This Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp recipe features the perfect blend of sweet and tart, with a jammy filling of fresh strawberries and rhubarb. Finished with a buttery oats topping (that stays crisp for days!), I like to serve this spring & summer dessert warm with scoops of vanilla ice cream.
This Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp recipe is packed with fresh spring & summer flavor, pairing sweet strawberries with tart rhubarb for a filling that bakes up gorgeously jammy. And the crispity blanket of buttery oats topping provides the perfect contrast. If you’ve never baked with rhubarb, I highly recommend that you start with this recipe. You’ll be a rhubarb lover for life!
Why I Love To Make This Crisp
I’ve turned many rhubarb naysayers into rhubarb fans, thanks to this rhubarb crisp with strawberries. Everybody loves this rhubarb recipe! Here’s why I make it for my friends & family:
- Tried & true. I’ve been making this strawberry rhubarb crisp for years and it’s always a hit. For proof, just take a look at all the reviews and comments on this post!
- Easier than pie. This strawberry rhubarb crisp recipe features the flavors of strawberry rhubarb pie without all the fuss of making a pie crust.
- Irresistibly sweet + tart. Sweet, fragrant strawberries and tart rhubarb make an irresistible combo – and this recipe features the perfect ratio, for the best contrasting yet complimentary flavor.
- That crispy topping! One of the biggest dessert failures is a fruit crisp recipe that isn’t actually CRISP. I promise you, this topping bakes up crisp. And if you store it correctly, it will keep that texture for at least a couple days!
“Making this again for the 3rd time…. always always requested….great recipe as is!!!!”
Judy
Ingredient Notes
Here’s a look at what you’ll need to make this crisp. Find the exact ingredient amounts in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.
FOR THE STRAWBERRY RHUBARB FILLING
- Rhubarb – For the prettiest crisp, use firm, fresh stalks that are mostly red in color.
- Strawberries – Use the freshest, most fragrant strawberries you can find, for the best flavor.
- Lemon juice – A squeeze of fresh lemon juice adds a touch of brightness to the fruit filling.
- Sugar – Granulated sugar adds sweetness to the filling and helps to give it a jammy texture.
- Cornstarch – This helps to thicken the juices in the filling so that it’s spoonable, not thin and watery.
FOR THE TOPPING
- Brown sugar – I love the warm sweetness this adds to the buttery oats topping.
- Flour – All-purpose flour blends with the butter to add a bit of toothsome crunch to the oats topping.
- Oats – I use old fashioned rolled oats, which offer more texture than smaller quick cooking oats.
- Cinnamon – This adds a delicious touch of warm spiced flavor, plus a lovely scent.
- Salt – This adds tasty contrast to the sweet flavors.
- Butter – I use unsalted butter. If you use salted butter, cut the added salt in half.
- Vegetable oil – A little bit of oil helps the crisp turn browned and extra crispy.
Is Rhubarb a Fruit or Vegetable?
Botanically, rhubarb is a vegetable – but it’s legally considered a fruit in the United States since it is most often used like a fruit.
What Does Rhubarb Taste Like?
Rhubarb is very tart, which is why you’ll most often see it combined with sweet fruits and added sugar. Fresh rhubarb stalks have a crisp texture, similar to celery stalks.
I come from a long line of rhubarb lovers. My mom and grandmas grew their own rhubarb on the farm, and I have a couple plants as well. When I was a kid, I watched Mom dip slices of raw rhubarb into a little bowl of sugar, then pop them happily into her mouth. So when our daughters were young, I taught them how to enjoy fresh spring rhubarb, just the same!
Where Can I Find Rhubarb?
The height of rhubarb season is early spring to late spring, and is very common throughout the Midwest and Upper Midwest and other cooler states. I’ve found that many people who’ve lived in the southern US their whole life have never even heard of rhubarb.
Rhubarb is easy to grow, and many people have their own rhubarb plants (especially those who live on farms). Otherwise, look for rhubarb at farmers markets, produce stands, and grocery stores.
Rhubarb is typically bright pink to deep red in color, but it can also be green. The green color does not affect its unique taste – but if you use green rhubarb, note that the color of your crisp won’t be as vibrant. Choose firm rhubarb that does not contain any soft or brown spots.
How to Make Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp
This fruity dessert is SO EASY to make. Here’s how to do it!
- Make fruit filling: In a large bowl, stir together rhubarb, strawberries, and lemon juice. Then stir in sugar and cornstarch. Transfer mixture to a baking dish and spread into an even layer.
- Make topping: Add all topping ingredients to a medium bowl. Use a rigid pastry cutter or a fork to cut the ingredients together until large crumbs form.
- Add topping: Spread topping in an even layer over the fruit filling.
- Bake: Place the assembled strawberry rhubarb crisp in a 375°F oven and bake for 45-50 minutes.
