with these two steps:

Start with the dry ingredients. Whisk the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl.
Pour in the melted butter and mix until you have a crumbly consistency.

Whisked dry ingredients for crumble topping in a glass mixing bowl with a white wire whisk.

Make Ahead Tip: Mix the crumble up to 5 days in advance and refrigerate until ready to use.

Expert Tips for the Perfect Crumble

Let the melted butter cool slightly. If the butter is too hot when it hits the sugar and flour, it can melt everything down too fast and turn your crumble into more of a paste. Letting it cool for just a few minutes gives you that perfect texture that bakes into those beautiful crunchy pieces.
Mix just until crumbly. Once the ingredients are combined, stop mixing! Overmixing can break down those buttery clumps and leave you with a uniform, sandy mixture. The magic is in the variety–some small crumbs and some big ones.
Chill it before baking. Even though we’re using melted butter, a quick 10-minute chill in the fridge helps the crumble hold its shape as it bakes. This step is optional but especially helpful on warm baking days.
Don’t be shy with it. Be generous! Whether you’re topping a muffin, coffee cake, or fruit crisp, a thick layer of crumble adds flavor, texture, and that irresistible bakery-style finish.

Overhead shot of unbaked apple blueberry crumble topped with a brown sugar crumble in a square deep baking dish.

Flavor Variations to Try

One of the best things about this brown sugar crumble? It’s incredibly versatile. Here are some of my favorite flavor twists:

Nutty crumble: Stir in ¼ cup of chopped toasted pecans, walnuts, or almonds for an added layer of crunch and a rich, toasty flavor. Perfect on top of apple pie or my banana bread made with 2 bananas.
Spiced crumble: Add ½ teaspoon of ground ginger, cardamom, or pumpkin pie spice along with the cinnamon for a cozy, fall-inspired topping.
Citrus crumble: Mix in 1 teaspoon of finely grated orange or lemon zest for a fresh flavor that pairs well with berry muffins or a lemon loaf.

How to Store Crumble Topping

Once your crumble is mixed and clumpy, transfer it to an airtight container and pop it in the fridge. It’ll stay fresh for up to 5 days.

For longer storage, freeze it! Spread the crumble into an even layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for 30 minutes. Then transfer it to a sealed freezer bag or container and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to use it, no need to thaw–just sprinkle it straight onto your batter or filling and bake as usual.

Recipes That Pair with Crumble Topping

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