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

Why is my rhubarb crisp soggy? ›

Why is my rhubarb crumble soggy? There might be a couple of reasons: - The rhubarb will start to release its juices as soon as its mixed with the sugar so only mix your fruit right before baking. - There's to much moisture in your fruit.

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.

Why is my rhubarb crumble dry? ›

Usually it's the crumble that wrong. It might be too lean, making it rather dry and everlasting to eat, or it's undercooked so that it has the pasty flavour of uncooked flour.

Should you soak rhubarb before baking? ›

Wash rhubarb with cool tap water, but do not soak.

What is the secret to crunchy crumble? ›

A pastry chef friend shared the technique. Instead of sprinkling the raw crumbs on top of the fruit, where they absorb the juices and turn a little mushy on their undersides, he spread them out in a pan and baked them separately, until crisp and cookielike.

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.

Why is my crumble topping not crunchy? ›

Too much butter and your topping will become a greasy blob or disappointingly soggy. Some recipes will ask you to cut in cold butter along with your dry ingredients, resulting in pea-size pieces that are sprinkled across the hot fruit filling.

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.

When not to use rhubarb? ›

If you already have kidney disease, avoid rhubarb. Kidney stones: Rhubarb contains a chemical that the body can convert into kidney stones. If you have ever had kidney stones, don't take rhubarb.

What is the best sweetener for rhubarb? ›

In Jenny's mind, rhubarb needs little more than two additional ingredients and 30 minutes in the oven to come to life. It also can rely on some of nature's best sweeteners—honey and orange juice—to bring it to its sweetest, most flavorful heights.

Is A rhubarb A vegetable or a fruit? ›

Rhubarb is a vegetable often thought to be a fruit. There's actually a good reason for this confusion: in 1947 the USDA classified it as a fruit because the tariffs on bringing fruits into the country were lower on fruits than vegetables. In actuality though, rhubarb is a vegetable - a member of the buckwheat family.

Can you eat rhubarb raw? ›

Its stalks are deeper red and tinged with green, while its leaves are bright green. It has a more intense flavour and robust texture than the forced variety. Although it can be eaten raw, rhubarb tends to be too tart this way, and it's usually best when cooked with plenty of sugar.

What herbs pair with rhubarb? ›

The abundance of both fresh rhubarb and fresh herbs available in early summer can be combined in a simple fruit-based dessert the whole family will love.

Is it better to cut or twist rhubarb? ›

Begin picking stalks as soon as they have reached their full length. Depending on the variety, they may be only 12 inches long, or as long as two feet. To pick rhubarb, hold the stalk firmly, pull and twist. Do not use a knife to cut the stalks from the plant.

Do you take the red skin off of rhubarb? ›

Some rhubarb varieties are prone to being stringy, and rhubarb which has been left too long on the plant can also develop a 'stringiness' – if this occurs, pull away any thick, fibrous strands before cooking. Peeling rhubarb is rarely necessary. Most recipes require the rhubarb to be cut into batons.

Is it better to cut or pull rhubarb stalks? ›

Slide hand down stalk and gently but firmly twist and pull. Pulling is better than cutting, but if you must, cutting is okay too, it will just take a little longer to recover and may leave the plant vulnerable at the cut – but let's face it, rhubarb is tough!

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