Crumb cake

A crumb cake is a cake with a streusel-like topping made of flour, butter, sugar, and sometimes nuts. The streusel is crumbled over the top of the cake before baking. Crumb cakes are popular in the United States, especially in the Northeast.

Crumb cakes have been around for centuries. The earliest known recipe comes from Germany and dates back to the 15th century. The cake was called a streuselkuchen and was made with a yeast-based dough. The streusel topping was made with flour, sugar, butter, and spices.

The first crumb cake recipe in the United States was published in 1864. The cake was called a fruit cake and was made with raisins, currants, and citron. The streusel topping was made with flour, sugar, butter, and nutmeg.

Advice

When making crumb cake, it is important to use the freshest ingredients possible. Use real butter, not margarine, and high quality flour, sugar, and other ingredients. Make sure to beat the butter and sugar for a few minutes until light and fluffy. When adding the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mix just until combined, being careful not to overmix. When adding the topping, use your hands to break it up into tiny pieces so it will bake evenly. Finally, be sure to bake the cake until it is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Enjoy!

Questions

What's the difference between crumb cake and coffee cake?

Crumb cake is a type of coffee cake, but it is typically made with a crumb topping. Coffee cake is a type of cake made with coffee or coffee flavoring, but it does not always include a crumb topping.

Is crumb cake a NJ thing?

Yes, crumb cake is a popular dessert in New Jersey. It is made with a buttery yellow cake, filled with a thick layer of cinnamon-laced crumbs, and topped with a sweet glaze.

What nationality is crumb cake?

Crumb cake is a type of dessert that originated in the United States and is commonly associated with American cuisine.

Why is it called dump cake?

Dump cake gets its name because of the way you “dump” the ingredients into the pan and then bake. The ingredients are simply “dumped” into the cake pan and then baked.

What are the 3 basic types of cakes?

1. Butter cake 2. Sponge cake 3. Pound cake

Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights

Recipes

  /public/foodnetwork-logo.svg

Blueberry Crumb Cake

  • powdered sugar
  • blueberry
  • baking powder
  • cinnamon
  • vanilla extract
  • all purpose flour
  • lemon zest
  • salt
  • light brown sugar
  • butter
  • baking soda
  • nutmeg
  • egg
  • sour cream
  • sugar
  • butter
  /public/nytimes-logo.svg

Pantry Crumb Cake

  • CAKE
  • baking powder
  • orange zest
  • all purpose flour
  • butter
  • pear
  • sugar
  • salt
  • baking soda
  • vanilla extract
  • egg
  • sour cream
  • TOPPING
  • spice
  • light
  • salt
  • all purpose flour
  • fashioned oat
  • butter
  /public/nytimes-logo.svg

Pear Crumb Cake

  • PEARS
  • butter
  • honey
  • lemon juice
  • nutmeg
  • lemon zest
  • salt
  • pear
  • CAKE
  • vanilla extract
  • butter
  • all purpose flour
  • sour cream
  • salt
  • egg
  • sugar
  • baking powder
  • baking soda
  • CRUMB TOPPING
  • cinnamon
  • butter
  • all purpose flour
  • dark brown sugar
  • light brown sugar
  • salt
  • allspice
  /public/nytimes-logo.svg

Cranberry Crumb Cake

  • CAKE
  • sour cream
  • orange zest
  • baking powder
  • sugar
  • butter
  • baking soda
  • vanilla extract
  • egg
  • all purpose flour
  • salt
  • CRUMBLE
  • light
  • cinnamon
  • all purpose flour
  • butter
  • salt
  /public/thespruceeats-logo.svg

Blueberry Crumb Cake

  • egg
  • brown sugar
  • milk
  • cinnamon
  • vanilla extract
  • salt
  • all purpose flour
  • blueberry
  • baking powder
  • sugar
  • butter
  /public/nytimes-logo.svg

Pineapple-Ginger Crumb Cake

  • CAKE
  • dark rum
  • lime zest
  • all purpose flour
  • baking powder
  • butter
  • sour cream
  • sugar
  • baking soda
  • salt
  • egg
  • CRUMB TOPPING
  • ginger
  • all purpose flour
  • butter
  • dark brown sugar
  • salt
  • cinnamon
  • candied ginger
  • almond
  • PINEAPPLE
  • pineapple
  • dark brown sugar
  • butter
  • allspice
  /public/nytimes-logo.svg

