Mini Cinnamon Crumb Cups

Crumb cakes are one of my favorite things on earth.  I always say that I could eat the crumbs by themselves because I love them so much.  Can you see where I’m going with this?  Oh no she didn’t?  Um, yes, I did.  I decided to make a crumb cake that skips the cake part.  Don’t get me wrong, cake is yummy, but sometimes a girl just wants the crumb part.

These bite size cups are filled with 100% crumbs and topped with miniature cinnamon chips to make them a little more interesting.

03Mini Cinnamon Crumb Cups

Mini Cinnamon Crumb Cups Recipe
(Makes 24 mini muffin cups)

Ingredients:

  • 1/3 cup white sugar
  • 1/3 cup dark brown sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 8 tablespoons (equivalent to 1 stick) butter, melted
  • 1 and 3/4 cups cake flour Measure your flour correctly!
  • sprinkling of miniature cinnamon chips, topping

Directions:

  1. Melt the butter.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix together the melted butter, white sugar, dark brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
  3. Add the flour and stir until combined.  This works best while the butter is still hot.
  4. Set the mixture aside to cool, about 10-15 minutes.
  5. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
  6. Line a miniature muffin pan with paper cups and lightly spray the cups with cooking spray.
  7. Using your fingers, break the crumb topping into chunks and try to form them into small balls that are about 1/2 inch in size (like plump blueberries).  Then fill each mini muffin cup with them.  The crumbs do not have to be uniform in size.
  8. Bake them in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes, or until the crumbs have melted together a bit.
  9. Immediately after you take them out of the oven, sprinkle each cup with mini cinnamon chips.

Store in an air tight container at room temperature or in the freezer.

 

These cups are very easy to make.  As fair warning though, it does take a bit of time to roll the dough into chunks, but it’s worth it, trust me.  Let’s just say you can use this as a meditation activity or as a way to keep your hands busy while contemplating the universe.

02Mini Cinnamon Crumb Cups

I love cinnamon, especially this time of the year (maybe it’s because I’m surrounded by apple and pumpkin goodies, which pretty much universally requires cinnamon).  Crumb topping has delicious soul warming cinnamon in it, and in this case that’s even more true with the addition of the cinnamon chips.  

04Mini Cinnamon Crumb Cups

Every time I bake with ground cinnamon I smell the top of the container because it’s so aromatic.  I suppose that’s true with nutmeg, cardamom, and allspice too, but this post is about cinnamon.     🙂

10Mini Cinnamon Crumb Cups

The crumbs in the bottom layer melt together in the baking process and create a good foundation.  However, for the most part the crumbs keep their shape.  Isn’t that cool?

My family was intrigued by these delectable treats.  They look like mini crumb cakes.  Then when you peel away the paper cup you’re surprised to see that it’s 100% crumb topping.  (Which if you ask me is a perfect ratio.)  My family loved them!  It’s shear brilliance if I do say so myself.  It was definitely worth the time to roll all those chunks.     🙂

These mini cups can be eaten in one bite.  Especially if you are my husband.  He does that with a lot of the things I bake.  Or perhaps you want to make it last so you take two bites.  Or if you’re like me, you really want to savor the treat so you pick each crumb off one at a time to pop them into your mouth individually.

09Mini Cinnamon Crumb Cups

I think anything in a miniature form is adorable.  Mini decorative paper cups are cute.  Mini cinnamon crumb cups double the cute factor.  Mini cinnamon chips sprinkled on top take it over the top.     😉

I couldn’t resist adding whipped cream and ground cinnamon on top for presentation points.     🙂

07Mini Cinnamon Crumb Cups

I can say with great certainty that there will not be any “crumbs” left on my plate!

 

Rating:

5 Hats

 

 

Crumb Topping Source:  What Megan’s Making

Mini Cinnamon Crumb Cups Source: Tina’s Chic Corner

 

Did I get you in the mood for the Perfect Crumb Cake?

05Crumb Cake_1024x768

 

How about the Chocolate Crumb Cake?

06=1Chocolate Crumb Cake

Comments

  1. Ohmygosh. Ohmygosh ohmygosh. The crumb topping is totally the best part of a crumb cake, and I LOVE that you made cupcakes entirely out of crumb topping! Pure genius, I tell you.

