Classic Rhubarb Crisp Recipe (2024)

Posted: · Updated: · By Chrysa

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This Classic Rhubarb Crisp Recipe is just like Grandma used to make! Just 8 ingredients, including rhubarb, oatmeal and brown sugar, is all it takes to make this delicious rhubarb dessert.

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Rhubarb crisp is one of my all-time favorite “old timey” desserts. I call it old timey because aClassic Rhubarb Crisp recipealways reminds me of childhood and my parents and grandparents.

Rhubarb itself just seems like one of those classic old-fashioned garden items that doesn’t get the attention of other more in-fashion produce.

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Ialways think the best rhubarb is the stalks that come for a friend, neighbor or relative’s backyard or garden.

The rhubarb found in the store just isn’t quite as awesome. The stalks are usually much smaller and it doesn’t hold up to those big, sturdy homegrown stems. But, since I don’t have a rhubarb plant of my own, I have resorted to buying it in the grocery store.

Last weekend I was lucky enough to stop at a garage sale where they were selling big bags of rhubarb for only $1!! I snatched that up in a hurry and now wish I had bought more to stock the freezer.

I used up the rhubarb I did buy for my favorite of all rhubarb recipes – to make up a pan of this Classic Rhubarb Crisp Recipe. As usual, it was DELICIOUS!!

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Moving forward, I definitely need to plant some rhubarb in my own yard. I have done some exploring online and found out that I can order rhubarb bulbs from Burpee. I remember my parents getting their catalog in the mail every year before the days of the internet!

Ordering online will be much quicker, but I think I want to see if I could start getting that catalog again. If you need rhubarb plants too, you can buy them right here.

If you end up with too much rhubarb (is that even a thing??) you can use the extra to make rhubarb vinegar. It’s so delicious and versatile.

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My favorite part of this tasty rhubarb dessert is the crisp topping! The brown sugar helps to give it that delicious flavor and adds to the crisping too.

To serve this old-fashioned Rhubarb crisp, my favorite way is just as-is with nothing on top, but you can top it with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream or anything else you like.

Just make sure not to put topping on until right before eating so that the crisp topping stays crisp!

Now on to the super delicious rhubarb recipe!! If you love it as much as I do, please use the buttons above to share it by pinning on Pinterest or sharing with your friends on Facebook!

NOTE: The recipe as written is very sweet. I mentioned Grandma, and mine made everything super sweet. She even added an extra cup of sugar when mixing up Country Time Lemonade! So, usually when I make this recipe now I use only 3/4 cup of white sugar rather than a full cup in the rhubarb layer.

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Classic Rhubarb Crisp Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

Rhubarb Layer:
4 cups of rhubarb cut into 1/2″ pieces
1 cup white sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Topping:
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup old fashioned oats
1 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon

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How to Make Rhubarb Crisp:

Heat oven to 375 degrees.
Mix rhubarb, sugar, 1/3 cup flour and 1/2 tsp cinnamon in an 8″ x 8″ glass baking dish.
Mix butter, oats, 1 cup flour, sugar, salt and 1/2 tsp cinnamon in a medium bowl.
Sprinkle topping over rhubarb mixture.
Bake for 30 minutes – 35 minutes, or until topping starts to brown.

What to serve with old fashioned Rhubarb Crisp:

I love my rhubarb crisp “as is”, but you can top yours topped with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

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Classic Rhubarb Crisp Recipe

Chrysa

This Classic Rhubarb Crisp Recipe is just like Grandma used to make! Just 8 ingredients is all it takes to make this delicious dessert.

4.48 from 117 votes

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Servings 9 Servings

Calories 350 kcal

Ingredients

Rhubarb Layer

  • 4 cups of rhubarb cut into 1/2" pieces
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup flour
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Topping

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 375 degrees.

  • Mix rhubarb, sugar, 1/3 cup flour and 1/2 tsp cinnamon in an 8" x 8" glass baking dish

  • Mix butter, oats, 1 cup flour, sugar, salt and 1/2 tsp cinnamon in a medium bowl.

  • Sprinkle topping over rhubarb mixture.

  • Bake for 30 minutes – 35 minutes.

Video

Notes

The recipe as written is very sweet. If you prefer it to be less sweet (but still not quite tart) you can reduce the amount of sugar in the rhubarb layer to 3/4 cup.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 62gProtein: 3gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 219mgFiber: 2gSugar: 43g

I am not a nutritionist. These values were calculated automatically with the Spoonacular Food API.

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ABOUT CHRYSA + THRIFTY JINXY

Thrifty Jinxy helps you live a fabulous life on a frugal budget. By spending less on the boring everyday stuff, you can have more money to splurge on the things you REALLY want! We feature recipes, DIY ideas, money-saving tips, great on-line deals, and more! Read more...

