Strawberry Rhubarb Skillet Crumble ~ a delicious and naturally gluten free dessert made with the juiciest strawberries and tart rhubarb ~ be sure to save a piece for breakfast!
We’re smack dab in the middle of the early spring paradox. By noon the sun is warming the backs of our necks, we slip on flip flops and get all excited about the 2 for 1 strawberry sale. But by 5 pm we’re slamming the windows shut and grabbing our thickest cardigan and fuzzy socks. A cold strawberry isn’t going to cut it. What we’re really craving is a bubbling cauldron of ruby red fruit oozing out from under a sizzling crumble crust, tamed by a single, swirling stream of melting vanilla ice cream.
I’ve been plotting to make this crumble for a while now, just waiting to pounce when the first rosy stalks of rhubarb made their appearance. Rhubarb is an early spring crop, and it only seems to show up in stores during its season. Technically it’s a vegetable. I found mine wedged in next to the chard…keep a sharp eye out. The day after tomorrow is California Strawberry Day, so this crumble combo is pure serendipity.
Fresh strawberries are almost always too sour for me except for maybe one or two weeks a year. But who cares if the berries are freakishly large and a little pale inside… once you cook them they become sweet and jammy and really really good. The sweetness of the strawberries with the tart of the rhubarb balance each other out so well.
This is my favorite way to cook. It’s not fussy in the least, and it showcases the ingredients beautifully. For this one you only need rinse and rough chop the fruit, and toss it with a little sugar and lemon juice. You don’t need to be precise, just fill the bottom of your baking dish or skillet.
I usually toss together crumble toppings by eye. To make this one easy to remember I kept the amounts equal all around. I used oat flour, which I love for the flavor, but you can substitute regular flour. The hazelnut meal adds a rich note to the crust, but of course you can use any nut you like.
I say lay a big scoop of vanilla on it asap, and eat it while it’s steaming hot— just be careful not to scald your tongue or get brain freeze. (Even if you do, it’ll be worth it.)
TIP: A cast iron skillet is a fabulous pan to have in the kitchen, they’re inexpensive and wear like, well, iron! I love Lodge brand, they’re the classics. You can find them here.
If you love rhubarb, try my NO BAKE RHUBARB DREAM BARS ~ they have a heavenly texture. And if you’re more partial to strawberries, I love my STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE SCONES,
Strawberry Rhubarb Skillet Crumble (naturally gluten free)
Ingredients
- 1 lb strawberries, washed, hulled and chopped
- 1 lb rhubarb, washed, trimmed, and thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup sugar
- juice of 1/2 lemon
- 2 Tbsp oat flour
topping
- 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup oat flour
- 1/2 cup ground hazelnuts
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 5 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided, at room temperature
Instructions
- Set oven to 350F
- For the fruit filling, mix the strawberries, rhubarb, sugar, lemon juice, and oat flour together in a bowl. Put it in a 10 inch cast iron skillet or baking dish of your choice.
- Mix the dry ingredients together and then, using your fingertips, mix in 4 Tbsp of the soft butter and the vanilla extract. Break up the butter into small pieces and keep mixing until there is no longer any dry flour, and the topping has a nice large crumbly texture.
- Scatter the topping over the fruit evenly.
- Dot with the last Tbsp of butter
- Bake for 45 minutes until golden browned and bubbling like crazy.
Notes
- You can do this with all strawberries, or even all rhubarb if you like. If you go with all rhubarb you may need more sugar.
- This makes a FABULOUS breakfast.
Nutrition
Don’t forget to pin this gluten free strawberry rhubarb crumble!
i haven’t broken out my flip-flops yet, but it’s coming!
i absolutely love this, sue, from the colors all the way to that buttery topping. vanilla ice cream is a must for something like this!
I am dying for some fruits and berries to come into season around here…fruit crisps, crumbles, and pies are my favorite. This sounds amazing!
i am ready for this crumble to crumble in my mouth! I mean seriously- it is just gorgeous. WOW
My mom used to make a crumble in a 9×13 pan with my dad’s garden raspberries when I was growing up that looks so similar to what you’ve done in this skillet. I adored it. This post reminds me of summers and my childhood 🙂 I have a skillet bread recipe coming tomorrow. Love making things in them – such a timesaver! And glad I’m not the only one who thinks fresh strawberries can be awfully tart except 2weeks a year!
You’re killing me today. Strawberries and rhubarb is a favorite combination for me and I would LOVE to have a huge scoop of your crumble. It looks perfect. I bet the ground hazelnuts give the crust an unexpected and deliciously unique flavor.
Some things are so much better cooked–that garden raspberry crumble sounds wonderful—imagine having enough home grown raspberries to fill a 9×13 pan!
This does steer my thoughts to warm Spring days. So far it has been hit and miss weather wise but I would never pass up on a crumble like this.
Yum, your crumble looks so delicious, especially with the ice cream!
Wow Sue – I can never get a pretty crumble photo but you got about 10! Very nice and I am so ready for spring. We still have snow hiding in the corners of our yards. Love strawberry and rhubarb – they are made for each other!
Making this as soon as I see rhubarb, thanks Sue as always!