    1. Tina says:

      Hehe, thanks so much Faith! 🙂

  2. What a neat spin on this recipe. The presentation is really fun.

    1. Tina says:

      Thansk so much Peter! Have a great weekend. 🙂

  3. Tina, all I have EVER wanted was to eat just the crumb topping!!! Seriously. I could care less about the cake. This is my favorite recipe I have seen on the internet in weeks! And if you saw my overflowing reader or food blogs, you would know how big of a compliment that is. 😉

    1. Tina says:

      Oh my goodness, I’m so flattered! Thank you so much. That means the world to me, espcially coming from a fantastic baker like yourself. 🙂

  4. Tina, these are so darn cute. 100% crumb topping is the perfect ratio, ha!

    1. Tina says:

      Hehe, yup, perfect ratio! 🙂

  5. How cute are these, I bet the aroma in the house is to die for! Great recipe girl! 🙂

    1. Tina says:

      Thanks so much Krista! Oh yea, it smelled heavenly in my kitchen. Then when I bit into one I heard the harps. 😉

  6. OMG! These are amazing! Love the idea of all crumbs, and cinnamon chips are the best!

    1. Tina says:

      Awesome, glad you love. 🙂

  7. Crumb toppings are my favorite thing about cake, and mini desserts are always better! I think I’m in love with these babies, they look so adorable 😀

    1. Tina says:

      Hehe, thanks so much! I hope you had a lovely weekend. 🙂

  8. Nice to know there are other people out there who like the crumb part better than the cake 😉 I love this idea!

    1. Tina says:

      Oh yes, we exist! 😉 Thanks so much for stopping by!

  9. Kelly says:

    Love these mini cuties! My favorite part is the crumb topping too and these crumb babies are pure genius Tina 🙂

    1. Tina says:

      Thanks so much Kelly! I hope you had a lovely weekend. 🙂

  10. I love how these look and stay together so well. Also, I have those mini cups- so cute!

    1. Tina says:

      Thanks Pamela! I find I’m a bit addicted to buying all sorts of colorful and patterned paper cup liners. 🙂

  11. These are genius! So flipping cute! Also — with the whipped cream — extra awesome yes. I love 100% crumbs!!!

    1. Tina says:

      Thanks so much Heather! 🙂

  12. This is genius! And so stinking dangerous:) This dessert would go so fast Tina! Wow, this is definitely worthy of pinning and making … everyone will love this! What an amazingly creative idea! (featuring it on my post today)

    1. Tina says:

      These were surely a hit with my family and I hope yours loves them just as much. Thanks so much for pinning and featuring me on your blog. 🙂

  13. Joanne says:

    I always save the crumbs for last on my crumb cake. But these little cuties are game changers. All the crumbs you can eat in every bite!

    1. Tina says:

      Haha, I save the crumbs for last too! Maybe I should have made these bigger. 😉

  14. This is genius! Crumbs are definitely my favorite part. I’d probably eat this whole recipe in one sitting!

    1. Tina says:

      Thanks so much! 🙂

  15. Tina, this is the most creative thing I have ever seen. You always amaze me with your creativity. My husband is the same way…he could have a whole burger devoured before my third bite is even taken! Have a happy Sunday!

    1. Tina says:

      You are so sweet! That truly means a lot to me…thank you. 🙂

  16. These are so cute Tina! I love anything crumb and cinnamon. This has my name written all over it! 🙂

    1. Tina says:

      Same page!

  17. These are so cute! I love the cupcake wrappers, actually I feel as though I used to have the same ones in regular muffin size.

    1. Tina says:

      Thanks so much! I buy too many paper cup liners, but they’re so fun. 🙂

  18. These are really cute! Very creative, and I’ll bet their flavor is amazing. Really good recipe – thanks so much.

    1. Tina says:

      Thank you kindly. 🙂

  19. Oh my gosh, you dessert genius, you! I need these crumb cups in my life. The crumbs are totally the best part!!

    1. Tina says:

      Hehe…thank you. 🙂 Crumbs rule!

  20. Jen Nikolaus says:

    Oh Tina. These little cups of crumb morsels look SO GOOD! I would have never thought to make something like this! So awesome! Thanks for sharing at Saturday Night Fever! Pinning now!

    1. Tina says:

      Thanks so much Jen! I’m always happy to be a part of Sat Night Fever link parties. 🙂

  21. alex says:

    wow! how fun is this? great idea! I love them with the whipped cream on top! I agree, cinnamon is just so lovely in the fall!

    1. Tina says:

      So fun! Thanks so much! 🙂

  22. This is pure genius. Pure genius. The crumbs are the entire reason why I eat crumb cakes. I’ve never seen cinnamon chips before. Are they stocked in your local grocery store or do you order them special from somewhere?

    1. Tina says:

      Thanks so much! 🙂 I bought the mini cinnamon chips on line from King Arthur Flour. http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/items/cinnamon-mini-baking-chips-16-oz.

  23. Hacer says:

    Hi, Tina your creativeness urges me to write immediately and being in love with cinnamon may be of course another reason, but I will be following your blog as I crave for food and create a world in my little kitchen .Maybe I can share mine.By the way thanks again:)

    Hacer

    1. Tina says:

      Thank you, kindly! I really appreciate you stopping by. 🙂

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