Tips for Success + Variations
Here are my tips for making the best strawberry rhubarb crisp ever. I’ve also included a couple variation ideas.
- Cut in the butter until crumbles form. Make sure that the butter is evenly distributed throughout the topping, with no dry patches of flour. This will result in perfectly buttery, crumbly topping in each bite.
- And leave some bigger chunks! I also like to make sure the topping has some larger chunks – because I adore those noticeable bites of buttery, crispy topping! I find that it works best to just squeeze the topping mixture in my hands and crumble it over the filling.
- Check for doneness. You’ll know the crisp is done when the filling is bubbling and the topping is lightly browned. Set a timer to check the crisp after 40 minutes, and then every 5 minutes. If the topping is browning quicker than you like, lay a piece of foil loosely over the top of the crisp to prevent further browning.
- Let it rest. I like to let the crisp rest for at least 15 minutes after it comes out of the oven before serving it. This lets the fruit filling set up and makes for easier servings when you spoon it out. Plus, it’s just really hot!
- Boost the lemon flavor. To make the lemon flavor stand out in the filling, add a teaspoon of fresh lemon zest.
- Add vanilla to the filling. Sometimes I add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the filling, which is lovely.
- Add nuts to the topping. For a bit more crunch and another layer of flavor, mix in some chopped, toasted pecans or walnuts to the oat topping in Step 3. You could also add shredded or flaked coconut to the topping. I’d recommend adding 1/2 to 2/3 cup.
How to Serve
I recommend serving this dessert (Or breakfast dish? I won’t judge!) still a bit warm from the oven, while the filling is at its jammy best and the topping has cooled a bit, to crispy perfection. Also – I adore it with scoops of vanilla ice cream!
How to Store & Reheat Extras
If you happen to have any leftovers, here’s how to take care of them:
- Counter – To keep the topping as crisp as possible, store this dessert uncovered on the counter for up to 2 days at cool room temperature.
- Fridge – Place any leftover crisp in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- To Reheat – To reheat leftover crisp in individual portions, place your desired amount of crisp in a bowl and heat it in the microwave in 15-second intervals, until warmed to your liking. Or, you can place the crisp in an oven-safe dish and reheat it in the oven on low heat until warm. If you want to crisp up the topping, place the pan under the broiler for a bit.
More Rhubarb Recipes
- Rhubarb Cream Cheese Bars – my mom’s recipe
- Rhubarb Custard Cake
- Rhubarb Custard Pie – my grandma’s recipe
- Rhubarb Sauce – my mom’s recipe
- Rhubarb Margarita – my signature drink, aka The Farmgirl Margarita! 🤩
Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp
Ingredients
Strawberry Rhubarb Filling
- 6 cups sliced (½" slices) fresh rhubarb (I recommend using stalks that are bright to deep red in color, about ¾" thick.)
- 2 cups chopped (½" pieces) fresh strawberries
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup cornstarch
Topping
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup old fashioned rolled oats (not quick cooking oats)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon Morton kosher salt
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature (do not melt)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Place oven rack in the middle of the oven.
Strawberry Rhubarb Filling
- In a large bowl, stir together rhubarb, strawberries, and lemon juice.
- Add sugar and stir to combine well.
- Sprinkle cornstarch evenly over the top and stir until filling mixture is fully incorporated.
- Transfer filling mixture to a 9" x 13" baking dish, scraping all accumulated juices and sugary mixture from the bottom of the bowl into the baking dish. Spread in pan and press lightly into an even layer. Set aside.
Topping
- Add all topping ingredients to a medium bowl. Use a rigid pastry cutter to cut the ingredients together until large crumbs form.
- Sprinkle topping mixture in an even layer over the filling, leaving about 1" of exposed filling around the perimeter of the baking dish. You want to have some larger pieces of topping mixed in, too – I find that it works best to just squeeze the topping mixture in my hands and crumble it over the filling. Do not press on or smooth out the topping mixture – it should have a rough, crumbled appearance.
Bake
- Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the filling is thickened and bubbling around the edges, and the topping is crisp and nicely browned. If the topping is getting more browned than you'd like, tent the top of the baking dish loosely with foil.
- Remove from oven to a cooling rack and let rest for 15 minutes before serving. Enjoy with scoops of vanilla ice cream.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
This post was originally published in 2010, then updated in 2018 and 2024. A very popular recipe here!!
My new favorite crisp recipe! If you’re not a rhubarb lover, this isn’t for you. If you are, this has a great rhubarb to strawberry ratio. Everything about this crisp was perfect for me from the flavor to the consistency of both the fruit and the topping. I was fortunate to have the most beautiful strawberries and rhubarb at my disposal. Added some unsweetened shredded coconut to the topping and a little vanilla to the fruit. Served it with vanilla bean ice cream. I don’t need to be making another dessert this week, but I think I’m going to go buy some rhubarb to freeze and have on hand later so I can make this whenever I want.