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Chef Taha Ayad's Recipe Crumble Topping on a warm fruit dessert with cream
Taha Ayad

Crumble Topping

This crumble topping is a quick, buttery dessert finish made with flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, salt, and unsalted butter. It bakes into crisp golden crumbs for fruit desserts, muffins, pies, and cobblers.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 145
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • ⅓ cup packed light brown sugar
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon optional
  • Generous pinch of fine sea salt
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter cold and cut into small pieces

Method
 

  1. Add the all-purpose flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon if using, and fine sea salt to a medium-sized bowl. Whisk for 20 to 30 seconds so the dry ingredients are evenly combined.
  2. Scatter the cold butter pieces across the top of the flour mixture instead of adding them in one pile.
  3. Use your fingertips to rub the butter into the dry ingredients. Lift and press lightly until the mixture forms uneven crumbs and no longer looks dry.
  4. Use the crumble topping immediately over fruit desserts, muffins, pies, or cobblers, then bake according to the dessert recipe until the topping is golden and crisp.

Notes

  1. Do not press the crumble topping down after scattering it over a dessert. Keeping it loose helps the edges crisp.
  2. For fruit desserts, avoid adding the topping over very watery fruit filling, which can steam the crumble instead of letting it brown.
  3. The cinnamon is optional and works especially well with apples, pears, and peaches.
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