Crumble topping failure?

Sounds like you may need to add a bit more butter to your mixture.

After you've rubbed in the butter and added the sugar, grab a few handfuls of the mix and squeeze it together, so you end up with some chunky and some not so chunky bits.

I always cook the fruit on the hob and bake the crumble mix separately in the oven, turning it over every so often so it bakes evenly.

You make it sound like all you're using is butter and sugar. Most crumble toppings have flour in them, which will make them stick together.

I usually use equal parts (by volume) butter, brown sugar, flour, oatmeal and finely grated or finely chopped nuts (usually pecans but any nut will do), a touch of cinnamon or nutmeg sometimes, and a little salt. A little more butter never hurts so you can be generous with the 'equal part" of that. If you like things on the sweet side, use a bit more sugar.

Mix it much the same way you mix pastry dough, but it isn't fussy about how it's mixed as long as you get it all combined well. And you bake it until it's starting to brown.

I have a crumb topping that I use it is like the crumb topping on a coffee cake not a crisp type that has oatmeal or nuts in it.

this topping is good but a bit odd from the way you have been doing it. I thought it was strange until I tried it.

Crumb Topping

1/3 Cup granulaed sugar

1/3 Cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp salt

1 Stick butter, melted (yup odd I know)

1 3/4 Cup flour

Whisk sugars together in a bowl.

Pour in butter and stir to combine.

Add flour, salt, cinnamon.

Stir.

Set aside for a bit while you make whatever you are making.

Break apart the clumps of topping mixture. Scatter pea sized bits over the top of the cake or ....

Good luck...

CRUMBLE:

1 C quick-cooking oats......1 C all-purpose flour......1 C packed brown sugar.....1/4 t baking powder.......1/4 teaspoon baking soda.....1/2 cup butter, melted.

Combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and melted butter together. Put Crumble evenly over the mixture using plastic slotted spoon to spread it out. Bake at 350 degrees F for 60 minute.

Quick oats and rolled oats are the same.

simply rub the fat with the flour before adding sugar and some rolled oats for an extra bit of texture. tip onto the top of cooked fruit and bake until golden.

Add rolled oats to the mix and it will be crunchy.