This is The Best 5-Minute Streusel topping, my favorite go to for The Best Pumpkin Streusel Muffins, Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins, Classic Sour Cream Coffee Cake and more!
It comes together in less than five minutes and uses four simple ingredients: flour, brown sugar, salt and butter. I have added spices, cinnamon and nutmeg, for additional flavor (these are optional).
Spices are a great way to customize your streusel, see additional customization notes below in the How to Customize Your Streusel section.
What is Streusel?
This simple streusel is a heavenly baking topping that is comprised of: flour, sugar and butter. The unbaked streusel is added to baked goods pre-bake and yields a buttery, crunchy top with a crumbly texture to whatever it is baked with.
Spices, salt and nuts are often added for additional flavor and texture.
This streusel mixture can be added to the top or even the middle of cakes (again, before baking). Think coffee cakes, loaf cakes, sheet cakes and bundt cakes. Streusel works best with thicker cake batters; placing streusel on a thin cake batter may allow the streusel to sink to the bottom of the cake or muffins.
Streusel is primarily used on cakes, pies and over the top of muffins for amazing crunchy texture.
The Baker’s Guide to Measuring Flour
One of the biggest (and most common) mistakes in baking is how we measure flour. If you find yourself without a scale, see my top tips on how to properly measure flour for the perfect amount every time!
How to Customize Your Streusel
There are several ways to customize your streusel…
Adding Nuts to Streusel
I love adding sliced almonds or pecans to streusel, such as in this Cranberry Streusel Coffee Cake.
When using nuts in your easy streusel topping, add them after you’ve mixed in the butter and the streusel mixture clumps together when squeezed.
Adding Spices to Streusel
This classic streusel recipe uses both cinnamon and nutmeg. Feel free to omit or substitute in other cozy warm spices, such as cardamom, all-spice or pumpkin pie spice.
Light or Dark Brown Sugar
You can use either light or dark brown sugar in this recipe. Using dark brown sugar will make the molasses, caramel flavors more pronounced.
Using Brown Butter for Streusel
You can easily use brown butter in place of the regular butter in this recipe. Follow my How to Make Perfect Brown Butter tutorial and start with 10 tablespoons (141 g) unsalted butter (you’ll lose 1 to 2 tbsp (14 to 28 g) butter whilst browning).
Allow the brown butter to cool before proceeding with making the streusel.
Step-by-Step Instructions to Make
Perfect Streusel Every Time
Below are step-by-step photos (with captions) to make The Best Streusel Topping perfect every time! My biggest tips are:
- Make Sure Flour, Sugar & Spices are Well Blended. Use a whisk to make sure that the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, spices (optional) and salt) are thoroughly blended before moving onto the next step.
- Use Room Temperature Butter. Do not use cold butter. You’ll know your butter is the correct temperature when you gently press it and it yields to the pressure (and leaves a fingerprint). This will make it easiest to blend with the dry ingredients.
- The Streusel Mixture Clumps Together. Make sure that the dry mixture is coated in the butter. You’ll know you have the perfect consistency when you squeeze the mixture in your hand and it forms a large clump (see below). It should feel like wet sand.
- Chill the Streusel Mixture. For best results, chill the streusel topping before adding to your baking recipes. That’s why I always like to mix my streusel first and then chill it while I assemble whatever I’m baking it with. Just 10 to 15 minutes in the fridge is sufficient.
Let’s make some foolproof streusel topping!
5-Minute Streusel Equipment
You really don’t need much to make a beautiful streusel topping. Frankly, if you don’t have a proper whisk, use a fork (I did for years in college). And if you don’t have a pastry blender, use your hands!
Pastry blender (really great for working with scones, biscuits and pie dough)
Glass bowls (for everything)
My Favorite Buttery Streusel Recipes
Adding streusel to your favorite cakes, bundts, muffins and coffee cakes is such a great way to add jazz hands to your favorite sweets and desserts.
Some of my favorite streusel treats include: Classic Sour Cream Coffee Cake, Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins, Raspberry Jam Muffins, Cherry Streusel Coffee Cake, Pumpkin Streusel Muffins or on top of these Blueberry Muffins (or any favorite muffins!).
It’s also great to use on apple pie, loaf cakes, banana bread and more.
Enjoy this classic streusel topping!
The Best 5-Minute Streusel Topping Recipe (Easy)
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cup (169 g) all-purpose flour (how to measure flour)
- 3/4 cup (165 g) light brown sugar (packed (dark brown sugar can be used as well))
- 2 teaspoons (4 g) cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 8 tablespoons (113 g or 4 oz) unsalted butter (room temperature and cut into 16 small pieces)
Instructions
- For the streusel, in a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and sea salt. Using a pastry cutter or your hands, work the butter into the mixture until it resembles wet sand and when pinched together it holds into clumps.
- Store in the fridge, covered, until ready to use.
Notes
Spices
This is my classic spiced streusel topping. Some recipes call for omitting cinnamon altogether. Feel free to omit the spices and/or add in different spices. Cardamom is delicious in streusel!Storing
Streusel can be made up to several days ahead of time. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.Half Batch Cinnamon Streusel Topping
For most muffin recipes, a half batch of streusel topping is ideal. Use these quantities:- 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons (85 g) all-purpose flour (how to measure flour)
- 1/3 cup (73 g) light or dark brown sugar (packed)
- 1 teaspoon (2 g) cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon (1.5 g) sea salt
- 4 tablespoons (57 g or 1/4 cup) unsalted butter (room temperature and cut into 4 pieces)
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