This strawberry rhubarb crisp is pure comfort with the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness and a buttery oat topping. I always eat it a la mode!
I grew up with a rhubarb obsessed father. Is it a generational thing? I’m going to bet most people these days have never even tried rhubarb yet everyone’s Mom and Dad seem to love it. I hated it. I mean, wouldn’t even touch the stuff! I’m still a bit weird about it depending on how it is used, but cook it down with sweet berries and sugar and I don’t even know how to explain it, it becomes a whole new creature! It’s so good!!
Recommended Equipment
Before You Begin…
Get about 3 cups of water boiling over high heat. You’ll use the boiling water to soften and prep the rhubarb for the crisp. Rhubarb can be quite bitter but letting in sit in boiling water for a couple of minutes will dull the bitterness.
Ingredients for Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp
For the Filling
- Rhubarb: A vegetable that has edible stalks that are usually pink in color. It is quite sour like a lemon but it becomes sweeter as it cooks. It is a great source of antioxidants, fiber and vitamin K.
- Strawberries: You will want to wash and hull the strawberries before cutting them up.
- Sugar: Helps sweeten the filling.
- Brown Sugar: Adds richness and sweetness to the filling.
- Sure Gel Ultra Gel: Thickens the filling so that the filling isn’t water. You can also use flour or cornstarch.
- Lemon Zest: Adds an extra pop of flavor and brightness
- Cardamom: A spice commonly used in Indian food that has a complex flavor that is floral but also citrusy.
For the Topping
- Old Fashioned Rolled Oats: You can use quick oats too but I love the texture and chewiness the old fashioned oats add.
- Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness to the topping
- Flour: Adds structure to the topping
- Cinnamon: Adds warmth and flavor
- Salt: Enhances all the flavors of the topping
- Unsalted Butter: Adds flavor and binds all the ingredients together
The measurements for all the ingredients can be found in the recipe card down below. This is just meant to be an overview of the ingredients so keep on scrolling down for all the details.
What are Substitutes for Ultra Gel?
I prefer ultra gel over flour or cornstarch for thickening. I feel like there’s a flavor that accompanies both whereas the ultra gel is flavorless. But if you don’t have ultra gel or you don’t want to buy it, you can use flour or cornstarch.