Sublime Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

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Hi Bold Bakers!

It isn’t officially summer until there’s a baking dish filled with a red bubbling concoction of strawberry and rhubarb becoming the perfect combination of sweet and tart in my oven. Of course, strawberries and rhubarb both come into season in the late spring and early summer, so naturally, someone was bound to combine the two — but my love for Strawberry Rhubarb Crisps runs deeper than that!

I mentioned in my Best-Ever Peach Cobbler recipe that I love crisps, crumbles, and cobblers (my mum made sure those delicious desserts were a staple in my childhood), but strawberry rhubarb crisp is a huge favorite in Ireland. In fact, the county where I’m from, Wexford, is known for its famous strawberries. People come from all over come to buy “Wexford Strawberries,” stopping at roadside stalls to get the perfect red fruit during the always-too-short season of summer.

This strawberry rhubarb crisp is beyond easy to make, and it’s bound to become your favorite summer dessert too. The sweet strawberries and tart rhubarb cook down to an incredible jammy mixture, and the warm dish pairs perfectly with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

What Is Rhubarb?

Rhubarb is a confusing thing, for sure, but there’s a reason why it is such a popular treat! Rhubarb is a vegetable, and a sour one too. Its leaves are poisonous and you actually only eat the stalk, but, once you have rhubarb and strawberry, you’ll understand why it’s such a celebrated ingredient. 

Besides just happening to share the same season, strawberries and rhubarb are naturally perfect for each other. Strawberries are incredibly sweet, and if you tried to make just a crisp with them alone it’d probably be too sugary to eat more than one bite. Rhubarb’s sourness turns that sweetness down, which is why the two go together like peanut butter and jelly. 

But I know what you’re thinking: Yes, rhubarb looks like celery. No, it doesn’t taste similar. And guess what — they’re not even related.

Don’t let that deter you from one of the best summer desserts out there.

Crisp vs. Crumble

So, what’s the difference between a crisp and crumble, anyway? While both are delicious and baked on top of fruit, what makes these streusels different is their ingredients.  

A crisp is typically made of brown sugar, flour, and butter. Meanwhile, a crumble is usually topped with rolled oats and brown sugar. Despite these differences, though, the words are regularly used interchangeably. But what’s in a name anyway?

What You Need To Make Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

• Measuring cups and spoons
• Mixing bowls
• An oven-safe 8- or 9-inch baking dish

How to Make Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

To me, a strawberry rhubarb crisp is even better than a pie. There’s no need to make and roll out a crust! Here are the basic steps (and don’t forget to get the full recipe with measurements, on the page down below):

1. Pour strawberries, rhubarb, sugar, cornstarch, and vanilla extract into a baking dish.
2. In a bowl, make the topping by combining flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon, butter, vanilla extract, almond extract, and almonds.
3. Stir the topping mixture until it looks like coarse crumbles.
4. Spread topping on top of the fruit.
5. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for an hour, or until the topping is a perfect golden brown and the fruit juices are bubbling.
6. Allow the crisp to cool for 20 minutes, and serve with vanilla ice cream.

Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips for Making Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

• Using salted butter for your topping will give it more flavor. 
• Frozen strawberries and rhubarb work just as well as fresh.
• Swap out strawberries and rhubarb for other seasonal fruits!
• Don’t skimp on the vanilla and almonds! These flavors are what make this crisp really unique.
• The flavor of this crisp gets even better as it sits, so be patient when it comes out of the oven. With time, the fruit becomes even more concentrated and delicious!

How Do I Store Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp?

The topping of this dessert can be made up to 3 days in advance and can be frozen for up to 4 weeks. Baked strawberry rhubarb crisp can be stored covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Make More Dessert!

• Best-Ever Peach Cobbler
• 10-Minute Berry Tiramisu
• Blueberry Pie

And don’t forget to buy my Bigger Bolder Baking Cookbook!

Full (and printable) recipe below!

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