Strawberry Rhubarb Apple Crisp Recipe

This strawberry rhubarb apple crisp recipe is perfect when you are trying to avoid added, processed sugars!

It’s funny. I’ve been eating clean and doing it without refined sugar for long enough now, that I don’t even remember what it’s really like to crave the stuff. In fact, I’m pretty sure that if I were to take a bite of a normal cake these days, it would be too sickeningly sweet for me. Is that weird? Maybe, but I’ll take it!

So if you are trying to do without refined or processed sugar, this is sure to become a family favorite. the taste is sweet n’ sour deliciousness with a crumble topping. You can’t beat this easy dessert!

What Is A Crisp?

The standard definition of a crisp is as follows:

“a dessert of fruit baked with a crunchy topping of brown sugar, butter, and flour.”

Google

This crisp recipe definitely has the crunchy toppings, but we’ll be making it without the brown sugar, butter or flour. And yes, it’s still absolutely delicious!

When Should You Not Eat Rhubarb?

Only consume rhubarb that is in season and sold in stores, unless you are very well aquainted with growing it yourself. Once temperatures drop enough at the end of the growing season, oxalic acid from the leaves of a rhubarb plant move into the stalks and it is quite toxic to humans. That being said, anything available to purchase in the store is going to be perfectly safe.

Dietary Focus

This dish is already naturally plant-based. So both vegans, vegetarians and those that are dairy-free will enjoy this dessert.

This is not, nor can it be made, low-carb. Sorry folks. I wish I could work that magic!

As long as you purchase individual, gluten-free ingredients, such as gluten-free oats, then this is gluten-free as well!

And of course, there is no added sugar of any kind. It’s all sweetened with fruit!

Recipe Variations

If you want to add some additional flavors to this sweet and tart rhubarb dish, here are the fruits and other ingredients that pair particularly well with rhubarb. Feel free to add them!

• Apricots
• Blueberries
• Blackberries
• Raspberries
• Oranges orange juice or orange zest
• Lemons, lemon juice or lemon zest
• Grapefruit, grapefruit juice or grapefruit zest
• Limes, lime juice or lime zest
• Peaches
• Nectarines
• Plums
• Ginger
• Black pepper
• Pecans

Why Is My Rhubarb Crisp Soggy?

If your crisp is still warm, the juices from the fruits will naturally have more runny liquid present. Chilling the crisp in the fridge should take care of this.

If for some reason it doesn’t, feel free to adjust the amount of starch used. The more you use, the more the fruit will “gel”.

Can You Make Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp With Frozen Fruit?

You can! If you prefer to keep your strawberries frozen, you can easily use them here. However, because frozen fruit has more water in it, you’ll want to up the starch content. Instead of 1 tablespoon, use 2 to 3 tablespoons, depending on how watery things get.

How To Serve This Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

While most folks would serve a crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, we are trying to reduce processed sugar intake here. So instead, here are some other ideas.

• Whipped cream or coconut whipped cream sweetened with stevia.
• With plain Greek yogurt.
• Over oatmeal.
• Over plain porridge.
• Just by itself!

About The Ingredients

Rhubarb stalks – chopped or sliced.

Fresh sweet strawberries

An apple – whatever kind is sweet and in season.

Apple juice concentrate – I just picked up a “tube” in the freezer section at Whole Foods. Most stores carry it and it will always come frozen in the freezer section. Look for one that is 100% juice (no sugar added).

Ground cinnamon – Just the spice with no sugar mixed in.

Tapioca starch – You can also use cornstarch or arrowroot powder.

Quick-cook oats – Normally, these aren’t used in clean eating. However, they give the finished dessert a much better texture than traditional oats. The choice is yours.

Walnuts – or any nuts you’d like to use. Raw nuts are best.

Quinoa – uncooked

Medjool dates – seeds removed.

Oil – Any light flavored oil will work here.

How To Make This Healthy Strawberry Rhubarb Apple Crisp

Place all the filling ingredients in a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Immediately reduce heat to a simmer.

Continue to simmer for approximately 1 hour. The starch should be completely dissolved and you should have a somewhat thick (almost like stew), stringy substance when done. Stir frequently.

While the rhubarb cooks, place all the topping ingredients into a food processor and blend until well combined. It should stick together just slightly, but you should still be able to “sprinkle” it over the filling.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Pour the rhubarb into a lasagna dish or other baking pan. Mine was 9×13. This should be a thin layer.

Sprinkle with the topping so the entire thing is evenly covered. Place in oven and bake for 30 minutes. The topping should have a nice, golden appearance. Check frequently after the first 20 minutes to ensure nothing gets burned.

Allow to cool completely so that the bottom of the pan can be held in your had. In other words, not hot at all. Place the entire dish in the freezer and freeze for about 2 hours. The idea here is to CHILL it, not freeze it. Once it’s frozen, it’s very hard to cut. So if you accidentally freeze it, just let it sit out on the counter until it’s soft again.

Slice into 15 pieces and serve.

Storage: Keep in the fridge for up to 6 days.

Should Strawberry Rhubarb Apple Crisp Be Refrigerated?

Definitely! And if packed well, this will last in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Can I Freeze A Rhubarb Crisp?

You can! This freezes quite well, actually. Simply place it in an airtight container that is also freezer-safe, and store it in the freezer for up to 4 months.

Recipe Supplies

For this recipe, you’ll need a medium to large sauce pan, a food processor and a baking dish. Bonus if it has a lid! To reach any of these product on Amazon, simply click the image. (affiliate links)

More Healthy Dessert Recipes

• Fresh Strawberry Pie
• Strawberry Fool

Strawberry Rhubarb Apple Crisp Recipe Card