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    Where Is My Spoon > Recipes > Sweets > Desserts

    Rhubarb and Apple Crumble

    Published by: Adina May 31, 2023 ยท Last modified: June 21, 2024 9 Comments
    Jump to Recipe
    pinterest image with title of rhubarb apple crumble.

    A delicious rhubarb and apple crumble that combines the tartness of rhubarb with the sweetness of apples, topped with a comforting crumble topping.ย Serve it with custard, vanilla sauce, or vanilla ice cream.

    casserole dish filled with crumble with rhubarb and apples with a spoon scooping the dessert.

    Rhubarb and apple crumble is a classic British dessert that is popular during the spring and early summer months when rhubarb is in season.

    Check out more delicious crumble recipes, like this Black Currant and Apple Crumble or the Gooseberry Crumble. Or make our Apple Rhubarb Crisp. 

    Jump to recipe
    • Why will you love this apple rhubarb crumble recipe?
    • Recipe ingredients
    • How to make apple and rhubarb crumble?
    • Expert Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • How to serve?
    • More baked rhubarb recipes
    • Recipe
    • Rhubarb Apple Crumble

    Why will you love this apple rhubarb crumble recipe?

    • Seasonal: We love to cook and bake using seasonal ingredients and enjoy certain types of fruit and vegetables only when they are in season. So this simple recipe is perfect for the rhubarb season.
    • Texture: The soft and tender fruit filling and the crisp and golden crumble are a delightful combination. The fruit filling becomes soft and tender during baking, creating a luscious and juicy texture, while the crumble topping is crispy and buttery, adding a nice crunch.
    • Flavor: The dessert offers a delightful balance of flavors, combining the tartness of rhubarb, the sweetness of apples, and the buttery crunch of the topping.
    • Versatility: Rhubarb and apple crumble can be enjoyed as a dessert or even as a breakfast or brunch option. You can customize the crumble topping with different ingredients like oats, spices, and other kinds of nuts.

    Recipe ingredients

    listed ingredients for making crumble dessert with rhubarb. apples and almonds.
    • Rhubarb: A tart and tangy vegetable that is often used in desserts. It has long, pink, or reddish stalks trimmed and cut into small pieces. The leaves are poisonous; always discard them. 
    • Apples: Cored and chopped. They provide a nice balance to the tartness of the rhubarb. 
      • Choose sweet apples that are firm, fresh, and suitable for baking to ensure they hold up well during the cooking process.
      • A few popular choices are Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Braeburn, or Honeycrisp.
    • Sugar: Used to sweeten the fruit filling and enhance its flavors.
      • The amount of sugar can be adjusted based on personal preference and the sweetness of the fruit.
      • You can also sweeten the filling with brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, or xylitol. 
    • You will also need three tablespoons of granulated sugar for the crumble. You canโ€™t replace this sugar with honey; crumble only works when made with sugar. 
    • All-purpose flour: Used in the topping to give it structure and help it become crispy when baked.
    • Butter: Cold, unsalted butter is cut into small pieces and rubbed into the flour to create a coarse crumble.
    • Almonds: Chopped or slivered. They provide a delightful nutty flavor and add an extra layer of texture, ensuring a crunchier crumble.
    • Spices: Cinnamon. For additional flavor and warmth, you could also add nutmeg, allspice, cardamom, or ground ginger.

    How to make apple and rhubarb crumble?

    • Chop: Clean and chop the rhubarb. Core and cube the apples (1). 
    chopped rhubarb and apples on a cutting board.
    • Sautรฉ the fresh rhubarb and the apples in one tablespoon of melted butter on medium heat for 2 minutes (use a large pan) (2).
    • Add cinnamon and sugar and cook for another 2-3 minutes (3).
    • The apples will remain more or less whole, while the rhubarb will almost disintegrate and form a kind of sauce for the apples. 
    collage of two pictures of sauteing rhubarb and apples in a large pan.
    • Taste and adjust the flavor with a little bit more sugar or honey, if necessary. Pour the mixture into a medium-sized casserole dish (4).
    • Toast the almonds in a small pan. Transfer them to a large plate and let them cool shortly (5).
    collage of two pictures of sauteed fruit in a baking dish and toasted almonds in a pan.
    • Rub the flour and the chopped butter in a large bowl until you obtain crumbs (6).
    • Add the sugar and most of the almonds. Rub the flour mixture again (7).
    collage of two pictures of crumble in a bowl before and after adding sugar and almonds.
    • Top the fruit mixture with the crumble mixture and sprinkle it with the remaining almonds (8).
    • Bake the rhubarb and apple crumble in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until the crumble is golden brown (9).
    • Let cool slightly before serving.
    apple rhubarb crumble in a casserole dish before and after baking.

