Grandmas Raspberry Rhubarb Crumble is the perfect balance of tart and sweet! The rhubarb is tender and still has a little bit of sour bite. And the cinnamon crumble on top…don’t even get me started!
This recipe is an adaption of my Dad’s mother’s recipe for rhubarb crumble. All I did was throw some raspberries into the mix, because you just don’t mess with perfect. And this crumble is perfect!
Family legend has it that the rhubarb Grandma Farr grew in the back yard was the best rhubarb anyone has ever tasted. It is hard to imagine this crumble being any more delicious!
Grandma Farr also knew a little something about crumbles because this crumble topping is PERFECT! It is the best crumble topping that I’ve ever had. It is my new go-to. It is sweet and crumbly but still tender, and there is the perfect hint of cinnamon!
AND there is a generous portion of topping. Is there anything worse than getting a scoop of Crumble sans crumble?
No, no there is not.
Raise your hand if you are a crumble topping pilferer; stealing the rightful topping of the surrounding pieces.
There is no shame in our game.
Crumble lovers unite!
I wonder if my dad is a Crumble Lover. If I had to bet, I would guess he is a lover of the fruity part underneath. He probably wouldn’t mind if I pilfered some of his crumble...
But I guess I shouldn’t do that because I made this Raspberry Rhubarb Crumble for him. He is the only person I know that speaks of rhubarb with reverence. And now I know why, because this crumble is delicious!
You know what they say about dad’s infinite wisdom…it’s totally true.
It magically spans all topics. {How do that do that?!!?}
My dad’s unsolicited advice is generally dished out in one liners and, what I like to call, “Dad-isms”.
“Eat your broccoli, Lindsey; it’ll put hair on your chest.”
{Lindsey gives Dad a confused look} “I don’t want hair on my chest.”
{Silence}
“Cool. I’ll eat my broccoli. Pass the bbq sauce, please.”
Dad taught me that too: BBQ sauce makes everything taste awesome. Fact.
“Nothing is as important as a firm handshake and good eye-contact.” True that. I have a handshake to remember. Thank you, Dad.
He used to draw little smiley faces on my speeches to remind me to smile and write little supportive notes at the top. I still draw a smiley face on my presentation notes; not because I need to be reminded to smile, but because the memory of him makes me smile and relaxes me.
There are many more little lessons that my dad has taught me over the years, but the best ones, the ones that have made a lasting impression on my adult life, no matter what my career, have been the inadvertent lessons.
These are the lessons that are taught by example; those not delivered directly, but by actions instead.
I find myself emulating his presence in a crowd, his tireless determination to achieve new heights in his career, his unique style of leadership, and his ability to instantaneously adapt his attitude to the situation.
Even though we have chosen very different paths in life, he has shown me that nothing replaces hard-work, determination, and persistence in the pursuit of success. I have never seen him give up. Not ever. And that is a powerful thing.
Growing up, whenever I complained that something was too hot to hold, or too heavy, or about anything really, he told me, “These are Tough-Lessons. Just keep going.”
I see now that he was telling me that being a girl is no excuse for being weak.
No single life lesson or college degree could have better prepared me for working in a professional kitchen. His “Tough-Lessons” were the greatest gift he ever gave me because when I have burns up my arms, the humid heat of the summer kitchen is so oppressive its hard to breathe, the chef is shouting at me to move faster, my feet and hands are cramping, sweat is pouring into my eyes, and I think I just can’t take any more, I remember that I am tougher than this.
My Dad taught me to be tougher than this.
Thank you, Dad, for always being willing to give me advice, for “dad-isms”, for being a man that I can depend on and model myself after, for all the love, for the smiley faces, for supporting my decisions even when you don’t really understand why, for the daily emojis that make me smile, and for the Tough-Lessons. I would not be the strong, independent, driven, passionate woman I am today without you.
I love you more than words (and emojis) can express. Happy Father’s Day!
And with that I leave you will the most delicious crumble you will ever taste. Dad was right again.
Grandmas Raspberry Rhubarb Crumble
Ingredients
- 4 cups diced fresh rhubarb
- 2 cups raspberries
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup butter (cold and cubed)
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350°F.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine rhubarb, raspberries, 1 cup sugar, and water. Mix to coat fruit evenly. Spoon into a shallow 1 ½ quart casserole dish or a 10-inch pie dish, which is what I did.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, remaining ½ cup sugar, cinnamon and salt. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender until the mixture comes together and is crumbly and homogenous. There will be no visible pieces of butter left. It should be clumpy. You can also do this in a food processor. Sprinkle evenly over fruit mixture.