Classic Rhubarb Crisp Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should you soak rhubarb before baking? ›

Discard leaves and woody ends. Wash rhubarb with cool tap water, but do not soak.

Why is my rhubarb crisp runny? ›

TROUBLESHOOTING: WHY IS MY RHUBARB CRISP RUNNY? It's pretty typical for any kind of fruit crisp to be a bit liquid-y while it's still warm. The juices are flowing and they are just thinner because of the warmth. But as long as you used the right amount of cornstarch, it should “gel” quite a lot as it cools down.

What brings out the Flavour of rhubarb? ›

While cinnamon may be a more common spice to pair with rhubarb, citrusy, herbal cardamon lends a warm, citrusy note to a dish. A big pinch of ground cardamom can be added to any cake, pie, or compote, or you can simply add a little to the whipped cream you'll be topping your rhubarb dessert with.

How to prepare rhubarb before baking? ›

Maincrop rhubarb can sometimes have tough, stringy ribs, so after washing it, strip these off with a small, sharp knife and slice the stalk thinly or thickly as required. Forced rhubarb should be tender enough not to need peeling – just wash, then trim the top and bottom of the stalks and slice.

What happens if you don't peel rhubarb? ›

So, in conclusion: You don't have to peel rhubarb before eating it. Of course, you can if you want to. But doing it means that some of the lovely red flavor is going to disappear. I usually just prepare rhubarb by rinsing it and then cutting it into thin slices!

What are the tips and tricks for rhubarb? ›

Rhubarb grows best in an open, sunny site with fertile, moist but free-draining soil. It will also cope in light shade. Avoid ground that gets waterlogged, as plants are liable to rot. If your soil is heavy, plant in raised beds or large containers.

Can you eat raw rhubarb? ›

Typically, you would only eat the stalk of a rhubarb plant, which is safe to eat both raw and uncooked, according to Richter. The stalk contains no poisons, and you will normally not get sick eating it, though you'll likely want to sweeten or cook the stalk before eating it to make it more palatable.

How to cook rhubarb without it going mushy? ›

Method. Put the rhubarb into a saucepan with the orange zest, juice, sugar and 2 tbsp water. Bring to the boil then simmer for 8 mins until the rhubarb is cooked but still holds its shape.

What is the difference between rhubarb crisp and crumble? ›

So what's a crumble vs. a crisp? A crumble is just a crisp without oats in the streusel. It may feature nuts, but the streusel topping is usually a simple combination of butter, flour, and sugar that is more clumpy than that of a crisp.

How do you keep crumble topping crunchy? ›

They're supposed to be chunky and craggy, with big pieces of crumble on top. By freezing your topping, it makes it harden just slightly and that means the texture will be nice and crispy when it's cooked.” To do this properly, you first need to make sure that the topping is still a little lumpy.

Why is my crisp soggy? ›

Not enough butter, and your topping will be a dry, floury mess. Too much butter and your topping will become a greasy blob or disappointingly soggy.

Do coffee grounds help rhubarb? ›

Incorporating coffee grounds into the soil around rhubarb plants can improve soil structure, promote microbial activity, and enhance overall plant health. Also, coffee grounds can help deter certain pests, such as slugs and snails, which may damage rhubarb foliage.

Why is rhubarb a laxative? ›

Sennoside A and other dianthrone derivatives are reported to be the active ingredients causing rhubarb's laxative effect (6). They are metabolized by β-glucosidase of enterobacterial origin and are converted into rhein anthrone, which produces the purgative activity.

What is the best sweetener for rhubarb? ›

My advice is yes, try honey! The recipe pictured above (and linked below) includes some honey along with the sugar; try making it with just the honey and see how it turns out. Sometimes, depending on how tender and fresh the rhubarb is, I even cut the sugar down by half.

Can you soak rhubarb in water overnight? ›

Directions. Put the rhubarb in a bowl, pour over 4 cups boiling water, cover, and leave at room temperature overnight. Next day, strain the liquid into a saucepan, discarding the rhubarb. Add the sugar and lemon juice, and bring to a boil 5 minutes.

How long do you water bath rhubarb? ›

Process in a water bath or steam canner . Process either half-litre (US pint) or litre (US quart) jars for 15 minutes. Increase time as needed for your altitude.

Can you soak rhubarb? ›

Solution: Soak the rhubarb in water to reduce the acid, simmer in orange juice and sugar (and don't stir too much) to retain texture and color, and layer with lightly whipped, sweetened cream for ideal flavor and texture and an attractive, unusual presentation. 1. Soak rhubarb in 1 gallon cold water for 20 minutes.

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