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.
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
- sprinkling of miniature cinnamon chips, topping
Directions:
- Melt the butter.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the melted butter, white sugar, dark brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
- Add the flour and stir until combined. This works best while the butter is still hot.
- Set the mixture aside to cool, about 10-15 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
- Line a miniature muffin pan with paper cups and lightly spray the cups with cooking spray.
- 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.
- Bake them in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes, or until the crumbs have melted together a bit.
- 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.
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.
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. 🙂
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.
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. 🙂
I can say with great certainty that there will not be any “crumbs” left on my plate!
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?
How about the Chocolate Crumb Cake?
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.
Hehe, thanks so much Faith! 🙂
What a neat spin on this recipe. The presentation is really fun.
Thansk so much Peter! Have a great weekend. 🙂
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. 😉
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. 🙂
Tina, these are so darn cute. 100% crumb topping is the perfect ratio, ha!
Hehe, yup, perfect ratio! 🙂
How cute are these, I bet the aroma in the house is to die for! Great recipe girl! 🙂
Thanks so much Krista! Oh yea, it smelled heavenly in my kitchen. Then when I bit into one I heard the harps. 😉
OMG! These are amazing! Love the idea of all crumbs, and cinnamon chips are the best!
Awesome, glad you love. 🙂
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 😀
Hehe, thanks so much! I hope you had a lovely weekend. 🙂
Nice to know there are other people out there who like the crumb part better than the cake 😉 I love this idea!
Oh yes, we exist! 😉 Thanks so much for stopping by!
Love these mini cuties! My favorite part is the crumb topping too and these crumb babies are pure genius Tina 🙂
Thanks so much Kelly! I hope you had a lovely weekend. 🙂
I love how these look and stay together so well. Also, I have those mini cups- so cute!
Thanks Pamela! I find I’m a bit addicted to buying all sorts of colorful and patterned paper cup liners. 🙂
These are genius! So flipping cute! Also — with the whipped cream — extra awesome yes. I love 100% crumbs!!!
Thanks so much Heather! 🙂
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)
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. 🙂
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!
Haha, I save the crumbs for last too! Maybe I should have made these bigger. 😉
This is genius! Crumbs are definitely my favorite part. I’d probably eat this whole recipe in one sitting!
Thanks so much! 🙂
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!
You are so sweet! That truly means a lot to me…thank you. 🙂
These are so cute Tina! I love anything crumb and cinnamon. This has my name written all over it! 🙂
Same page!
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.
Thanks so much! I buy too many paper cup liners, but they’re so fun. 🙂
These are really cute! Very creative, and I’ll bet their flavor is amazing. Really good recipe – thanks so much.
Thank you kindly. 🙂
Oh my gosh, you dessert genius, you! I need these crumb cups in my life. The crumbs are totally the best part!!
Hehe…thank you. 🙂 Crumbs rule!
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!
Thanks so much Jen! I’m always happy to be a part of Sat Night Fever link parties. 🙂
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!
So fun! Thanks so much! 🙂
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?
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.
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:)
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Thank you, kindly! I really appreciate you stopping by. 🙂