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Easy Rhubarb Crisp

Easy rhubarb crisp with a bubbling, tart rhubarb filling and a golden, buttery oat crumble. Baked until the edges bubble and the topping turns crisp, then cooled briefly for a warm spring dessert.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Cooling 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 410
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

rhubarb crisp
  • 4 cup fresh rhubarb
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup old-fashioned oats
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 0.5 cup butter
  • 0.5 tsp cinnamon

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Prep and filling
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F and grease an 8x8-inch baking dish with a light coating. Set up the dish so the rhubarb can go in immediately after mixing.
  2. Toss fresh rhubarb with sugar, cornstarch, and vanilla extract until coated. Spread the mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish so the filling bakes uniformly.
Oat topping and bake
  1. Combine old-fashioned oats, all-purpose flour, brown sugar, melted butter, and cinnamon in a bowl until crumbly. Sprinkle the oat mixture evenly over the rhubarb filling to cover it completely.
  2. Bake at 375°F for 35-40 minutes until the topping is golden and the filling is bubbling around the edges. Look for active bubbling at the perimeter as the cue the rhubarb has softened.
Cool and serve
  1. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving warm with vanilla ice cream. The crisp will thicken slightly during cooling for cleaner spoon-scoops.

Notes

For a thicker, more jammy filling, make sure the filling is fully coated with cornstarch before it goes into the dish, and don’t skip the even topping layer. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator up to 3 days; rewarm in a 325°F oven until heated through. Freezing is not recommended because the oat topping and rhubarb texture can turn softer after thawing. For a lower-sugar option, replace sugar and brown sugar with a 1:1 baking substitute designed for crisp desserts.