If you’re looking for a simple, scrumptious, and crowd-pleasing dessert, look no further than this Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble recipe.
It’s one of those crumble recipes that strike the perfect balance between the sweetness of the strawberries and the tartness of the rhubarb.
Trust me, it’s sure to become one of your new favorite desserts.
And to make things super easy, we’re using cake mix.
Why I love cake mix recipes
Why? Well, I guess the most obvious reason is convenience, but have you thought about the cost savings too?
Cake mixes are often on sale, and I like to stock up on the basic ones every time – chocolate (of course!), yellow, and white.
I usually stick to the main players, like Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines, but I’ve had some success with the generic brands, too!
From a Lemon Loaf Cake that’s better than Starbucks, to a Pineapple Upside-Down Cake that’ll blow your mind, and let’s not forget the gooiest Chocolate Brownies you’ve ever had – all made using cake mix!
So grab a box now and get ready to make this delicious dessert!
Ingredients
With just a handful of simple ingredients, you’ll have your very own Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble in no time:
- Frozen Strawberry Rhubarb Mix: Hopefully, your nearest supermarket has a bag. Feel free to use fresh strawberries and rhubarb if you don’t mind the prep.
- Sugar: Added to sweeten things up! It balances the tart rhubarb and highlights the strawberries.
- Corn Starch: Our little thickening agent. A dash of this ensures the filling isn’t too runny.
- Yellow Cake Mix: Convenience in a box! Not only does this save time, but it adds a rich, buttery flavor to our crumble topping. I like to use Betty Crocker’s Yellow Cake Mix.
- Butter: The binder and the flavor enhancer! Melted and mixed with the cake mix, it creates that crumbly topping we all love.
How to make Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble
Follow these simple instructions to make this easy dessert. For more help, check the recipe card below.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl, combine frozen fruit, sugar, and cornstarch.
- In another bowl, mix cake mix and melted butter, then crumble the mixture with your fingers.
- Layer the fruit mixture at the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish.
- Evenly sprinkle the crumbled cake mix over the fruit, making sure to cover all corners.
- Bake for 35-45 minutes until golden brown.
- Serve warm, topped with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
And there you have it! Your delicious Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble is ready to be devoured. Enjoy!
Expert Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble tips
Follow these expert tips, and your Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble will be perfect every time.
Frozen fruit for a perfect filling
For this recipe, and many of the pies I make (with the exception of my Cherry Pie), I always bake with the fruit still frozen. There is more liquid this way, and that’s perfect for this crumble recipe.
You’ll find frozen fruit blends in the grocery store, including the strawberry rhubarb mix we’re using here – It’s perfect every time.
Just note, when using frozen fruit, letting the fruit rest in the cornstarch mixture and allowing the crumble to set after baking are key steps for a perfect texture.
Watch this video about making fruit pies to learn more!
Getting your Crumble top to be, well, crumbly and crispy…
You’ll notice I’ve called this dish a Crumble, but also mentioned Crisp. To me, they’re interchangeable terms.
Some folks swear by using oatmeal in the topping for a Crisp recipe, but I find it makes the dish less… well, crispy.
I prefer to use butter, flour, sugar, and a bit of baking powder to get that delicious crunchy topping.
You can then also add nuts, dried berries, or anything you want.
How to serve
When it comes to serving Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble, you have lots of options! Fresh out of the oven, it’s divine when served warm with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
For a lighter touch, a little bit of cold cream or even a spoonful of yogurt can do wonders. For some extra decadence, how about some caramel sauce or even maple syrup on top?
How to store
Fridge
To store your Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble, follow these instructions. Once it’s cooled to room temperature, cover it with plastic wrap or transfer it to an airtight container. You can keep it in the fridge for up to 5 days.
To reheat, just pop it in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes, or give it a quick zap in the microwave.
Freezer
Wouldn’t you love to be able to freeze the leftovers (if there are any!) to have mini delicious desserts throughout the week? You’re in luck! This crumble freezes well.
Just portion it out into individual servings, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, and then place them in a zip-top freezer bag.
They’ll keep well for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat as above.
FAQs
Here are some of the questions people have asked me:
Crumbles, crisps, or cobblers – what’s the difference?
Crisps, cobblers, grunts, buckles and pandowdies are all Americana recipes – thank your ancestors for these delightful desserts.
As we’ve already discussed, crisps and crumbles are pretty similar. Both involve a fruit filling and a crumbly topping. The main differences are the ingredients used in the topping, like oatmeal in crisps or cake mix in crumbles.
Cobblers are closely related to crumbles and crisps but feature a biscuit-like topping that appears ‘cobbled’—hence the name. They’re baked in the oven just like their crumble and crisp cousins.
A pandowdy is like a lazy form of pie. The crust is spooned onto the fruit and then mixed—or ‘dowdied’—together before baking.
