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Old-Fashioned Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp is sweet and tart with fresh strawberries and rhubarb. An extra-thick buttery oats topping provides the perfect contrast – and it stays crisp for days!

a large white rectangular pan of strawberry rhubarb crisp

Old-Fashioned Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

The girls and I made this Old-Fashioned Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp over the past weekend. As I was slicing the rhubarb, listening to that satisfying slicing sound, Tessa asked what it was and what it tasted like. At four years old, she couldn’t remember eating it before.

I explained that some people say it’s a vegetable and some say it’s a fruit. After looking it up, I found that it is considered a fruit in the US, for the purpose of regulations and duties. I went on to tell Tessa that rhubarb is crisp, kinda like celery, and tastes very tart. (To read more about rhubarb, go to my Rhubarb 101.)

Tessa’s young mind wondered out loud if she might like it.

So I got out a little bowl and poured a bit of sugar into it. Then I sliced some small pieces of bright red rhubarb and proceeded to give them a little dip into the sugar and pop them into my mouth. Tessa and Hatti followed suit. Over and over again, we did this. All the while, memories of Mom dipping rhubarb bites into sugar danced around in my head. So many years have gone by since she first taught me about this treat, yet it felt like just yesterday.

Kitchen memories are some of the very best memories, don’t you agree?

“Making this again for the 3rd time…. always always requested….great recipe as is!!!!”

Judy

Here are a few more of our favorite rhubarb recipes: If you like cheesecake, give this Rhubarb Cheesecake Pie a try. Also, this stunning Raspberry Rhubarb Skillet Coffee Cake, my almost-famous Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb Bars, and this pretty Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler. And for a fun cocktail, you MUST try my Rhubarb Margarita!

strawberry rhubarb crisp in a large white dish

Easy Rhubarb Recipe for Spring

I’ve been making this strawberry rhubarb crisp recipe for years. It’s an easy favorite that’s sweet with strawberries and a little bit tart with rhubarb. And it’s loaded with an extra-thick buttery oats topping that’s fabulously crispy!

If you’d prefer a strawberry rhubarb dessert without oats, be sure to check out my Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble. The topping is buttery and crisp and ohhhhh so wonderful!

This dessert (Or breakfast dish? I won’t judge!) is great any time of year, but especially wonderful with the freshest rhubarb and strawberries of spring.

strawberries in a colander and stalks of rhubarb

How to make strawberry rhubarb crisp

A rhubarb crisp with strawberries is extremely easy to make.

First, stir sugar into chopped rhubarb and sliced strawberries. Add a little cornstarch to thicken the juices a bit, plus fresh lemon juice and a touch of vanilla (the vanilla is such a nice touch!).

Then settle the fruit mixture into a 9″ x 13″ pan and cover it with a thick blanket of crumble topping. Bake until the fruits are all sweet and jammy, and the topping is awesomely crispy.

strawberry rhubarb crisp

How to store strawberry rhubarb crisp

The strawberry rhubarb crisp emerges from the oven simply beautiful.

I like to leave a bare edge around the perimeter, free of the crumble topping. That deep ruby mixture peeking out at the pan’s edge adds extra life when presenting this spring treat.

And to store this crisp, I simply leave it out on the counter, uncovered, for up to a couple days (if it lasts that long!). The topping stays nice and crisp that way.

rhubarb and strawberry crisp in individual bowls with scoops of vanilla ice cream

How to Serve Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

I’ve seen so many people scrunch up their noses at the mention of rhubarb. Have you, too? Then bake up this strawberry rhubarb crisp recipe. I’ve found that it’s a great way to convince people they are absolutely wrong about rhubarb. Everybody seems to love this dish; it’s one of my family’s favorite rhubarb recipes.

I recommend serving this dessert still a bit warm from the oven, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I promise, you’ll have rhubarb fans for life!

Like this rhubarb dessert? Save it to Pinterest!

pinterest imaga of Old-Fashioned Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

Want More Rhubarb Desserts?

Here are a few recipes I’d like to try: Easy Rhubarb Breakfast Cake from The View from Great Island,  Rustic Strawberry Rhubarb Tart from Savory Sweet Life, Rhubarb Bars from Garnish with Lemon.

a pan of dessert crisp made with strawberries and rhubarb

Old-Fashioned Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

Yield: 16
Prep Time: 35 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

This baked treat is sweet and tart with fresh strawberries and rhubarb. An extra-thick buttery oats topping provides the perfect delicious contrast!

Ingredients

for the strawberry rhubarb filling:

  • 2 lbs. rhubarb stalks, sliced 1/2″ thick (about 8 cups)
  • 1.25 c. sugar, divided
  • 1 lb. fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered
  • 3 T. cornstarch
  • 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

for the topping:

  • 1/2 c. unsalted butter, softened (not melted!)
  • 1.5 c. packed brown sugar
  • 1.5 c. all-purpose flour
  • 1.25 c. quick-cooking rolled oats
  • 3 T. canola oil
  • 1.5 tsp. cinnamon
  • 3/4 tsp. kosher salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375° F.
  2. For the strawberry rhubarb filling: In a medium bowl, toss the rhubarb with 3/4 cup of the sugar and let stand for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. In another medium bowl, toss the strawberries with the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and let stand for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Using a large slotted spoon, transfer the rhubarb to the strawberries and discard any rhubarb juice. Add the cornstarch, lemon juice, and vanilla to the fruit and stir well. Transfer the mixture to a 9″ x 13″ baking dish.
  3. For the topping: Combine all the topping ingredients in a medium bowl. Using a rigid pastry blender, cut the ingredients together until large crumbs form. You want to have some larger pieces, and sometimes it just works best to squeeze and crumble the mixture with your hands just a bit at the end.
  4. Sprinkle topping evenly over the filling. I like to leave a small bare edge around the perimeter, to see the pretty strawberry rhubarb mixture. Bake for 25 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325° F. If the topping is browning quickly, tent a piece of foil (my favorite is this larger-sized heavy duty foil) very loosely over the pan, so the foil is not touching the crisp. Continue baking for another 30 to 35 minutes, or until the fruit filling is thickened and bubbling quite a bit, and the topping is nicely browned. Let the crisp rest for about 20 minutes before serving. This is awesome served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Store on the counter uncovered for up to a couple days. The topping will stay nicely crisp if left uncovered. 

Notes

adapted from Food & Wine magazine

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 269Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 118mgCarbohydrates: 47gFiber: 2gSugar: 34gProtein: 2g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated by Nutritionix. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your own favorite calculator.

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© Brenda | A Farmgirl's Dabbles
Cuisine: American / Category: Dessert
a pan of dessert crisp made with strawberries and rhubarb

Originally published in 2010, this recipe has been a popular reader favorite. I updated some of the photos and text in 2018.