Rhubarb Crisp Crumble

The good news is this delicious Rhubarb Crisp Crumble recipe is vegetarian, egg-free, and nut-free. With some substitutions, it can be vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free.

Crisp Crumble is a delicious dessert made with tangy rhubarb layers. Over half of the crumble sits at the bottom, and the remaining covers the fruit. When cooking, the rhubarb juices run into the base, creating a sweet, beautiful pastry-like texture.

Crumble is a popular dessert in many English-speaking countries. During the summer season, our garden is full of rhubarb. You can’t beat homegrown rhubarb; it’s easy to grow and tastes much nicer than store-bought. For a little background, rhubarb is a vegetable used like a fruit in cooking; it is red when ripe and has a slightly bitter taste.

It offers a delightful balance of flavors when cooked and creates a satisfying and memorable dessert. The contrast between tart and sweet, soft and crunchy, and the warmth of the baked dish make it a favorite comfort food for many people, particularly during the spring and summer months when rhubarb is in season.

What’s To Love?

💕 Rhubarb crisp crumble has a unique and delightful flavor that combines rhubarb’s tartness with the crumble’s sweetness.
💕 As it bakes, the sugars caramelize, creating a sweet and slightly crunchy layer. The sweetness balances the rhubarb’s distinct tartness, creating a refreshing and lively contrast to the sweet crumble topping.
💕 Doesn’t require any hard-to-find ingredients.
💕 Tastes as good as it looks with its rich, tart flavors.
💕 The cooked rhubarb becomes tender, almost jam-like, while the crumble topping turns golden brown and crispy. This combination of soft and crunchy textures adds to the overall enjoyment and comfort of the dessert.
💕 Offers a deep, satisfying, jammy, crumbly taste.
💕 Is a surefire crowd-pleaser that will have everyone coming back for seconds.
💕 Perfect for entertaining to serve at family gatherings.

Have you already tried Rhubarb Crisp Crumble? If so, let us know how it was…we can’t wait to hear all about it!

Let’s Talk Ingredients

We feel every ingredient adds to the overall taste and texture; if you remove one, it’s like you’ve removed them all.

• Rhubarb — lovely tart red and green long-stem fruit, brings a unique flavor to the dessert.
• Cornflour — acts as a binder. Cornflour and cornstarch are the same ingredients; we do not use cornmeal.
• Vanilla Extract — use Nielsen Massey, which is made with real vanilla beans and alcohol. The vanilla is quite potent and adds a beautiful richness to desserts.
• Rhubarb Jam — we use this rhubarb jam because it also includes vanilla and tastes divine.
• Flour — use all-purpose flour.
• Sugar For The Base — use golden caster sugar to bind with the rhubarb.
• Sugar For The Crumble — use this coconut sugar for the crumble because it adds flavor and a nice chewy texture.
• Oats — use rolled oats.
• Butter — use unsalted or salted butter.
• Baking Powder — helps with crumble fluffiness, but feel free to use whatever brand you have.
• Cinnamon — use ground ceylon cinnamon because its flavor is sweet and has a beautiful, fresh aroma and exquisite taste.
• Allspice — a lovely mix of spices that contribute to a richer flavor.
• Salt — use Himalayan salt; it brings out the flavor and offsets the sweetness.
• Almonds — use these slivered almonds, also known as sliced or flaked. They are used to top the crumble and add a great crunch.

For more detailed ingredients, see the recipe card.

Customizations

Here are some foodie alternatives should you want to make some changes:

• Rhubarb — strawberries, blueberries, and apples are plentiful during the summer. Try combining the rhubarb with either of these beautiful sweet fruits; they’re a perfect combination. Our blueberry rhubarb jam would be perfect for the filling with this crumble variation.
• Cornflour — almond flour or ground almonds are a great alternative.
• Flour  — use brown rice flour; it gives a lovely light texture and is gluten-free.
• Vanilla Extract — if you prefer a non-alcohol base, use vanilla flavoring.
• Butter — we tested the crumble with dairy-free butter, and the results were perfect.
• Almonds — a great alternative is to add extra sweetness with a sprinkle of coconut sugar; it will darken the crumble topping.
• Spices — ground nutmeg and ground ginger are great additions or substitutions for the allspice.

When substituting ingredients, it’s essential to remember that the taste, texture, and overall result might differ, particularly if you’re substituting many ingredients.

If you have made the Rhubarb Crisp Crumble with any customizations, we’d love to hear about it; please message us in the comments.

Instructions – Overview

Execution for making this cake is moderately simple; once you’ve mastered it, you’ll want to make it again. Here’s a breakdown of how to get started on your baking journey (more detailed instructions are in the recipe card):

▶︎ Each bite of the rhubarb crumble delivers a symphony of flavors and textures. The filling bursts with rhubarb’s natural sweetness, enhanced by a hint of vanilla, rhubarb jam, and a touch of sugar to balance the tartness. The filling is a masterpiece of lovely, sweet rhubarb flavors.

▶︎ The base and the topping are combined with flour, baking powder, oats, sugar, butter, salt, and spices and rubbed together to create a fine crumble.

▶︎ Once assembled, the top crumble is sprinkled with slivered almonds to create a crunchy texture. The contrast of crunchy and tender elements creates a harmonious balance that is both comforting and satisfying.

For more detailed instructions, notes, and ideas…see the recipe card.

Tools You’ll Need

Want to make the best Rhubarb Crisp Crumble? Using the correct equipment for preparation is essential; we think they’re a big helping hand. We understand that you might already have some of these kitchen tools to make this recipe, or you might want to use other tools and may not require our recommendations. Here are some of our suggestions to get you started:

• 21cm Square Dish
• Mixing Bowl – for the fruit.
• Food Processor – for the crumble, it is optional but worth it to save time.
• Silicone Spatula – for stirring and incorporating all the ingredients smoothly.
• Weighing Scales and Measuring Spoons – to measure the ingredients accurately.

If you love those gadgets for this recipe, then you’ll love this food processor for mixing, chopping, grating, whisking, beating, and more. It’s our go-to for many of our recipes, and we think every budding chef needs it.

Check out our favorite kitchen equipment that we love to use with all our recipes.

Storing

See our FAQs for detailed instructions on storing, refrigeration, freezing, and defrosting and for answers to readers’ questions.

Do you have a question? If so, let us know in the comments and we’ll reply within 24-48 hours and add your question to our FAQs if relevant.

Pairing

Rhubarb Crisp Crumble is frequently eaten as a standalone dessert, but can easily be paired. Here are some suggestions and our favorite go-to’s what to eat with it:

▶︎ This timeless dessert is delightful eaten with a dollop of homemade freshly whipped cream, pouring cream, or vanilla ice cream.

▶︎ A typical British go-to is serving the Rhubarb crumble with a drizzle of thick custard.

More Recipes

Here are some other delicious recipes that we think you might also like:

⭐️ Quick Tip: Read the recipe in its entirety before you start. This will help you understand the ingredients, steps, and timing involved, and allow you to prepare any necessary equipment or ingredients beforehand. Voila…you’re all set to go!

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FAQ’s & Troubleshooting

By addressing these FAQs and troubleshooting tips, you can overcome common challenges and create a delicious batch of Rhubarb Crisp Crumble every time.

Your Questions Matter

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For food safety top tips, check out USDA.gov.