Grapefruit Crumb Cake

  • CAKE
  • vanilla extract
  • all purpose flour
  • butter
  • sour cream
  • salt
  • pink grapefruit
  • egg
  • sugar
  • baking powder
  • baking soda
  • CRUMB TOPPING
  • cinnamon
  • all purpose flour
  • butter
  • almond
  • salt
  • light brown sugar
  • cardamom
  /public/bonappetit-logo.svg

Rhubarb Cornmeal Crumb Cake

  • all purpose flour
  • milk
  • ginger
  • salt
  • rhubarb
  • cornmeal
  • egg
  • butter
  • all purpose flour
  • cornmeal
  • light brown sugar
  • greek yogurt
  • sugar
  • light brown sugar
  • baking powder
  • butter
  • sugar
  • egg yolk
  /public/bonappetit-logo.svg

Blueberry-Miso Crumb Cake

  • CAKE
  • butter
  • light brown sugar
  • milk greek yogurt
  • salt
  • vanilla extract
  • blueberry
  • baking powder
  • wheat flour
  • baking soda
  • egg
  • CRUMBLE
  • light brown sugar
  • white miso
  • wheat flour
  • butter
  /public/nytimes-logo.svg

Crumb Cake With Coconut-Pistachio Topping

  • TOPPING
  • coconut oil
  • sweetened coconut
  • pistachio
  • salt
  • cardamom
  • ginger
  • all purpose flour
  • clove
  • butter
  • muscovado
  • CAKE
  • vanilla extract
  • all purpose flour
  • sugar
  • sour cream
  • butter
  • baking soda
  • salt
  • egg
  /public/cup-cakes-and-kale-chips-logo.webp

Gluten-Free New York Crumb Cake

  • light brown sugar
  • egg
  • gluten-free flour
  • sugar
  • milk
  • salt
  • canola oil
  • cinnamon
  • vanilla extract
  • baking powder
  • butter
  • powdered sugar
  /public/bonappetit-logo.svg

Chocolate-Rye Crumb Cake

  • cooking spray
  • baking powder
  • vanilla extract
  • sugar
  • cocoa powder
  • light brown sugar
  • butter
  • greek yogurt
  • egg
  • cacao nib
  • butter
  • all purpose flour
  • buttermilk
  • rye flour
  • baking soda
  • salt
  /public/thespruceeats-logo.svg

Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb Cake

  • strawberry
  • lemon juice
  • baking powder
  • pecan
  • sugar
  • sour cream
  • cinnamon
  • baking soda
  • salt
  • nutmeg
  • rhubarb
  • egg
  • cornstarch
  • all purpose flour
  • butter
  /public/thespruceeats-logo.svg

Fresh Cherry Crumb Cake

  • cherry
  • baking powder
  • cinnamon
  • vanilla extract
  • pecan
  • almond extract
  • sugar
  • brown sugar
  • baking soda
  • nutmeg
  • salt
  • egg
  • all purpose flour
  • sour cream
  • butter
  /public/bonappetit-logo.svg

Double-Crumb Crumb Cake

  • cinnamon
  • vanilla extract
  • salt
  • butter
  • sugar
  • butter
  • baking soda
  • dark brown sugar
  • gingersnap
  • ginger
  • baking powder
  • egg
  • all purpose flour
  • sour cream
  /public/tastes-better-from-scratch-logo.svg

Peach Crumb Cake

  • peach
  • milk
  • baking powder
  • cinnamon
  • all purpose flour
  • powdered sugar
  • butter
  • salt
  • buttermilk
  • sour cream
  • light brown sugar
  • baking soda
  • ginger
  • nutmeg
  • vanilla extract
  • egg
  • sugar
  • butter
  /public/family-style-food-logo.webp

Cranberry Crumb Cake

  • sugar
  • vanilla extract
  • vanilla extract
  • buttermilk
  • all purpose flour
  • salt
  • all purpose flour
  • light brown sugar
  • baking powder
  • egg
  • butter
  • butter
  • cranberry
  • lemon zest
  /public/the-stay-at-home-chef-logo.webp

