The fluffiest crumb cake recipe with brown sugar and buttery crumb cake topping. Everything you need to know for how to make crumb cake. This is the best recipe and super simple to make!
This is a crumb cake without sour cream, and instead, we use melted butter and oil to give it a super moist, fluffy texture. It has plenty of crumbs piled up, and an easy glaze drizzled over the top.
This recipe works great if you have people over for a holiday gathering, brunch, or tea party. It’s really just the perfect cake.
Here’s everything you need to know about making crumb cake.
Also, if you like this cake recipe, then you’ll love our super moist coffee cake, our favorite pumpkin bread, and our very popular coconut loaf. Serve it with our almond joy coffee or snickerdoodle coffee recipe.
You can also serve it with our homemade caramel sauce drizzled over the top for extra sweetness!
Furthermore, here are some good baking tips you can implement into any recipe you’re making.
The Best Crumb Cake
This recipe is super moist, with a buttery flavor and a fluffy texture. It’s topped with giant brown sugar crumbs flavored with cardamon.
Cardamon is one of our favorite spices to use in baked goods; it adds so much flavor. We use it in our apple cider donut recipe, and they are truly the best-tasting donuts we’ve ever had.
It’s truly the best recipe and is easy to make using just a mixing bowl, a whisk, and a sheet pan. This recipe for crumb cake without sour cream will be your new favorite!
How to Make Crumb Cake
Ingredients
All-Purpose flour – We used King Arthur flour for this recipe. The flour adds structure to the recipe.
Granulated Sugar – Sweetens the cake.
Baking Powder – Allows the cake to rise.
Salt & Vanilla – Both enhance the flavors in the recipe.
Eggs – Provides structure, richness, and leavening.
Whole Milk – Gives the cake a soft texture.
Unsalted Butter – Adds flavor and moisture.
Vegetable Oil – Adds moisture for a super moist cake.
Pecans – Adds flavor and crunch to the crumb topping.
Cardamon – Our favorite fall spice adds so much flavor to the topping.
Brown Sugar – Adds sweetness to the crumb topping.
Directions
The best thing about this recipe is that it’s so easy to make. You don’t need an electric mixer, just a mixing bowl, a whisk, and a 9×13 sheet pan.
- Make the crumb topping. Add all of the crumb toppings in a mixing bowl and stir until it comes together.
- Whisk the dry ingredients together in a mixing bowl.
- Combine the wet ingredients in a large liquid measuring glass.
- Add the liquid to the dry ingredients and gently whisk until combined. Do not over-mix the batter just until the ingredients are combined.
- Spread the mixture into a buttered 9×13 pan.
- Add the crumbs to the top of the cake. Cover with layers of crumbs.
- Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 45 minutes.
Crumb Cake Topping
There is nothing better than these giant crumbly, brown sugar crumbs! They are made with butter, pecans, flour, and sugar and add a soft, flavorful layer to the cake. We add cardamon to our crumb topping to make it full of flavor.
You can also add cinnamon and nutmeg if you want to make a cinnamon crumb cake topping.
Simple Glaze Recipe
Top this cake with an easy glaze made from confectioners’ sugar, butter, milk, and vanilla extract. It’s so simple to make, just add the ingredients into a small mixing bowl and whisk until combined.
When the cake comes out of the oven, drizzle the glaze over the top. It’s SO good!
Tips for Making the Best Crumb Cake Recipe
Always use high-quality, whole ingredients like organic eggs, whole milk, and pure vanilla extract.
Don’t mix. Similar to muffin batter, this cake should not be over-mixed. Gently whisk until the ingredients are combined.
Crumble the topping over the top of the cake using your hands. It’s the easiest way to get it to crumble all over the top.
How to Store Crumb Cake
Just wrap it tightly, and it can last for three to four days at room temperature. You can also put the crumb cake in an airtight container.
Can You Freeze Crumb Cake?
You certainly can! To freeze, simply wrap the cake up in plastic wrap (or an alternative), and then wrap it a second time using aluminum foil. The cake will stay good in the freezer for around three months.Â
To defrost, simply leave it at room temperature overnight.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main difference is all in the topping. When you bake a crumb cake, always think about the topping. Crumb cake topping is usually thicker and chunkier compared to coffee cake.Â
Crumb cake is known and loved for its rich and buttery taste. You can decide to take it in whatever flavor direction you want to twist it. For this recipe, we’ve gone for a classic buttery flavor. You can add this hint of spice to the streusel topping to really bring your crumb cake to life.Â
Crumb cake will retain its freshness best at room temperature, but if you’re in a bind, you can refrigerate it. Just make sure it’s wrapped tightly or in an air-tight container to ensure it stays fresh and moist. If stored properly, it can last about a week in the fridge.Â
What Goes Well With Crumb Cake?
Like nearly all breakfast pastries, this cake will go excellently with a strong cup of coffee. If you’re not a fan of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate will also go well with crumb cake.
You can also serve it with a selection of fruits and other breakfast goodies if you’re putting on a spread. Of course, it’s not solely enjoyed at breakfast time. Bring it out as a nice easy dessert after a buffet or light lunch.
Look at this crumble topping! So flavorful, buttery, and delicious!!
Recipes You’ll Love
If you liked this recipe for crumb cake, check out some of our other delicious desserts:
You can also serve this with one of our brunch cocktail recipes when entertaining!
Let us know if you this recipe by leaving a comment and review below. We’d love to know your thoughts!
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Crumb Cake Recipe
Ingredients
Crumb Cake Topping
- 2 cups pecans
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 tsp cardamom
- 1 tsp salt
Crumb Cake
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, 1 1/2 sticks, melted
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil, canola oil works too
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Glaze
- 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tsp whole milk
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add all of the crumb topping ingredients into a mixing bowl and stir until it comes together. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk the dry ingredients together.
- Combine the wet ingredients in a large liquid measuring glass.
- Add the liquid to the dry ingredients and gently whisk until combined. Do not over mix crumb cake, just until the ingredients are combined.
- Spread the mixture into a buttered 9×13 pan.
- Add the crumbs to the top of the cake. Cover the entire cake with layers of crumbs.Â
- Bake in in a preheated 350 degree oven for 40-45 minutes.Â
- To make the glaze, add the glaze ingredients into a small bowl and mix with a fork until it becomes a thick liquid. When the crumb cake is baked, drizzle the glaze over the top.
Enjoyed this for breakfast this morning and started my day off right! Easy, delicious and paired perfectly with my morning cup of coffee, indeed!
Crumb cakes are the best!! They just melt in your mouth & are so soft, but with a nice crunch on top! Everyone always loves them!
This crumb cake sounds amazing and so delicious! I love the addition of cardamom in the crumb topping! Definitely going to be a hit here and I can’t wait to make this with my daughter!