This awesome post about fruit desserts from Serious Eats gives a great high-level overview of this delightful world.
What are some good sugar substitutes?
If you haven’t quite got the most sweet strawberries, you might need to add a bit of sweetness. If you’re worried about calories – try using a sugar substitute.
Just be sure to check the ratio on the package so you know you’re swapping out the right amount. Sometimes you need less than you would for real sugar.
I love to use a little Truvia on top of the fruit – you can buy it in most grocery stores and of course on Amazon!
Where did I get my inspiration for this recipe?
I hadn’t made a rhubarb dessert for a long time, but seeing some fresh rhubarb in the local market last week gave me a jolt of inspiration.
Of course, because I like to cheat, I used frozen rhubarb instead of fresh – and after seeing they had mixes with strawberries included, I had to make a strawberry rhubarb version of my classic fruit crumble recipe.
Maybe next time I’ll try using fresh rhubarb stalks. I’ve heard that during rhubarb season they’re much more tender and easy to work with – especially when you buy them straight from the farmers market.
Rhubarb desserts are now one of my favorite things. What are your favorite rhubarb recipes?
You might also like…
Looking for the perfect dessert? Next time try another of our favorites:
Final thoughts
So what did you decide?
Is this delicious recipe a strawberry rhubarb crisp or a strawberry rhubarb crumble?
Either way, this easy recipe will be a big hit at your next meal.
THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the Pie Lady Bakes community! We’re all about sharing easy-to-make vintage recipes that remind us of the ones our moms and grandmas used to make.
If you haven’t already, you can sign up for my weekly email newsletter using this link. It’s absolutely free, and you’ll never miss out on any of my new recipes.
See you soon!
Judy
★★★★★
If you’ve made this delicious Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. Be sure to give us a 5-star rating!
★★★★★
Easy Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble (Crisp)
A delicious strawberry rhubarb dessert that’s easy to make and will feed a crowd. Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp or Crumble, this recipe uses a yellow cake mix for the topping and the flavours are amazing!
Ingredients
- 8 cups frozen strawberry rhubarb mix
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ yellow cake mix
- ½ cup butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F
- Mix the frozen fruit, sugar and cornstarch in a large bowl
- Mix the cake mix with the unsalted butter, and work the butter through the cake mix with your fingers making it ‘crumble’
- Layer the fruit in the bottom of a 9 X 13 casserole dish (affiliate)
- Sprinkle the cake mix/butter mixture on top and be sure to get into the corners, covering the fruit entirely.
- That’s it!
- Bake at 350F for 35 to 45 minutes
- Serve warm with a generous scoop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream!
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
More easy desserts to enjoy!
Nothing says Fall Harvest like a delicious Apple Pie Lasagna.
This easy desserts recipe will definitely feed a crowd, and it's no bake too.
The first time I made this apple pie lasagna it disappeared in seconds!
Might be the caramel sauce, sweet apples or crunchy caramel chocolate bits?
I'll let you decide. 🙂
This scrumptiously super EASY no bake grasshopper pie from the 60's is so light and fluffy.
And made with easy to buy ingredients like delicious whipped topping, cream cheese, Oreos and Crème de Menthe!
And you can leave the Crème de Menthe out if you prefer - just substitute a drop or two of green food colouring.
With a smooth minty chocolate-y taste, folks will ask for seconds.
Think mint chocolate chip ice cream! NOTE: Cook Time shown is actually 4 hours to chill in the refrigerator.
This gooey chocolate brownies recipe is the best chocolate fudge brownie ever!
We use a brownie mix as the base and add lots and lots of chocolate!
Chocolate chips or chunks are headed. We always recommend that you sift the cake mix before you bake.
You can make this into a Brownie Ice Cream dessert that will rival you know who!
Instant Pot Cheesecakes are really the best in my opinion!
So easy to put together, and the result is a creamy, delicious cheesecake.
Our Mint Chocolate Cheesecake tastes just like Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream.
We drown it in a chocolate ganache because you want all the chocolate right?
Talk about easy!
The quickest pumpkin pie recipe you will ever make.
We used our own easy pie crust recipe
And ready made pumpkin pie filling.
The pie crust leaf cutouts are so cute right?
You need this pumpkin pie for your next family gathering.
A rich and delicious Chocolate Cake with a thick Chocolate Frosting, mixes up in one bowl, and looks beautiful when baked in a Bundt Pan.
So easy, yet so very good, this cake has BIG Chocolate flavor.
You can feed 12 chocolate lovers with this cake!
A one bowl scratch cake that delivers every time.
One of my favorite cake mix hacks is to make a Pineapple Upsidedown Cake.
We use a yellow cake mix to make this moist and easy to make cake that bakes up in a 13 X 9 pan.
The cake batter bakes into the pineapple slices, maraschino cherries and brown sugar and butter in the bottom.
Yum! Yum!
You know that delicious lemon loaf you can buy at Starbucks?
