--- title: "Streusel: what it means in cooking — Tiny Plates" description: "Streusel is a crumbly topping of flour, butter and sugar baked over cakes, muffins and fruit. Here is the basic ratio and how to get big, crunchy clumps." url: "https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/streusel" --- # Streusel Streusel is a crumbly topping of flour, butter and sugar baked over cakes, muffins and fruit. Here is the basic ratio and how to get big, crunchy clumps. Also called Crumb topping, Crumble topping. Streusel is a sweet, crumbly topping made from flour, butter and sugar. You scatter it over coffee cake, muffins, pies and fruit bakes before they go in the oven, and it bakes into crisp, golden clumps. It is close to the topping on a British [crumble](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/crumble), but streusel usually has more butter, so it forms bigger, crunchier clusters. ## How to do it The basic ratio is equal weights of flour, butter and sugar. 1. Mix 100 g (¾ cup) flour, 100 g (½ cup packed) [brown sugar](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/brown-sugar) and a pinch of salt. Add ½ teaspoon cinnamon if you like. 2. Add 100 g (7 tablespoons) butter. Use cold butter and [rub it in](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/rub-in) for fine crumbs, or melted butter stirred in with a fork for large clumps. 3. Squeeze handfuls together and break them into pieces of different sizes, from peas to small marbles. 4. Chill for 15 to 30 minutes so it holds its shape in the oven. 5. Scatter it over the batter or fruit and bake as the recipe says. ## How to tell it is done Baked streusel is golden brown and crisp at the edges of each clump. It should not look pale or sandy. When it cools, the pieces are crunchy on the outside and a little tender inside. ## How to store it Unbaked streusel keeps in a covered container in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for 3 months. Use it straight from frozen. ## Common mistakes * Too little butter. The topping stays dry and powdery. * Using it warm. Soft streusel melts into the batter and sinks. * Spreading it in a thick, even layer. Uneven clumps bake crisper and look better. * Covering a batter that is too thin. Heavy streusel sinks. Use less, or let the cake bake for 10 minutes before adding it. ## In recipes Recipes may call it "crumb topping" or "crumble topping". Oats, chopped nuts or cinnamon are common additions. Swap a quarter of the flour for oats or nuts. ## Where it comes from _Streusel_ is German for "something scattered". It is a classic topping on German and Central European sheet cakes. ## Streusel recipes 25 recipes from the sites we collect. * [![](https://pinchofyum.com/tachyon/2011/02/Coffee-Streusel-Bundt-Cake.jpeg?fit=225%2C225)Coffee-Streusel Bundt Cakepinchofyum.com · 120 min](https://pinchofyum.com/coffee-streusel-bundt-cake) * [![](https://pinchofyum.com/tachyon/French-Toast-Cups-Recipe.jpg?fit=225%2C225)Cinnamon Streusel French Toast Cupspinchofyum.com · 30 min](https://pinchofyum.com/cinnamon-streusel-french-toast-cups) * [![](https://pinchofyum.com/tachyon/2013/09/dessert-pizza-2.jpg?fit=150%2C225)Deep Dish Cinnamon Streusel Dessert Pizzapinchofyum.com · 30 min](https://pinchofyum.com/deep-dish-cinnamon-streusel-dessert-pizza) * [![](https://pinchofyum.com/tachyon/pumpkin-coffee-cake-slice-square.jpg?fit=225%2C225)Cinnamon Streusel Pumpkin Coffee Cake with Maple Glazepinchofyum.com · 55 min](https://pinchofyum.com/cinnamon-streusel-pumpkin-coffee-cake-maple-glaze) * [![](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2016/11/Pumpkin-Streusel-Torte-2.jpg)Pumpkin Pecan Streusel Tortewww.onceuponachef.com · 85 min](https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/pumpkin-streusel-torte.html) * [![](https://pinchofyum.com/tachyon/Pumpkin-Bundt-Cake-Recipe.jpg?fit=225%2C225)Cinnamon Streusel Pumpkin Bundt Cakepinchofyum.com · 60 min](https://pinchofyum.com/pumpkin-bundt-cake) * [![](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2015/10/Oatmeal-Muffins-with-Pecan-Streusel1.jpg)Oat Muffins with Pecan Streusel Toppingwww.onceuponachef.com · 105 min](https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/oat-muffins-pecan-streusel-topping.html) * [![](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2014/02/Dried-Cherry-Muffins-with-Almond-Streusel-1.jpg)Dried Cherry Buttermilk Muffins with Almond Streuselwww.onceuponachef.com · 40 min](https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/dried-cherry-buttermilk-muffins-with-almond-streusel.html) * [![](https://minimalistbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Apple-Streusel-Breakfast-Pizzas-minimalist-baker-google.jpeg)Apple Streusel Breakfast Pizzas (Dairy-Free)minimalistbaker.com · 40 min](https://minimalistbaker.com/apple-streusel-breakfast-pizzas-dairy-free/) * [![](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2017/07/Peach-Cake-Pecan-Streusel-14.jpg)Peach Cake with Pecan Streuselwww.onceuponachef.com · 80 min](https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/peach-cake-pecan-streusel.html) * [![](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2013/10/Pear-and-Dried-Cherry-Crisp-with-Walnut-Streusel2.jpg)Pear & Dried Cherry Crisp with Walnut Streuselwww.onceuponachef.com · 60 min](https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/pear-dried-cherry-crisp-with-walnut-streusel.html) * [![](https://pinchofyum.com/tachyon/Berry-Cheesecake-Muffins-3.jpg?fit=150%2C225)Triple Berry Cheesecake Muffinspinchofyum.com · 40 min](https://pinchofyum.com/triple-berry-cheesecake-muffins) ## Related terms * [CrumbleA crumble is baked fruit under a sandy topping of flour, butter and sugar. Get the topping ratio, the bake time and how to keep it crisp.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/crumble) * [Rub inTo rub in is to work cold butter into flour with your fingertips until it looks like fine breadcrumbs. It is the base of scones, crumble and shortcrust.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/rub-in) * [Cut inTo cut in is to work cold butter into flour with a pastry blender or knives until it looks like coarse crumbs with pea-sized bits. It makes flaky pastry.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/cut-in) * [Brown sugarBrown sugar is white sugar with molasses, moist and caramel-flavored. Here are light vs dark, UK soft brown and muscovado, and Swedish farinsocker.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/brown-sugar) * [CrumbThe crumb is the soft inside of a bread or cake, and its holes and texture tell you how it was mixed, proofed and baked. Here is how to read it.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/crumb) [More in baking and dough](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/category/baking-and-dough)[Every term from A to Z](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary)