streusel

American  

[shtroi-zuhl, stroo-zuhl, stroi-] / ˈʃtrɔɪ zəl, ˈstru zəl, ˈstrɔɪ- /

noun

1. a topping for coffeecake, consisting of crumbs of blended sugar, cinnamon, flour, butter, and chopped nutmeats.

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streusel British  

/ ˈstruːsəl, ˈstrɔɪ-, ˈʃtrɔyzəl /

noun

1. a crumbly topping for rich pastries

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Etymology

Origin of streusel

1925–30; < German: literally, a sprinkling; see strew

Explanation

Streusel is a sweet, crumbly topping for baked goods. If you're not a fan of pie crust, you might prefer pies with streusel on top. Yum! Typically, streusel is made with butter, flour, and sugar, sometimes with added ingredients like oats, spices, or nuts. Besides pies, sweets that often have a streusel topping include coffee cake, muffins, cakes, and fruit crisps. In German, Streusel means "something scattered or sprinkled," which is exactly what a baker does with streusel before baking.

Example Sentences

If you’re craving a bit of crunch on your freshly-baked muffins, skip the homemade streusel and sprinkle some chia seeds.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

Together, they create a cake that feels balanced — substantial enough to anchor a streusel, light enough to warrant a second slice.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

Sichuan chile crisp sundae with peanut streusel is an unexpected combination that works.

From New York Times • Mar. 21, 2023

Made from folded pie crust "petals," the pastries are stuffed with apple filling and sprinkled with cinnamon streusel.

From Salon • Oct. 10, 2022

A thick, nubby topping of cinnamony streusel will make up for any dry blandness underneath, so that bottom layer often ends up seeming like a mere vehicle to bring crumbs to mouth.

From New York Times • Feb. 18, 2022