Easy Vegan Streusel Recipe

Vegan Streusel is a sweet and crumbly topping perfect for baked goods like muffins, apple crumbles, coffee cakes, quick breads, and more! Oil-free, gluten-free, and made with just 7 ingredients!

Yes, we all love our plant-based desserts. But, sometimes, it’d be nice to take an already great dessert over the top and make it unbelievable. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you streusel. It’s God’s gift to the dessert world!

With its irresistible crumbly texture and sweet buttery taste, Streusel is a beloved topping for many baked goods like pumpkin muffins or chocolate chip pumpkin bread. But what if you’re following a vegan diet and want to reduce your oil and vegan butter use?

Fear not! This dairy-free, oil-free streusel maintains the beloved crumbly texture and flavor, making it the perfect addition to your favorite vegan desserts. Give it a try and watch as your baked goods become the talk of the town among vegans and non-vegans alike.

Bereit? Lass uns das machen!

Ingredients

Let’s start with the simple, wholesome ingredients you’ll need to whip up this vegan streusel:

• ½ cup almond butter (or your favorite nut or seed butter)
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ½ cup rolled oats
• ¼ cup almond meal (ground almonds)
• ¼ cup chopped nuts (such as almonds, pecans, or walnuts)
• ¼ cup coconut flakes (optional)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Pinch of salt

How To Make Vegan Streusel Topping

Now that you’ve gathered your ingredients let’s dive into the step-by-step process of making vegan streusel:

1. Preheat the Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures that your streusel will bake to perfection.
2. Prepare a Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or use a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking.
3. Prepare the Wet Ingredients: Combine the almond butter, maple syrup, and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl. Whisk until you achieve a smooth, thick paste-like consistency.
4. Add Dry Ingredients: Now, it’s time to add the dry ingredients. Mix in the rolled oats, almond meal, chopped nuts, coconut flakes (if you choose to use them), ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Stir until all the ingredients are thoroughly combined. The resulting mixture should be crumbly but cohesive enough to hold together when pressed.
5. Crumble onto Baking Sheet: Spread the streusel mixture evenly onto the prepared baking sheet. Use your fingers or a fork to break it into small, delectable clusters.
6. Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 15-20 minutes or until the streusel turns a beautiful golden brown. Keep a watchful eye to prevent over-baking and burning.
7. Cool: Once baked to perfection, remove the streusel from the oven and allow it to cool to room temperature on the baking sheet. As it cools, the streusel will become wonderfully crisp.

How Do I Use Vegan Streusel

Now that you’ve perfected your vegan streusel, here are some delightful ways to use it:

• Muffin Magic: Sprinkle streusel generously on top of your vegan muffin batter before baking. The result? A muffin with a delightful crunch and a hint of sweetness.
• Coffee Cake Champion: Transform your vegan coffee cake into a masterpiece by layering streusel between the cake’s layers and sprinkling it on top. It adds a heavenly contrast of textures.
• Fruit Crisp Perfection: Use streusel as the crowning glory of your vegan fruit crisp. It will provide a golden, crispy lid to the bubbling fruit beneath.
• Ice Cream Sundae Upgrade: Elevate your vegan ice cream sundaes by sprinkling streusel over your favorite dairy-free ice cream scoops. It adds a delightful crunch and a touch of sweetness to each bite.
• Vegan Zucchini Bread
• Vegan Banana Bread
• Snack: I love enjoying it by the handful as a snack all by itself. But be careful…it’s quite addictive.

How Do I Store Vegan Streusel

Once you’ve whipped up a batch of this delectable streusel, it’s important to store it properly to maintain its freshness. Here’s how:

• Cool It: Ensure the streusel has cooled completely after baking. This step is crucial to prevent moisture buildup.
• Airtight Container: Transfer the cooled streusel into an airtight container, like a glass jar or a plastic container with a tight-fitting lid.
• Refrigerate or Freeze: To prolong its shelf life, you can refrigerate the streusel for up to two weeks. For even longer storage, freeze it for up to three months. Ensure the container is well-sealed to prevent freezer burn.
• Thawing: If you freeze your streusel, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before using it in your recipes.

Substitutions

Customize your vegan streusel to suit your preferences or dietary restrictions, if you have them, with these handy substitutions:

• Nut or Seed Butter: While almond butter is used in this recipe, feel free to substitute it with peanut butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter for a unique flavor twist.
• Maple Syrup: If you’re looking for an alternative sweetener, try brown rice syrup, date syrup, or date paste that has been thinned out as a substitute for maple syrup.
• Nuts and Seeds: Mix and match your favorite nuts or seeds to create unique flavor combinations. Use pumpkin seeds (pepitas) or sunflower seeds as a nut-free option.
• Flour: Swap almond meal with oat flour, whole wheat flour, organic unbleached all-purpose flour, or coconut flour for a different texture.
• Coconut Flakes: While optional, you can replace coconut flakes with crushed whole-grain cereal for added crunch.

Variations

One of the joys of cooking is the opportunity to get creative and tailor recipes to your taste. Vegan streusel is no exception! Here are some exciting variations to inspire and sharpen your culinary chops:

• Spices: Enhance the warm, comforting flavors of your streusel by adding a dash of ground nutmeg, cloves, or cardamom alongside the cinnamon. This spice blend pairs beautifully with apple or pear desserts.
• Chocolate Lover’s Dream: Mix vegan chocolate chips or chunks into your streusel mixture for a decadent twist. The subtle bitterness of dark chocolate complements the sweetness of the streusel and works wonderfully in muffins or banana bread.
• Citrus Zest Delight: Grate some fresh citrus zest, such as lemon, orange, or lime, into your streusel mixture. The zesty brightness cuts through the richness, making it perfect for topping blueberry muffins or a citrus-flavored cake.
• Gluten-Free: If you need a gluten-free option, replace the rolled oats with certified gluten-free oats. Ensure all your ingredients are gluten-free for a safe, allergen-friendly streusel.
• Make It Savory: Streusel doesn’t have to be limited to sweet treats! Experiment with savory versions by adding herbs like rosemary, thyme, and a pinch of nutritional yeast. Sprinkle this savory streusel over roasted vegetables or casseroles for a delightful crunch.
• Nut-Free Alternatives: If allergies are a concern, opt for seed butters like sunflower seed butter or tahini as a replacement for nut butter. You can substitute chopped seeds (e.g., sunflower or pumpkin seeds) for the chopped nuts.

Top Tips

When making vegan streusel, here are a few top tips to ensure it turns out delicious and perfect:

• Choose the Right Nut or Seed Butter: Select a high-quality nut or seed butter that you enjoy the taste of and contains no extra ingredients other than the nut or seed and maybe a little salt. Almond butter, peanut butter, cashew butter, and sunflower seed butter are all excellent options. Ensure that it’s well-mixed and not separated.
• Use Pure Maple Syrup: Opt for pure maple syrup rather than pancake syrup or flavored syrups, as these may contain additives and artificial flavors. Pure maple syrup adds a natural sweetness and depth of flavor to your streusel.
• Measure Ingredients Accurately: Accurate measurements are crucial for the streusel’s texture. Use measuring cups and spoons for precise amounts of each ingredient.
• Don’t Overmix: When combining the wet and dry ingredients, mix just until everything is well incorporated. Overmixing can lead to a dense or tough streusel.
• Adjust Sweetness: Taste the streusel mixture before baking and adjust the sweetness to your liking by adding more maple syrup if needed.

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