Last Updated on May 3, 2026 by Lisa Keys

Sweet strawberries and tart rhubarb baked into a juicy sauce under a crumbly topping. Strawberry rhubarb crumble is one of my favorite desserts. It's half the reason I grow both strawberries and rhubarb in my garden. The other reason is pie and skillet cake.

A serving of strawberry rhubarb crumble with ice cream.

A strawberry rhubarb crumble is such an easy dessert to make. It's basically a juicy pie without the hassle of making a pie crust. Any fruit will do. You can even make a frozen fruit crumble, but I love how well fresh strawberries and rhubarb play together. And if you are anything like me extra crumble, with or without nuts, is a necessity.

Fifteen years have passed since I lost my son, Will, yet every April 16th still brings me to my knees. I crumble. This week, on what would have been his 38th birthday, I woke at 2:00 AM to roam the dark hallways, instinctively searching for him, hoping to reach him before he drew his last breath.

The day turned miserable when I learned that vandals had destroyed his memorial bench. They ripped it from its base and burned the wood for a campfire. I struggled to process such a heartless act.

Then, the tide turned.

The Community Unites

Our small town rallied instantly. Friends began retelling Will's stories and, within hours, raised enough money to purchase a brand new bench. Their kindness transformed my grief into gratitude.

A Heavenly "Whoosh"

The evening brought one final, breathtaking surprise: an email from a casting director. I have officially moved to the next round of the competition. The recipe that won them over? The Patriotic Sparkler, the very cocktail I created to honor Will.

In that moment, I knew Will had reached out to put a smile on my face. Whoosh! Cooking and baking will always be an act of love for me. It absolutely keeps me from crumbling.

How to make Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble

Strawberry rhubarb filling ingredients. — Fruit filling ingredients.

Fruit filling. — Toss strawberries and rhubarb with sugar, salt, cornstarch, orange zest and juice. Let stand for 10 minutes and then toss again.

Pro Tips:

Slice large strawberries into quarters and smaller berries in half.
Dice rhubarb into ½-inch pieces.
Let the fruit filling macerate for 10 minutes to release some juice.
Toss the fruit mixture a second time to make sure the cornstarch has dissolved.
Adding nuts to the crumb mixture gives extra crunch, but be careful they do not burn. Cover the crumble with foil if the topping is looking too dark.

Crumble ingredients. — Mix flour, brown sugar, salt and cardamom.