This is one of my favorite homemade toppings that enhances almost all desserts – Crumble Topping with Oats. This crumble topping is made with rolled oats, two types of sugar and a dash of cinnamon for the perfect crispy addition to any dessert. It’s honestly so good, you’ll want to eat it all by itself!
This crumble topping is a staple of our favorite Fresh Cherry Crisp and Apple Blackberry Crumble recipes. Try it next time you make our Cherry Pie with Crumb Topping, Apple Crisp, Rhubarb Crisp, Cranberry Bars, or as an added layer of crunch to our Cranberry Fruit Salad.
You’ve no doubt heard us rave about the oat crumble that accompanies our go-to fresh fruit desserts! We love this topping because you can use it for any fruit crisp such as cherry crisp, apple crisp, peach crisp, strawberry crisp, etc.
The possibilities are endless! Homemade oat topping lends a crunchy element to the soft fruit and we like to throw in a dash of cinnamon to really sell that warm, earthy flavor. This crumble oat topping is so good, you could practically eat it as its own dessert.
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Try sprinkling some over a bowl of creamy cherry vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt. It’s perfect for summer or for the upcoming holidays because it’s so easy to make for a variety of different sweets.
We also love making this crumble topping because of how easy it is to make! The kids can even help out and get their hands a little dirty, too.
How To Make Crumble Topping with Oats:
Here’s a quick summary of the recipe. Scroll to the recipe card below for the full instructions and ingredient amounts.
- Place the rolled oats, cubed butter, all-purpose flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, salt, and cinnamon into a medium bowl and use a pastry cutter or your hands to combine the ingredients. I find that hands work the best for mixing in this case. It ensures everything is incorporated.
- The butter should be fully incorporated and no dry, sandy patches should remain.
- Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over your favorite fruit crisp or pie. Bake according to the recipe instructions. The topping is baked through when it’s lightly browned and crunchy.
Tips and Variations
- The butter should be cold, not softened. I like to make the topping first when preparing a recipe, then pop it into the fridge to firm up while I prepare the remaining ingredients.
- It’s important that the ingredients are well mixed and no dry patches remain. Otherwise, you’ll have dry flour patches on your crisp or pie, too.
- I typically use light brown sugar for the recipe, but you can use dark brown sugar if you want to try a richer, more caramelized flavor.
- You won’t be able to use steel cut or instant oats for this recipe. Neither will work. Old fashioned (rolled) oats are the best in texture and taste, however quick oats can work in a pinch.
- If you aren’t a fan of cinnamon, try substituting nutmeg or another spice of your choosing.
- Nuts are a great addition to the crumble topping. Chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds are all wonderful!
Storage Recommendations
- Refrigerator: Because of the butter, the crumble topping needs to stay refrigerated. Keep it in an airtight container for up to 24 hours before baking.
- Freezer: You can freeze this topping for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: If you haven’t previously baked this crumble topping and are baking it from the freezer, bake at 350°F for 30 minutes or until the oats are golden brown in color.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use oatmeal topping on custard pies?
Yes, you can use oatmeal topping on custard pies! Reduce the butter in this recipe from 8 tablespoons to 6, then use on top of your favorite custard pie recipe.
It works well on pumpkin pie, butterscotch pie, etc.
Should I use melted butter in an oatmeal crumb topping?
It depends on the intended outcome. Melted butter vs. cold butter give two different end results.
Using melted butter in a crumb topping moistens the ingredients, but it also causes the topping to spread as it bakes.
It's similar to baking cookies without chilling the dough. The cookies spread and so will the topping.
When you use cold butter cut into small cubes, the ingredients adhere to the butter. As the dessert bakes, the ingredients turn into a crunchy topping since the butter melts more slowly.
Depending on the type of topping you'd like determines the type of butter you should use. For this recipe, we're using cold butter.
Can you use this crumble topping on muffins?
Absolutely! This topping makes a great oatmeal streusel for muffins.
Recipe Card with Ingredient Amounts and Instructions
Suggested Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cubed (See note.)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients into a medium bowl, and use a pastry cutter or your hands to combine the ingredients.1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats8 tablespoons unsalted butter½ cup all-purpose flour½ cup brown sugar¼ cup granulated sugar½ teaspoon kosher salt½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- The butter should be fully incorporated and no dry, sandy patches should remain.
- Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over your favorite fruit crisp or pie. Bake according to the recipe instructions. The topping is baked through when it’s lightly browned and crunchy.
- Scroll up and see the post for tips, FAQs, and storage recommendations.
Katherine says
Your recipe is amazing thank you so very much I put it on top of my homemade blueberry muffins to die for!!!! This is definitely a keeper for sure!!!! Amazing!!!
John says
Thank you Katherine! Kim and I are thrilled you enjoy the blueberry muffins. Have a lovely weekend 🙂
Shontel says
What temperature do you cook these at and for how long
Kim says
Hi Shontel!
The crumble topping gets added to whatever recipe you're already making (crisp, crumble, muffins, pie, etc.), so you'd use the time and temperature for that recipe. There's a link to the blueberry crisp recipe (shown in the photos) in the recipe card notes section. Have a great day! 🙂
carly says
Very good recipe! I would eat it all by itself if I could 😀
John says
Thank you Carly! We glad you enjoy the crumble topping. Have a lovely day 🙂