Well you can make your own!
This easy desserts recipe is a richly flavored lemon loaf cake - almost like pound cake with a creamy vanilla frosting.
We use a lemon cake mix, and lemon pudding.
The best part? It makes two loaves, one for you and one for a friend. xo
Have you baked with sugar substitutes or blends?
I have had great success with Truvia, so I wanted to share this delicious recipe with you.
Quick and easy blueberry muffin recipe that is low fat and low sugar!
Only 163 calories per muffin, and packed with delicious blueberries!
You can't beat the wonderful aroma of a freshly baked blueberry muffin.
Slow cookers are not just for chili and beef stew you know!
I have some amazing slow cooker dessert recipes you might want to check out too!
This is just like the wonderful chocolate lava cake that is often served in restaurants.
Just mix it all up following our step by step video.
Then drown it in chocolate sauce and enjoy. 🙂
Vintage Recipes are fun to make, and Raspberry Dream Bars have been around a long time!
Our version of this easy dessert combines a shortbread cookie base, sweet raspberry filling and a crunchy, nutty topping.
Use a shortbread cookie mix to speed things up, and your absolute favorite strawberry jam for the filling.
This easy desserts recipe feeds a crowd and freezes really well too.
This Chocolate Raspberry Tart on a sugar cookie crust is a real show stopper would you agree?
Just look at those juicy plump raspberries and all that chocolate!
Honestly, making this dessert for your family couldn't be easier.
We recommend using a sugar cookie crust, get the freshest raspberries, and cook the filling on the stove top.
Step by step instructions will help you achieve this delectable dessert.
Chocolate Mayan Bundt Cake is an easy to make dessert.
Full of rich flavor, smoky chocolate goodness and a teeny bit of spice to give it some heat.
Bundt cakes always look so pretty and this one is no exception.
Easy desserts that feed a crowd are just what you need!
DELICIOUS!
Now before you say whoa baking pies is not easy, hear me out.
Grandma's Cherry Pie recipe is a simple, yet tried and true recipe that uses sweet frozen cherries and that will turn a novice baker into a rockstar!
We even use a store bought pie crust that you can see in our step by step video.
Homemade Cherry Pie tops the list of favorite summer fruit pies.
Fresh juicy strawberries and light buttery shortcake are just what you need to make this easy dessert that's a summertime fave.
The shortcakes are made from scratch, and so easy to put together.
You can adjust the size of your shortcakes too.
But make sure you have lots and lots of fresh strawberries, and whipped cream!
The combination of rhubarb with either fresh or frozen strawberries results in an old fashioned fruit pie.
Easy to make when we use a frozen strawberry rhubarb mix and ready made pie crust.
But don't worry, if you want to make this delectable pie from scratch, all the instructions are there.
It's the perfect pie recipe for Beginner Bakers!
The flavour is a sweet and tangy ambrosia, with a strawberry rhubarb pie filling that tastes just like homemade strawberry rhubarb jam. Yum!
You won't believe this amazing Cake Mix Biscotti recipe is just like Italian Almond Biscotti you get in Tuscany!
An easy dessert recipe, and oh those rave reviews!
Experiment with different flavors, dip them in chocolate, use cranberries, chocolate chips, sprinkles too!
This recipe makes a big batch and this cake mix hack is a perfect homemade food gift too!
A delicious strawberry rhubarb dessert that’s easy to make and will feed a crowd.
Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp or Crumble, this recipe uses a yellow cake mix for the topping and the flavours are amazing!
We like it warm from the oven with lots of whipped cream, but you can add ice cream instead if you prefer.
This classic apple crisp recipe gets all dressed up with a delicious cinnamon swirl pie crust topping!
So easy to make and a perfect way to use leftover pie crust.
Like Cinnamon Pastry met Apple Crisp and fell in love.
Making the cinnamon roll crust is just like rolling up play dough.
And very therapeutic!
Apple Crisp is definitely a vintage recipe, and you can enjoy it any time of the year.
Especially if your crisper is full of apples that need to be used up.
Or there was a great sale on apples at the grocer.
An easy to make and bake apple dessert, full of crunchy goodness, brown sugar, butter, this fall & winter classic is always a crowd pleaser
This old fashioned rice pudding recipe in the slow cooker is so creamy and easy to make,.
The recipe uses Arborio rice and raisins, and is THE Ultimate Comfort Food!
Be sure to double the recipe though, coz it won’t last long!
An easy desserts recipe that is perfect for breakfast too!
We all love EASY right?
These recipes will put a smile on everyone's faces!
Just click that big button to get our latest content by email.
Judy Kahansky
Judy Kahansky is an experienced baker and writer. She loves to take classic and vintage recipes and update them to fit the busy lives of her readers. When not baking, Judy and her husband Mark are passionate golfers, travelers and dog lovers, spending as much time as they can with their sweet pup Millie.