Easy 3-Ingredient Crumble Topping – The Simple Secret to Cozy Desserts

Some of the best dessert recipes are born from simplicity, and this easy 3-ingredient crumble topping is the perfect example. With just flour, sugar, and butter, you can create a golden, buttery topping that transforms everything it touches into pure comfort. Whether sprinkled over bubbling fruit, layered on muffins, or baked onto cozy crisps, this crumble topping proves that less really can be more.

This recipe is one of those back-pocket essentials you’ll reach for again and again. It’s fast, flexible, and endlessly forgiving, making it ideal for beginner bakers and seasoned cooks alike. When you don’t want to fuss with long ingredient lists or complicated techniques, this crumble comes together in minutes and delivers that irresistible contrast of crisp topping and soft filling every time.

The magic lies in the balance. The flour gives structure, the sugar adds sweetness and caramelization, and the butter brings everything together into rich, sandy crumbs that bake into golden perfection. It’s the kind of topping that tastes like home, reminding you of warm kitchens, family gatherings, and desserts cooling on the counter.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar or brown sugar
• 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed

Instructions:

1. Add flour and sugar to a mixing bowl and stir to combine evenly.
2. Add the cold cubed butter to the bowl.
3. Using your fingers, a pastry cutter, or a fork, work the butter into the flour mixture until coarse crumbs form. The mixture should resemble damp sand with pea-sized clumps.
4. Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over your prepared fruit or dessert.
5. Bake according to your dessert recipe until the topping is golden brown and crisp.

Easy 3-Ingredient Crumble Topping

A quick and simple buttery crumble topping made with just flour, sugar, and butter.

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Servings: 1 batch

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Calories: 180

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Crumble

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar white or brown
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter cold, cubed

Equipment

• Mixing bowl
• Fork or pastry cutter

Method

 

1. Mix flour and sugar in a bowl.
2. Cut in cold butter until coarse crumbs form.
3. Sprinkle over dessert and bake as directed.

Notes

Use immediately or refrigerate until ready to bake.

Tips & Tricks

• Always use cold butter for the best crumbly texture.
• For larger crumbs, gently squeeze portions of the mixture together before sprinkling.
• Brown sugar creates a deeper, caramel-like flavor, while white sugar keeps it lighter and crisper.

Variations

• Add cinnamon or nutmeg for warmth.
• Mix in oats for a heartier texture.
• Stir in chopped nuts for crunch.

Serving Suggestions
Perfect over apple crisp, peach crumble, berry cobblers, baked pears, or even yogurt and ice cream.

Storage Information
Unbaked crumble can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Baked crumble keeps well in an airtight container for 2 days.

FAQ
Can I make this gluten-free? Yes, substitute a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
Can I reduce the sugar? Slightly, but sugar helps with crispness and browning.

History / Fun Facts
Crumble desserts gained popularity during times when ingredients were scarce, proving that humble pantry staples could still create comforting, satisfying sweets.