    Expert Tips

    • Discard the rhubarbโ€™s leaves; they are poisonous.
    • Balance the sweetness: Taste the filling and adjust the amount of sugar accordingly, as the sweetness of the fruit can vary. However, keep in mind that the crumble is also sweet, so the filling should be somewhat tangy. 
    • Crispy topping: To achieve a crisp and golden crumble topping, use cold butter and cut it into small pieces. Use your fingertips to rub it into the flour and other dry ingredients until you have a crumbly texture. It helps a lot if your hands are also cold when you mix the crumble.
    • Toast the almonds lightly before incorporating them into the crumble to enhance their flavor and to ensure they remain crunchy during baking.
    overhed view of a baking dish with apple rhubarb crumble with a spoon in it.

    Recipe FAQs

    Can I use frozen rhubarb?

    Yes. However, remember that frozen fruit releases more liquid during baking. Therefore, thaw the rhubarb before using it and drain it well to remove all the excess liquid that would otherwise make the filling watery.ย 

    Can I make a rhubarb and apple crumble ahead of time?ย 

    Sure, you can prepare it in advance and refrigerate it until ready to bake. However, it is best to assemble and bake the dessert close to the time you plan to serve it to ensure the optimal texture and flavor.

    Can I freeze fruit crumble?

    Yes. Let it come to room temperature, wrap it tightly in aluminum foil or place it in an airtight container. Freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and reheat in the oven until warmed through.

    How to store and reheat apple crumble?

    Refrigerate in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
    Reheat in the oven until warmed through.

    How to serve?

    Serve the rhubarb apple crumble in individual bowls, ensuring that each portion has a generous amount of fruit filling and crumble topping. The choice of accompaniment is up to you, based on your taste and the occasion.

    • Serve on its own: Rhubarb apple crumble is delicious enough to be enjoyed on its own. 
    • Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The contrast of temperatures and textures is delightful.
    • Serve with custard, vanilla sauce, or whipped cream. The rhubarb and apple crumble in the picture is served with our homemade vanilla sauce. 
    • Serve with a mixture of creme fraiche and brown sugar or with warm caramel sauce.
    bowl of apple and rhubarb crumble topped with smooth vanilla sauce.

    More baked rhubarb recipes

    • Rhubarb Meringue Cake
    • Rhubarb Blackberry Loaf Cake
    • German Rhubarb Pie
    • Baked Rhubarb Custard
    • Rhubarb and Ginger Cake

    Do you like this recipe?

    Please leave a good rating in the recipe card below. Stay in touch through social media: Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram. Donโ€™t forget to tag #whereismyspoon when you try a recipe!

    Recipe

    casserole dish filled with crumble with rhubarb and apples with a spoon scooping the dessert.

    Rhubarb Apple Crumble

    A delicious rhubarb and apple crumble that combines the tartness of rhubarb with the sweetness of apples, topped with a comforting crumble topping. Serve it with custard, vanilla sauce, or vanilla ice cream.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Share GrowSaved! Rate
    Course: Desserts
    Cuisine: English
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 -6
    Calories: 695kcal
    Author: Adina

    Equipment

    • Large pan
    • Medium baking dish
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    Ingredients 

    • 12.5 oz rhubarb 350 g
    • 1 lb apples 450 g, Note 1
    • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar Note 2
    • ยฝ cup almonds slivered or chopped, 50 g
    • 1 ยผ cups all-purpose flour 150 g
    • 1 stick unsalted butter 115 g
    • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
    • custard or vanilla sauce or vanilla ice cream to serve

    Instructions

    Make the filling:

