Can I make crumb topping without butter?

[meeshi]

As I was making an apple pie I realized I don't have any butter to make the crumb topping.

Does anyone know if there's a way to make a topping without butter? Or should I send DD to the store? Thanks!

[piratesmate]

I'm sure you've solved this by now, but I just saw your post. My great-great-aunt used lard (ewwwww) and my grandmother used Crisco. Butter was "too dear" as they put it. To be honest with you, I never really tasted the difference - at least not when I was little.

It's not quite the same, but I have a recipe for chicken divan that calls for crumbs made with butter for the top. I usually just pour bread crumbs over it & spray with olive oil. We think it tastes great.

But maybe we're just weird?

[meeshi]

Hi Piratesmate, thanks for responding. I don't have crisco in the house either so I crushed up some granola bars and used that as a topping. :o It looks ok, we'll see how it tastes, we haven't tried it yet.