How to Add a Crumb Topping to Coffee Cake Muffins

For handheld treats that work equally well on the brunch buffet table as the coffee table, consider making coffee cake muffins instead of traditional coffee cake. The iconic crumbly topping of the coffee cake, a simple cinnamon-spiked streusel, can also act as a crunchy layer in the muffins. For a dozen muffins, you'll need about 1 cup's worth of the crumbly topping blend.

Things You'll Need

  • Muffin tin
  • Non-stick cooking spray
  • Small mixing bowl
  • Measuring cups
  • Spoons
  • Flour
  • Brown sugar
  • Cinnamon
  • Butter, room temperature
  • Pastry cutter or two forks
  • Large mixing bowls
  • Dry batter blend, e.g. flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda
  • Wet batter blend, e.g. oil, eggs, sour cream and sugar
  • Large spoon or ice cream scoop

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and spray the muffin cups lightly with the cooking spray.

  2. Mix together two parts flour and two parts brown sugar. Add a spoonful of cinnamon.

  3. Cut butter into pieces and add them to the flour-sugar mixture. Use a pastry cutter or two forks to work the mixture until it resembles damp sand.

  4. Divide this blend into two halves. One half will be used as a filling and one as a topping.

  5. Make the muffin batter by combining first the dry ingredient mix, then the wet ingredient mix, in two separate bowls. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until the batter is well-combined.

  6. Spoon half of the muffin batter into the muffin cups.

  7. Sprinkle a spoonful of the topping over the batter. Repeat with the rest of the muffins, dividing the filling blend equally among the muffins.

  8. Put the rest of the batter into the muffin cups. Sprinkle a spoonful of the topping blend over the batter. Repeat with the rest of the muffins, dividing the topping blend equally among the muffins.

  9. Set the muffin tin into the preheated oven and bake for about 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Remove the muffins from the tin after about five minutes, and cool on wire racks.