    • Prepare ingredients: Discard the rhubarbโ€™s leaves; they are poisonous. Clean the rhubarb and chop it into slices about 0.5 inch/ 1.5 cm thick. Core and chop the apples into cubes.
      12.5 oz/ 350 g rhubarb + 1 lb/ 450 g apples
    • Preheat the oven to 400ยฐF/ 200ยฐC.
    • Sautรฉ: Melt the butter in a pan and sautรฉ the rhubarb and the apples for 2 minutes. Add cinnamon and sugar (or honey) and continue cooking until all the liquid has evaporated; 2-3 minutes. The apples will remain more or less whole, while the rhubarb will almost disintegrate and form a kind of sauce for the apples.
      1 tablespoon butter + 1 teaspoon cinnamon + 2 tablespoon sugar or honey
    • Taste and adjust the flavor with a little bit more sugar or honey, if necessary. Pour the mixture into the baking dish.

    Make the crumble:

    • Toast the almonds in a small pan without adding any fat. Keep an eye on them and shake the pan regularly. Transfer to a plate as soon as they get golden and fragrant.
      ยฝ cup/ 50 g chopped/slivered almonds
    • Crumble: Place the flour and the chopped butter into a bowl. Rub with your fingers until you obtain crumbs. Add the sugar and about โ…” of the almonds and mix.
      1 ยผ cup flour + 1 stick/ 115 g butter + 3 tablespoon granulated sugar + โ…” of the almonds
    • Distribute the crumble evenly over the rhubarb-apple mixture in the baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining almonds.
    • Bake for about 25-30 minutes or until the crumble is golden brown.
    • Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature with custard or vanilla sauce, or vanilla ice cream.

    Notes

    1. Apples: Firm, fresh, and suitable for baking (to ensure they hold up well during the cooking process). A few popular choices are Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Braeburn, or Honeycrisp.
    2. Sweetener: To sweeten the crumble filling, use brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, or xylitol instead of sugar.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1/4 | Calories: 695kcal | Carbohydrates: 86g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 258mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 41g
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @adinabeck or tag #WhereIsMySpoon!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jayne says

      June 14, 2020 at 12:31 pm

      Do you need to defrost the apples and rhubarb before measuring them out?

      Reply
      • Adina says

        June 14, 2020 at 6:01 pm

        Hi Jayne. Measure more if the rhubarb is frozen, it will loose weight when defrosted. Between 400-450 g, you don't have to be too exact about the quantity here.

        Reply
    2. Cheryl says

      September 04, 2016 at 7:46 pm

      How much is a knob of butter? I have bags and bags of frozen rhubarb and bags of apples, gift from the neighbor that has a tree full of apples. This would be perfect to use up this fruit.

      Reply
      • Adina says

        September 04, 2016 at 8:43 pm

        Hi Cheryl. A knob of butter is about as large as the upper part of your thumb, a bit more or less doesn't really matter. I hope you like the crumble.?

        Reply
    3. Anca says

      April 26, 2016 at 2:11 pm

      I love apple crumble and rhubarb crumble, so I should make an apple&rhubarb crumble too ๐Ÿ™‚ It's a really lovely idea. xx

      Reply
    4. Kate says

      April 25, 2016 at 9:02 pm

      Crumbles are my absolute favorite desserts! Warm with ice cream they're just heavenly! Can't wait to try this one.

      Reply
    5. Brie says

      April 25, 2016 at 2:59 pm

      I have no idea how to choose which of your rhubarb recipes to make first each one looks sooo delicious! What a fun twist on an apple crumble and I love the almond crumble topping. Now that I know I can freeze rhubarb I'm going to make this for our next Christmas potluck!

      Reply
    6. Evi @ greenevi says

      April 25, 2016 at 2:36 pm

      I'm so happy you remembered it and made this lovely crumble recipe again! I also haven't made any for ages but I totally crave it now ๐Ÿ™‚
      Such a great idea adding almond on top!

      Reply
    7. Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says

      April 24, 2016 at 12:44 pm

      Rhubarb is one of my favorites. I love the tartness but I also love that it is ready in the early spring! There's nothing better than having something fresh from the garden. This crumble sounds delicious!

      Reply
    5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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