- Bake at 350° for about 50 minutes or until the mixture is hot and bubbly.
- Serve with vanilla ice cream. Or caramel.
Kim says
Made this a few weeks ago.....amazing!! Crumble is perfect. Hubby wanted it again today, I didn’t have raspberries but I did have some fresh pineapple and mango so we will see how it goes!
Lindsey says
I'm so glad you liked it! I am sure it was great with a tropical twist! You could always add shredded coconut to the crumble to go all in with the tropical feel!
Ismael Brown says
Our grandmother is the master chef in our kitchen, right?
Lindsey says
Always!
Kevin | Keviniscooking says
I usually go the strawberry rhubarb route, but this has me re-thinking. Wow, love the color and your photos are makin' me hungry. Really nice post about your dad, too Linsey. For crumble topping lovers this is a fantastic one! Pinned for sure, need to try.
Lindsey says
Thanks Kevin! I usually go the strawberry rhubarb route too but the raspberries were a nice change! And you must try the crumble topping if you are a fan!! Thanks for the pin!
Mary Frances says
Wow! This looks absolutely amazing. The raspberries and rhubarb must be quite a combination. And the crumble looks delicious as well!
Lindsey says
Thank you, Mary Frances!
Laura @ Laura's Culinary Adventures says
It sounds like you have a great dad! What a yummy summer dessert too!
Kathryn Mader says
Hi, I made this tonight and certainly enjoyed it. My problem now is I'm toying with the idea of wolfing down a 3rd bowl, here at 1:31 AM. You are right, the crumble topping is so tender. This was a sweet story about your dad. Please don't work yourself into the ground at your job, though...yikes! Thank you for another keeper recipe 🙂
Lindsey says
Haha! I feel your pain! Thanks for your advice about work...it's hard in the restaurant industry not to work yourself into the ground but I will try! I'm so glad you liked this recipe! Happy baking!
Barbara says
Of course I have rhubarb in my garden. It's getting too hot now for it to survive, so I'll use the last of it to make this.
Will make lots of crumble. Got to have crumble! Coupled with the rhubarb and sauce- yum!!
Growing up we always had cooked rhubarb to eat. Delicious.
I don't have this recipe from my mom-so am glad you do.
Broccoli story- can just hear him saying it and the convincing look on his face. Gotta love him!
Such a great post.
Lindsey says
You must make crumble!!! Of course you have rhubarb in your garden. Hopefully one day I will too. 🙂 Dad was telling me that you always had cooked rhubarb sauce on hand too to pour over ice cream. Maybe this sounds crazy but I want to use it in a cocktail. I think it could be quite refreshing.
Jan actually sent me this recipe along with the recipe for Molasses Sugar Cookies that I posted last year! I have been meaning to making it for 2 years but always seem to miss rhubarb season. This is going to be a staple from now on!
He has since told me that a whole number of things I didn't want to eat will "put hair on my chest". lol. It seems to be a catch-all reason for eating stuff you don't want to! Thank you for reading! xoxox
Jeanne says
Perfect! I want to go outside right now and cut some rhubarb stalks!
Lindsey says
Do it, Jeanne!!! It is really an excellent crumble and so easy! I am jealous that you have rhubarb at your fingertips!
Shashi @ RunninSrilankan says
OMGEEEE - am so a "crumble topping pilferer" though your cinnamon spiked, rhubarb and raspberry filling makes me feel I'd be missing out on all the deliciousness if I just stole the crumble off this - and I'm not one to miss out on deliciousness 🙂
Beautiful post about your dad, Lindsey, he sounds like he was one heck of an awesome father! Reminds me of mine - when I used to complain to mine though, he would say, "if you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all" or "people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones" - dad-isms are some of the best life lessons eh?!
Happy Monday friend - hope your week is off to a great start!
Lindsey says
Fortunately, for us crumble lovers, this one has a generous enough portion of crumble that you don't even feel the need to pilfer! lol!
dad-isms are totally the best, and I still live by the dad-isms your dad would throw out there. Do you think there is a book or something? How do they all have the same wisdom to offer?! I hope you're having a lovely week! I can't believe I'm actually going to get to meet you soon!!!