Rhubarb Crumb Pie is bursting with fresh rhubarb. The filling has a tart-sweet flavor and beautiful pink color. The pie is finished with a crumb topping made with brown sugar and oats.
There’s a reason rhubarb is called the “pie plant”. Because it makes the best pies!! Although it’s almost impossible to choose a favorite pie (because all the pies are awesome) if I had to choose, rhubarb would certainly be in the running.
On that note, since we can’t have too many rhubarb pie recipes, today I’ll share this lovely recipe for Rhubarb Crumb Pie. The crunchy, oaty topping is the perfect texture and flavor with the sweet/tart filling.
Tips for making a great Rhubarb Crumb Pie:
- “Macerate” the chopped rhubarb with sugar to draw out the juices. When uncooked fruit is tossed with sugar, the sugar is drawn into the fruit and reinforces the cell walls. This helps the fruit maintain it’s shape while baking. The rhubarb will still soften, but it won’t become a total mush. Yes, “total mush” is a technical pastry term…
- The butter for the crumb topping should be slightly cool but a little pliable. If the butter is very cold it will be more difficult to cut it into the dry ingredients. If the butter is soft and melty, it will completely mix into the dry ingredients and you won’t get nice distinct clumps of crumb topping.
- Precook the rhubarb juice with the cornstarch to activate the cornstarch. This helps prevent runny pie filling.
- Place the pie on a sheet pan lined with aluminum foil or parchment. Because rhubarb has so much moisture, it will often boil over in the oven.
- If you do get boil overs with burnt rhubarb juice on the sheet pan, just soak it in water and the cooked juice will eventually melt away.
- Bake the pie until the fruit in the center of the pie is tender and the juices are bubbling.
- The pie is best the day it’s baked but can be stored at room temperature for several days.
Scroll through the step-by-step photos to see how to make Rhubarb Crumb Pie:
I am obsessed with the unique flavor of rhubarb. You too? Here are a few more recipes for you to try:
- Classic Rhubarb Pie
- Rhubarb Meringue Tart
- Rhubarb Summer Pudding
- Rhubarb Crumb Cake
- Rhubarb Fritters
- Rhubarb Upside Down Cake
- Rhubarb Shortcakes
- Rhubarb Crumb Bars
- Rhubarb Sorbet
- Rhubarb Ice Cream
If you love this recipe as much as I do, please consider giving it a 5-star review.
Rhubarb Crumb Pie
Yield:
8 portions
Prep Time:
45 minutes
Macerating Time:
1 hour
Bake Time:
1 hour
Total Time:
2 hours 45 minutes
Pure Rhubarb Pie just might be the best fruit pie of all. The filling has a tart-sweet flavor and beautiful pink color. The pie is finished with a crumb topping made with brown sugar and oats.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 lbs (1.12 kg) rhubarb, cut into 1" pieces
- 2 1/2 cups (1 lb 4 oz, 560g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon finely grated fresh lemon zest
- 6 tablespoons (1.75 oz, 48g) corn starch
- 1/2 recipe Perfect Pie Crust
- Pinch of salt
Crumb Topping
- 1 cup (5oz, 140g) all purpose flour
- 1 cup (3 oz, 84g) old fashioned rolled oats
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 cup (4 oz, 112g) brown sugar
- 1/4 cup (2 oz, 56g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 1/2 sticks (6 oz, 168 g) unsalted butter, cool and slightly pliable
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the rhubarb pieces, sugar, salt and lemon zest. Toss to combine. Allow the fruit to macerate at room temperature for 1 hour.
- Roll the pie dough and line the bottom of a 9" pie plate. Trim the crust to even out the edges. Use your fingers or a fork to crimp the crust. Refrigerate until ready to bake. If working more than a couple hours ahead, wrap the pan to prevent the dough from drying out.
- Strain the rhubarb and collect the juice. Combine the corn starch with 1/4 cup of the juice and whisk until smooth. Bring the remaining juice to a boil in a small saucepan. Whisk the cornstarch slurry into the boiling juices. Whisking constantly, cook the juice mixture until it is at a full boil.
- Toss the thickened juice with the rhubarb slices. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
- Remove the pie plate from the refrigerator and pour the filling into the pie plate. In the same bowl from the rhubarb, combine the flour, oats, baking soda, salt, brown sugar, granulated sugar and vanilla. Mix to combine the ingredients.
- Toss in the butter and mix with your fingers until the butter bits are no larger than a pea and the dough clumps together when squeezed. Crumble the topping evenly over the rhubarb filling.
- Set the pie onto the parchment lined baking sheet. Bake the pie on the bottom rack of the oven for about 1-1 1/2 hours. The filling is ready when the fruit in the center is tender and you can see the juices bubbling.
- Cool at least 2 hours to allow the filling to set before slicing. The pie will keep at room temperature for several days.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Jessica
Wednesday 22nd of July 2020
Looks yummy! I like your tidbits with macerating the rhubarb.. can I add strawberries to this? Not sure if I can add Without having to alternate something else.. thanks!
Eileen Gray
Wednesday 22nd of July 2020
Yes, you can add strawberry to this pie. I would suggest you just swap out equal amount of rhubarb for strawberry.
Margaret
Tuesday 2nd of June 2020
Cant wait to try this.
It states "1.2 tsp vanilla." Is this 1 and 1/4 tsp or something else?
Eileen Gray
Tuesday 2nd of June 2020
That should be a 1/2 tsp. It's been fixed. Thanks.