• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Kitchen Serf
  • Recipes
    • About
      • Contact
      • Blogging Resources
    • Disclosure
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
  • About
  • Shop My Kitchen
  • Stay in Touch

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • Disclosure
      • Privacy Policy
    • About
    • Shop My Kitchen
  • Stay in Touch

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Baking Basics

    Sugar Topping for Muffins

    Published: May 23, 2022 · Updated: Jan 31, 2023 by Jennifer · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    What  do you call the sugar topping that you see on muffins?  And, where do you get it?

    two lemon poppyseed muffins on white plate with blue napkin and orange juice
    You can create a crunchy topping on your muffins just like bakeries by using coarse sugar or turbinado sugar.

    A very smart woman asked me this recently–a woman who I thought  knew everything.

    So it occurred to me if she didn’t know, perhaps you dear reader are also wondering the name of the crunchy sugar topping on baked goods. 

    How Do I Make a Crunchy Muffin Topping?

    There are two kinds of sugar to put on top of muffins or scones: 

    • Turbinado sugar
    • Coarse Sugar (or smaller grains, called sanding sugar)

    Turbinado sugar is also frequently called raw sugar.

    Turbinado sugar is similar to brown sugar but it doesn’t contain molasses. You can heat turbinado sugar without it getting sticky.

    Sugar manufacturers minimally process raw sugar, thus the name raw.  

    Coarse sugar consists of larger sugar crystals.

    Sanding sugar is another name for coarse sugar that has smaller grains.

    Sanding sugar runs in size between granulated sugar and coarse sugar. You’ll often find sanding sugar in fancy colors. 

    For topping a baked good like a muffin or scone or cake, use turbinado or coarse sugar crystals.

    But, if you’re in a pinch and only have sanding sugar, that will work too. 

    Not just for muffin tops, sugar crystals give scones that sparkly texture.

    raspberry and white chocolate muffins in tin and on a tin with pink cloth
    Raspberry and white chocolate muffins.

    More Breakfasty Recipes

    Pumpkin Spice Scones (Food Processor Recipe).

    Homemade Donuts

    You can give your cookies a sparkly finish with a roll in sanding sugar before baking them.

    I always use sanding sugar, and sometimes the larger, coarse variety, on Gingersnaps (Just Like Grandma's!)

    bag of turbinado sugar
    Turbinado sugar or raw sugar is one way to give your muffins a crunchy topping.
    white sanding sugar
    White sanding sugar is another way to give your muffins a crunchy topping.

    Sanding sugar provides a little extra crunch and sparkle.

    Are you old enough to remember Elaine's little muffin top adventure on Seinfeld?

    lemon poppyseed muffins on a white plate with crunch topping
    These lemon poppyseed muffins owe their sparkly, crunchy top to sanding sugar. But you could also use raw or turbinado sugar.
    Do you put sugar on muffins before or after baking?

    Put your sugar topping or streusel topping on your muffins before baking them. That way the topping crystalizes a bit, becomes crunchy and adheres to the muffin tops.
    Brush the tops of muffins with melted butter and sprinkle with sanding sugar or turbinado sugar.
    Or just sprinkle sanding sugar on top without butter.Muffin tin with batter and topped with sanding sugar.

    Try these Best White Chocolate Raspberry Muffins.

    Recipe Index

    More Baking Basics

    • lemons in a white, wood bowl on a marble background.
      How Long Do Lemons Last?
    • microplane grater, paring knife, citrus peeler and box grater next to a white bowl of lemons.
      How to Zest Lemon
    • splash of melted white chocolate on a white background.
      Is White Chocolate Gluten-Free?
    • raspberry and white chocolate muffins in tin and on a tin with pink cloth
      Best White Chocolate Raspberry Muffins

    About Jennifer

    Hi, I'm Jennifer Osborn, the food photographer and recipe developer at Kitchen Serf. You'll find easy, delish dessert recipes for the lazy home cook.
    Have you ever found your desserts at a spaghetti supper dumped in a trash bin? I once did and it was mortifying. I help you avoid that situation with successful recipes for amazing cookies, bars, pies and cakes that people won't stop eating.

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    HI, I'M JENNIFER, WELCOME TO KITCHEN SERF

    I like a good cookie, a strong martini, digging in my garden, laughter, mysteries and all things pink.

    Cookies!

    a hand holding a cookie with colorful sprinkles.

    Sprinkle Sugar Cookies

    Oreos dipped in white chocolate and sprinkled with pastel sprinkles.

    White Chocolate Oreo Cookies

    pile of milk chocolate chip cookies.

    Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies

    toffee cookies on white plate with cup of iced espresso on the side with a napkin.

    Best Chewy Toffee Cookies Recipe

    pie crust cookies on an ovenex cookie sheet.

    Pie Crust Cookies

    See More Posts From This Category →

    Mixed Drinks

    pile of dried orange slices
    salsa dip in tiny bowl on plate with round tortilla chips
    two lemon drop martinis on a marble background
    glass containing a pumpkin drink topped with whipped cream and a cinnamon stick

    See More;

    Footer

    Amazon Affiliate Disclosure

    Kitchen Serf is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Services
    • Media Kit
    • FAQ

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Kitchen Serf