Pumpkin Crumb Cake

  • all purpose flour
  • pumpkin spice
  • pumpkin puree
  • vanilla extract
  • butter
  • powdered sugar
  • salt
  • sugar
  • sour cream
  • egg
  • milk
  • brown sugar
  • baking powder
  • baking soda
  • butter
  /public/the-recipe-critic-logo.svg

Banana Bread Crumb Cake

  • vanilla extract
  • all purpose flour
  • baking powder
  • baking soda
  • cinnamon
  • salt
  • light brown sugar
  • butter
  • sugar
  • egg
  • buttermilk
  • butter
  • banana
  /public/foodandwine.svg

Warm Strawberry Crumb Cake

  • Cake
  • baking powder
  • butter
  • vanilla extract
  • sugar
  • all purpose flour
  • egg
  • buttermilk
  • salt
  • Filling
  • vanilla bean
  • sugar
  • lemon juice
  • cornstarch dissolved
  • strawberry
  • Crumb Topping
  • all purpose flour
  • light brown sugar
  • salt
  • butter
  /public/seriouseats.svg

Blackberry-Thyme Crumb Cake Recipe

  • Cake
  • cooking spray
  • buttermilk
  • blackberry preserve
  • sugar
  • baking soda
  • salt
  • all purpose flour
  • lemon lemon juice
  • vanilla extract
  • egg
  • butter
  • Topping
  • cake
  • lemon lemon zest
  • all purpose flour
  • light brown sugar
  • walnut
  • butter
  • thyme
  /public/themodernproper-logo.svg

Apple Crumb Cake

  • Cake
  • egg
  • apple
  • all purpose flour
  • cinnamon
  • baking powder
  • vanilla extract
  • sour cream
  • baking soda
  • salt
  • milk
  • sugar
  • butter
  • Crumb Topping
  • butter
  • all purpose flour
  • pecan
  • brown sugar
  • salt
  • sugar
  • cinnamon
  /public/foodandwine.svg

Sour Cream-Banana Toffee Crumb Cake

  • CAKE
  • vegetable oil spray
  • sour cream
  • sugar
  • butter
  • vanilla extract
  • banana
  • baking soda
  • salt
  • baking powder
  • all purpose flour
  • egg
  • CRUMB TOPPING
  • all purpose flour
  • confectioners sugar
  • toffee
  • butter
  /public/food52-logo.svg

Hunky Apple Crumb Cake

  • Cake
  • powdered sugar
  • sugar
  • apple cider vinegar
  • baking powder
  • cinnamon
  • ginger
  • salt
  • buttermilk
  • nutmeg
  • oil
  • egg
  • baking soda
  • all purpose flour
  • Crumb Topping & Apple Filling
  • apple
  • light brown sugar
  • applesauce
  • cinnamon
  • salt
  • butter
  • all purpose flour
  /public/foodnetwork-logo.svg

Chocolate Chip Crumb Cake

  • sugar
  • salt
  • cinnamon
  • baking soda
  • chocolate chip
  • vanilla bean paste
  • egg yolk
  • egg
  • cake flour
  • dark brown sugar
  • buttermilk
  • almond paste
  • butter
  • butter
  /public/love-from-the-oven-logo.svg

Eggnog Crumb Cake

  • sour cream
  • sugar
  • vanilla extract
  • baking powder
  • egg yolk
  • butter
  • powdered sugar
  • baking soda
  • nutmeg
  • cinnamon
  • salt
  • nutmeg
  • egg
  • brown sugar
  • eggnog
  • all purpose flour
  • butter
  • cooking spray
  • salt
  /public/family-style-food-logo.webp

Hazelnut Cocoa Crumb Cake

  • sugar
  • baking powder
  • all purpose flour
  • butter
  • buttermilk
  • sour cream
  • hazelnut
  • stoneground wheat flour
  • bittersweet chocolate chip
  • sugar
  • cocoa powder
  • egg
  • butter
  • baking soda
  • salt
  • cocoa powder
  /public/saveur-logo.webp

Gluten-Free Cinnamon Crumb Cake

  • almond meal
  • canola oil
  • brown sugar
  • potato starch
  • sorghum flour
  • walnut
  • salt
  • salt
  • brown sugar
  • yogurt
  • vanilla extract
  • baking soda
  • cinnamon
  • sorghum flour
  • xanthan gum
  • baking powder
  • egg
  • butter
  /public/saveur-logo.webp

