The Kitchn: This is how bakeries make their muffins so delicious
I hate to play favorites, but I'm going to do it anyway. The crumbs are the very best part of these muffins. Not to be confused with streusel, this topping covers the muffins with a layer of big, densely packed nuggets that are sweet and buttery with a subtle cinnamon twist.
The crumb topping is a mixture of cake flour, white and brown sugar, melted butter, and cinnamon. It comes together as thick, wet chunks rather than a bowl of dry crumbles. When preparing the topping, mix just until the ingredients are well-combined -- and be sure not to overmix, as more mixing makes for smaller crumbs.
After spooning the crumb topping into each muffin well, it's crucial that you gently press the crumbs into the muffin batter. This ensures the topping stays firmly planted over the top of the muffins and won't fall off.
Bakery-Style Muffins
Makes 12 standard-size muffins
For the crumb topping:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
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