This is an old-fashioned dessert that feels simple in the best possible way. No fancy ingredients or complicated technique, just rhubarb baked until bubbling under a crisp topping that's hard not to eat straight from the pan.
Rhubarb can be surprisingly sharp before baking, so don't be tempted to cut back too much on the sugar unless you already know your stalks are mild. The crumble topping naturally balances the tartness and creates that classic sweet-tangy contrast rhubarb lovers want. I also use lemon juice and zest, which add an acidic tone, but work fantastically well with the sugar and tart fruit.
Vintage dessert
If you like desserts that balance sweet and tart flavors without being overly rich, rhubarb crumble deserves a spot in your spring baking lineup. The filling turns soft and jammy in the oven while the topping bakes into buttery golden crumbs with just enough crunch.
Rhubarb season is short, and the fruit itself is not easy to find where I am, so when I do, I like the recipe I choose to be worth it. Just like its sibling, the crisp with rhubarb and strawberries, this old-fashioned dessert feels like spring and early summer in every bite, a far cry from its cozy counterpart, my grandmother's apple crumble.
It's always a bit of kitchen magic to see the firm, bright pink (or sometimes green!) rhubarb stalks soften and break down in the oven. They go from quite firm to beautifully tender, creating that signature slightly pulpy texture in the filling.
This recipe has no oats, which is why it's a crumble, as opposed to a crisp, which does use them. I know the definitions are used interchangeably, so I wanted to explain how I normally use them (with a few exceptions from old blog posts).
Testing Notes
Paula's baking tips that can make a difference.
The key is to balance the sourness from the rhubarb. It's what makes this dessert unique. If you're working with particularly tart rhubarb, bump the sugar slightly or add a drizzle of honey.
Fresh rhubarb: Look for firm, crisp, medium-thick stalks for the best texture, as large ones might be tougher and need to be peeled. Avoid limp or blemished ones. Color doesn't equal flavor; green rhubarb can be just as tasty as red stalks. If using frozen rhubarb (not my first choice, but you can), don't thaw; use it straight from the freezer.
Sugar: I like the mix of white sugar for the topping (crunchiness) and brown sugar for the filling, giving it a caramel undertone. But you can use only one type for both layers.
Fresh lemon juice has a much better flavor and sourness than bottled. As does freshly grated lemon zest.
Ratios matter. Not just the fruit to topping balance, but also the sweet-tart mix. I prefer a thick fruit layer compared to the amount of topping, but experiment to find what suits you best. If you want more tartness, add more rhubarb or increase the lemon zest. For a sweeter dessert, don't use the lemon zest or substitute it for orange zest.
Should you peel the rhubarb? Only if the stalks are particularly thick and stringy. Most grocery store rhubarb is tender enough to use as-is.
Though I favor and encourage seasonal, fresh fruit, rhubarb has a short season and can be frozen. Frozen fruit tends to release more liquid as it bakes, and I find that thawing the rhubarb is a good idea, as it tends to develop an icy coating, even if it's in an airtight container. If this is not the case for you, use it directly from the freezer.
For a thicker fruit syrup, use the cornstarch or flour. I don't normally, as I like runny fillings for this type of dessert, but I don't think most people like heavier syrups. For these images, I didn't use it. The rhubarb was frozen, but I let it thaw and drain, so it didn't have extra water. If using fruit directly from the freezer, it's a good idea to add a thickener.
Steps to make rhubarb crisp
The fruit
Chop the rhubarb stalks into roughly bite-sized pieces (half-inch or so) so that they bake evenly. And smaller bites are easier to eat.
Crumble topping
It's a simple method: stir the dry ingredients together, add the melted butter (warm, not hot), and mix everything until crumbly. And clumpy.
It can be made ahead and refrigerated for a week or frozen for a month. Break up the clumps before using if necessary.
Baking
When the fruit filling starts to bubble up, and the topping turns a golden brown, it means the juices are thickening, and the crumble is baking as it should.
If it starts browning too quickly, you can loosely tent the dish with foil.
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Vintage Rhubarb Crumble (sweet, buttery topping)
Ingredients
For the crumble:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- pinch of salt
- ¼ cup white sugar
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
For the rhubarb:
- 4 to 5 cups rhubarb pieces, fresh or frozen, see Notes below
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch or flour, optional, for a thicker syrup
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
For the crumble:
- In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup all-purpose flour, a pinch of salt, ¼ cup white sugar, and ⅓ cup light brown sugar.
- Drizzle ½ cup unsalted butter, melted, over the dry ingredients and stir with a fork until it resembles coarse, clumpy crumbs. Cover and keep refrigerated while you make the filling or up to a week. Or frozen for a month.
For the rhubarb layer:
- Have ready an oven-proof glass or ceramic, deep baking dish (I use an 8x11-inch deep dish, oval one, but a 9-inch round or square baking dish also works).
- Scatter 4 to 5 cups rhubarb pieces in the dish and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons light brown sugar and drizzle with 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice. Grate ½ teaspoon lemon zest over them and stir to mix lightly. You can also use a large bowl to mix the fruit and transfer it to the prepared dish.
- If using 2 teaspoons cornstarch or flour to thicken the juices, dissolve them first in the lemon juice (or same amount of extra water) before drizzling it over the sugar.
- Top the rhubarb with this mixture. It will cover the surface irregularly, and the edges will not have much. That's fine.
- Bake for about 40 minutes, until dry, golden, and the reddish fruit juices are bubbling.
- Let cool on a wire rack until warm and eat with some whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
- Keep leftovers refrigerated, covered in plastic wrap or in an airtight container, and warm slightly before eating to bring back the crispiness of the topping.
Dee says
Hi are you able to use any fruit or is it just rhubarb
Paula Montenegro says
Hi Dee, you can use other fruit, but they behave differently depending on how sweet, tart or juicy they are. So you'll need to adjust for that. There are many other fruit crumbles in the blog if you want to check them out.
Barb Porath says
my family loved this!