Chocolate-Pistachio Crumb Cake

  • bittersweet chocolate chip
  • baking powder
  • baking soda
  • pistachio
  • sugar
  • cocoa powder
  • espresso
  • butter
  • salt
  • light brown sugar
  • sour cream
  • butter
  • sugar
  • salt
  • all purpose flour
  • cinnamon
  • vanilla extract
  • all purpose flour
  • egg
  • cocoa powder
  /public/the-recipe-critic-logo.svg

Blueberry Crumb Cake

  • heavy cream
  • baking soda
  • vanilla
  • egg
  • lemon juice
  • baking powder
  • salt
  • buttermilk
  • all purpose flour
  • sugar
  • butter
  • butter
  • blueberry
  • cinnamon
  • powdered sugar
  • salt
  • lemon zest
  /public/the-recipe-critic-logo.svg

Strawberry Jam Crumb Cake

  • strawberry jam
  • egg
  • all purpose flour
  • baking powder
  • vanilla extract
  • brown sugar
  • butter
  • baking soda
  • cinnamon
  • salt
  • butter
  • lemon juice
  • powdered sugar
  • milk
  /public/cup-cakes-and-kale-chips-logo.webp

Red White and Blueberry Crumb Cake

  • light brown sugar
  • egg yolk
  • egg
  • gluten-free flour
  • blueberry
  • sugar
  • milk
  • strawberry
  • salt
  • powdered sugar
  • canola oil
  • cinnamon
  • vanilla extract
  • baking powder
  • butter
  • cream cheese
  • powdered sugar
  /public/saveur-logo.webp

Cranberry Crumb Cake with Almonds and Oats

  • glaze
  • salt
  • baking powder
  • baking soda
  • sugar
  • almond
  • butter
  • rolled oat
  • salt
  • light brown sugar
  • sour cream
  • powdered sugar
  • lemon juice
  • salt
  • vanilla extract
  • almond extract
  • sugar
  • cranberry
  • all purpose flour
  • butter
  • cinnamon
  • all purpose flour
  • egg

Ingredient Breakdown

 
butter
salt
all purpose flour
sugar
egg
baking powder
vanilla extract
baking soda
cinnamon
light brown sugar
sour cream
powdered sugar
milk
buttermilk
nutmeg
brown sugar
lemon juice
dark brown sugar
ginger
blueberry
egg yolk
cocoa powder
lemon zest
almond
vanilla
light
almond extract
greek yogurt
canola oil
cooking spray
strawberry
pecan
apple
orange zest
pear
allspice
pineapple
cardamom
rhubarb
cornmeal
wheat flour
pistachio
oil
cake flour
cake
gluten-free flour
cornstarch
cranberry
banana
hazelnut
applesauce
confectioners sugar
walnut
bittersweet chocolate chip
sorghum flour
spice
fashioned oat
honey
apricot
pine nut
dark rum
lime zest
candied ginger
pink grapefruit
milk greek yogurt
white miso
coconut oil
sweetened coconut
clove
muscovado
fruit
crumb
cacao nib
rye flour
cherry
gingersnap
peach
pumpkin spice
pumpkin puree
bob' red mill hazelnut flour meal
semi sweet chocolate chip
oat flour
chocolate hazelnut spread
coconut flour
vanilla bean
cornstarch dissolved
blackberry preserve
lemon lemon zest
lemon lemon juice
thyme
vegetable oil spray
toffee
apple cider vinegar
chocolate chip
vanilla bean paste
almond paste
eggnog
stoneground wheat flour
almond meal
potato starch
yogurt
xanthan gum
espresso
heavy cream
strawberry jam
cream cheese
glaze
rolled oat

Insights

Correlated with Higher Ratings

  • buttermilk
  • cinnamon

Staple Ingredients

  • butter 74%
  • egg 74%
  • salt 74%
  • baking powder 69%
  • sugar 69%

Common Ingredients

  • all purpose flour 67%
  • baking soda 54%
  • vanilla extract 54%

Usual Ingredients

  • cinnamon 38%
  • light brown sugar 38%
  • sour cream 38%

Rarey Ingredients

  • buttermilk 21%
  • milk 21%
  • ginger 15%
  • nutmeg 15%
  • powdered sugar 13%