Easy Crumb Cake Recipe
I made this crumb cake because my oven and I needed something to keep our relationship spicy. It’s a buttery, cinnamon-sugary slab of comfort cake with a satisfyingly crunchy streusel on top — basically breakfast dressed up like dessert so you can feel morally ambiguous about eating it at 9 AM. It’s forgiving, quick-ish, and smells like your kitchen actually knows what it’s doing.
My husband once tried to help by “turning on the oven” and instead opened the microwave. The cake survived (barely), but his confidence did not. The kids decided to test gravity by launching blueberries across the counter and into the batter right as I was about to smooth the top. We called it “rustic” and pretended that was the plan. Also: yes, I yell at the sink more than the dog. No, I didn’t wash fewer dishes. Priorities.
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Why You’ll Love This Easy Crumb Cake Recipe
– It looks fancy enough to impress your neighbor who brought over sourdough starters but is basically dump-and-mix.
– The crumb topping is dramatic and forgiving — crumbs hide many sins (like overbaking or emotional decisions).
– Makes excellent leftovers for breakfast, brunch, or crying-in-your-coffee moments.
– No complicated folding or tempering required. No one needs that kind of stress at 7 AM.
Time-Saving Hacks
– Use store-bought butter-flavored streusel if you’re having an identity crisis about baking time.
– Mix with one bowl — fewer dishes, more smugness. Even if your spoon looks like it fought a raccoon afterward, it’s still one bowl.
– Microwave the butter to soften it if you forgot to plan like a sane person. It’s fine. We’re not baking for a magazine.
Serving Ideas
– Serve warm with a dusting of powdered sugar and a dramatic sigh.
– Pair with coffee, tea, or wine depending on how your day went. Preferably coffee before noon, wine afterward.
– Slather a slice with cream cheese frosting if you’re trying to comfort someone (including yourself).
– Keep it simple: cake + people = 95% success rate.
What to Serve It With
Quick pairing: plain Greek yogurt or a scoop of vanilla ice cream if you want to pretend this is sophisticated. Otherwise, it holds up just fine solo.
Tips & Mistakes
– Don’t skimp on the crumb topping. The cake part is fine on its own, but crumbs are the personality.
– If your streusel slides off, congratulate yourself on discovering modern art.
– Overmixed batter = tough cake. Mix until combined unless you like chewing inspiration.
– Use room-temp butter unless you enjoy uneven textures and the thrill of guessing.
Storage Tips
Store it in the fridge… if there’s any left. Cold midnight leftovers? Sometimes better than fresh.
– Keep in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
– You can freeze individual slices wrapped well for up to a month. Microwave for 20–30 seconds and pretend that was planned.
Variations and Substitutions
Swap whatever you want—sugar ↔ honey, soy sauce ↔ tamari, or skip steps and call it “deconstructed.” It still counts.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Easy Crumb Cake Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 cup milk
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 0.5 cup brown sugar
- 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
Preparation Steps
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- In another bowl, whisk together melted butter, milk, eggs, and vanilla extract.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
- For the topping, mix brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon in a bowl.
- Sprinkle the crumb topping over the batter.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let it cool before serving.