Perfectly crispy and deliciously sweet, there’s nothing quite like the first spoonful of crumble topping! We’ve been making crumble since childhood, we’ve experimented and played around with different flavors, but you can’t beat the traditional British basic crumble topping!
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If you’re anything like us, then you’ll probably agree that the best part of an apple crumble or a rhubarb crumble is the topping!
We’ve been known to make double quantities, so we can have a thick crumble topping!
Why you’ll love this easy recipe
- Ready in just 10 minutes, this basic crumble topping is so easy!
- It uses three ingredients, that you probably already have.
- Use it straight away or freeze it, this is a very flexible recipe.
- It’s 100% vegetarian and easy to make vegan.
Crunchy, sweet, and delicious, a good crumble topping is just the start of an exceptional dessert.
Ingredients you’ll need
You’ll need all the ingredients shown in the photograph below.
How to make crumble topping with step-by-step instructions
Making our easy crumble topping recipe is easy if you follow our simple instructions.
A full printable recipe along with the measurements in both US customary and metric is available in the recipe card below.
In a large bowl, add the plain flour and caster sugar and stir to combine.
Then, add cold butter into the flour, and, using your fingers, rub the butter into the flour until the crumble mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
Give the bowl a little shake and if you see any clumps on the surface, then rub them in, repeat until it’s a smooth breadcrumb-like mixture.
Your crumble topping is ready to use!
We hope you enjoy making and eating our crumble topping recipe and would love to hear how you got on with making it.
Please leave a comment below or feel free to ask any questions you may have.
Recipe notes and expert tips
- Keep it cold
It’s important to keep the butter cold so that you can rub it into the flour and sugar, we dice it ahead and keep it in the fridge so it’s ready to use. - Don’t forget your hands
Put your hands in cold water before you start rubbing the butter in (don’t forget to dry them!) - Freeze it
Crumble topping is great for freezing for up to 3 months, we freeze it in freezer bags and in portion sizes, so you can grab a bag when you need it. - Cooked
When your crumble is cooked, the crumb topping should be golden brown. - Make it vegan
Simply use vegan butter.
What is crumble?
Crumble is part of a traditional British dessert, you’ll find it topping apple crumble, rhubarb crumble, plum crumble, blackberry crumble, and a whole host of other delicious crumble recipes!
The fruit is stewed, the crumble mix is placed, and then it’s cooked in the oven.
Do I need any special equipment to make crumble?
Absolutely not!
The great thing about this recipe is that you only need a mixing bowl, so no need for a food processor or any specialist equipment.
Can you freeze it?
Yes, you can freeze our crumble topping.
Simply make it and then place it in a freezer bag or airtight container and it’ll freeze for up to 3 months.
You can freeze for longer but the crumble won’t be as crisp.
Is it gluten-free?
This traditional crumble topping is easy to make gluten-free, simply use gluten-free flour.
Can I use self-raising flour instead of plain flour for crumble?
Yes, you can make our crumb topping with self-raising flour instead of plain flour, we don’t think it works quite as well, but it’s totally possible.
You could also use wholemeal flout too.
Which is the best sugar to use?
We’ve used golden castor sugar, but you could also use granulated sugar, brown sugar, or demerara sugar.
What’s crumble called in America?
In America, crumble is called crisp.
Usually, the ingredients are slightly different, and many recipes use rolled oats.
So, if you see a recipe for apple crisp, it’s actually an American apple crumble recipe.
Play with the ingredients
We’ve given you the recipe for a basic crumble recipe but it’s fun to mix it up a bit and play with the flavors.
You could add in crumbled amaretti biscuits and ground almonds for a sweeter top.
Make it crunchier by adding rolled oats or chopped hazelnuts.
What do you eat with crumble?
Some people have very clear ideas of what you should and shouldn’t eat your crumble with.
We think that there’s nothing better than a fresh homemade apple crumble with ice cream.
You could also try it with custard whipping cream or even clotted cream.
The choice is yours, don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t have what you want with it!
More crumble recipes for you to enjoy
If you like our crumble topping recipe then take a look at these delicious dessert recipes
Crumble Topping Recipe
Ingredients
- 1½ cups Plain flour
- ½ cup Golden caster sugar
- 8 tbsp Unsalted butter cubed and kept cold
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add plain flour and caster sugar and stir to combine. Then, add cold butter into the flour, and, using your fingers, rub the butter into the flour until the crumble mixture resembles breadcrumbs1½ cups Plain flour, ½ cup Golden caster sugar, 8 tbsp Unsalted butter
- Give the bowl a little shake and if you see any clumps on the surface, then rub them in, repeat until it’s a smooth breadcrumb-like mixture. Your crumble topping is ready to use!
Notes
- Keep it cold
It’s important to keep the butter cold so that you are able to rub it into the flour and sugar, we dice it ahead and keep it in the fridge so it’s ready to use - Don’t forget your hands
Put your hands in cold water before you start rubbing the butter in (don’t forget to dry them!) - Freeze it
Crumble topping is great for freezing for up to 3 months, we freeze it in freezer bags and in portion sizes, so you can grab a bag when you need it - Cooked
When your crumble is cooked, the crumb topping should be golden brown. - Make it vegan
Simply use vegan butter
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Please note that nutrient values are estimates only. Variations can occur due to product availability and manner of food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of origin, preparation, freshness of ingredients, and other factors.
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