Rhubarb Crisp: Grease The Pan Or Not?

Whether you grease the pan when making a rhubarb crisp depends on the recipe you are following. Some recipes call for greasing the pan with butter, while others do not mention greasing the pan at all. However, it is generally recommended to use an ovenproof skillet or baking dish that can withstand the oven's heat. Ceramic or glass are good options as they won't react to the natural acidity of rhubarb.

Grease an 8-inch square baking dish

To grease an 8-inch square baking dish, you can use butter, cooking spray, or oil. First, take your chosen grease and generously apply it to the entire inside of the pan, ensuring an even coating with no chunks of fat. You can use your fingers to do this, as they will help you feel any spots you may have missed.

If you are using butter, you can simply run the stick of butter around the bottom and sides of the pan. If you are using a tub of butter or cooking spray, you can use a paper towel to wipe it all over the pan.

If you want to be extra sure that your rhubarb crisp won't stick to the pan, you can also flour the pan after greasing it. Sprinkle a small handful of flour across the pan, tilting it to ensure you get the sides. Then, invert the pan and tap out any excess flour.

Finally, if you want to be absolutely certain your rhubarb crisp will come out of the pan, you can use parchment paper. Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit the bottom of the pan by placing the pan on top of the paper and tracing around it. Grease the sides of the pan, insert the parchment paper, and then grease the parchment paper.

Combine rhubarb, sugar, flour, water, cinnamon, and allspice

To combine rhubarb, sugar, flour, water, cinnamon, and allspice, start by gathering your ingredients. You will need rhubarb (fresh or frozen), sugar (white or brown), all-purpose flour, water, ground cinnamon, and ground allspice.

If using fresh rhubarb, look for firm, straight stalks with a slightly shiny surface. Cut off the top and broad leaf, and slice the stalks. If using frozen rhubarb, thaw it completely and drain off any excess liquid. You will need about 3 cups of diced rhubarb for your recipe.

In a large bowl, mix together the rhubarb, sugar, flour, water, cinnamon, and allspice until well combined. You can use a spoon or a spatula to mix the ingredients. Make sure to mix until the flour is fully incorporated and there are no dry pockets. Set the mixture aside while you prepare the rest of your recipe.

This mixture will form the base of your rhubarb crisp. You can now proceed to make the topping, which typically includes oats, butter, brown sugar, and more flour. Follow your chosen recipe's instructions for assembling and baking your rhubarb crisp.

Enjoy your delicious homemade dessert!

Prepare the oat topping

To prepare the oat topping for your rhubarb crisp, you will need the following ingredients:

• Oats: Rolled oats are the key ingredient that will add crunch to your topping.
• Butter: This will add richness and moisture to the topping and help bind the dry ingredients together.
• Brown sugar: Using dark brown sugar will give your topping a bolder molasses taste, while light or golden brown sugar will lend a hint of smoky caramel flavor.
• Flour: All-purpose flour will help the topping hold together.
• Cinnamon: This spice will enhance the sweetness of the topping.

You may also choose to add pecans or other nuts to your topping for extra crunch.

To make the topping, simply mix the oats, brown sugar, butter, flour, and cinnamon together in a large bowl until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. If you are adding nuts, simply mix them in with the other ingredients. You can use a pastry cutter to incorporate the butter, or you can melt the butter before mixing it in.

Bake for 30-45 minutes

Once you've greased your pan, mixed your rhubarb, sugar, flour, water, cinnamon, and allspice, and pressed your oat topping into the bottom of the baking dish, it's time to bake your rhubarb crisp!

Place your crisp in the preheated oven and bake for 30-45 minutes. The exact baking time will depend on your desired level of crispiness and browning. If you prefer a crispier texture and a more browned top, bake for closer to 45 minutes. For a slightly less crispy and browned dessert, 30 minutes should suffice.

While baking, the rhubarb filling will become bubbly, and the topping will turn a golden brown. The filling will also set, and you'll know it's ready when a fork or knife inserted into the centre comes out clean.

Once your rhubarb crisp is baked to perfection, remove it from the oven and let it cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. This will allow the filling to thicken and set further, ensuring a delicious, hearty texture.

Serve your freshly baked rhubarb crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or cream for the perfect summer dessert. Enjoy the sweet and tangy flavours of the rhubarb combined with the buttery crispiness of the oat topping!

Serve with ice cream

When it comes to serving rhubarb crisp, a scoop of vanilla ice cream is the classic choice. This combination of sweet and tangy flavours is simply irresistible. If you're looking to elevate your dessert even further, consider adding a dollop of homemade whipped cream on top of the ice cream.

For those who enjoy a warm dessert, serving the rhubarb crisp straight from the oven with a scoop of ice cream on top is a delightful option. Alternatively, you can allow the crisp to cool to room temperature or chill it in the refrigerator before serving it with ice cream.

If you're feeling adventurous, you can even experiment with different ice cream flavours to complement the rhubarb crisp. Some people suggest frozen lemon yogurt or fridge-cold Greek yogurt as tasty alternatives to vanilla ice cream.

No matter which way you choose to serve it, rhubarb crisp with ice cream is a delicious treat that's sure to impress!

Frequently asked questions