Strawberry Rhubarb Pie (2024)

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This strawberry rhubarb pie recipe is pure perfection, with thick sweet tart berry filling and flaky pie crust. 5 stars!

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie (1)

What’s the most popular rhubarb recipe of them all? Three words: strawberry rhubarb pie. This iconic pie filling is famous for a reason: it’s just that good. Sweet tart stalks of pink rhubarb are the perfect foil for sweet summer berries. When you taste this thick, gooey filling, you’ll understand. Bake it up in a flaky pastry crust, and there’s really nothing better to finish a summer meal.

Ingredients in strawberry rhubarb pie

This recipe is a true revelation: the gooey red filling is a burst of sweet tart, pure fruity flavor. Like any pie, it’s a bit of a project: but it’s worth every minute. Strawberry rhubarb pie has a relatively short ingredient list. Once rhubarb is in season, it’s a matter of stocking up on a few extra ingredients and setting aside a few hours. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 1 recipe Homemade Pie Crust (2 crusts; or your favorite recipe)
  • Fresh strawberries
  • Rhubarb stalks
  • Granulated sugar
  • Cornstarch
  • Vanilla extract
  • Orange zest
  • Egg, for egg wash
  • Turbinado sugar, for sprinkling
Strawberry Rhubarb Pie (2)

The secret to this strawberry rhubarb pie

One note on fruit pies: the liquid content of your filling can vary based on the specific fruit. Rhubarb and strawberries are approximately 95% water, which is activated when the fruit is heated. It’s easy to end up with a runny pie, so we’ve safeguarded this recipe so it works every time:

  • Pre-cook the filling with cornstarch for 5 to 6 minutes.Cooking the filling on its own gives it time to interact with the cornstarch, making a thick and gooey filling. Cook it just long enough so that the cornstarch is activated, but not enough that the fruit texture starts to disintegrate.
  • Allow the filling to cool while making the crust. If the filling is too hot, it can heat up the top crust of the pie which can cause the butter to melt. Making the filling first allows it time to cool.

Tips for making homemade pie crust

This homemade pie crust recipe is our tried and true favorite! If you’ve never made a pie crust from scratch, now is the time. It’s loads tastier than purchased dough, and it’s an important cooking skill that’s fun to master. Here are a few tips and tricks for our Pie Crust recipe:

  • Use Irish butter if you can find it.Irish butter has a higher fat and lower water than American butter. It gives baked goods a richer flavor and flakier texture: the absolute best for pie crust! The most popular brand of Irish butter is Kerrygold, which is easy to find at most grocery stores.
  • Keeping pie crust cold is essential.You’ll add ice cold water to the crust when making the dough to make sure the butter doesn’t melt. Then, it’s important to refrigerate the pie crust for 1 hour before rolling it out. This allows the gluten to relax and the fat to firm up, which makes an extra flaky and helps it hold its shape.
  • When rolling, pick up the dough and rotate it occasionally so it doesn’t stick.Liberally flour the work surface and the rolling pin. Roll as perfect of a circle as possible and making sure it’s not sticking to the work surface. If it starts to stick, dust with a bit more flour.
Strawberry Rhubarb Pie (3)

Egg wash is ideal for a double crust

This strawberry rhubarb pie recipe features a double pie crust: one crust on the bottom of the pan and one crust on the top. This makes for an incredibly satisfying pie, though you can also do a streusel topping like our Rhubarb Pie.

For the best golden finish to a double pie crust, we recommend an egg wash. It makes a golden laminated exterior and gives a nice golden sheen to the surface. Whisk together 1 egg, then brush it onto the exposed crust with a pastry brush. Then we like to sprinkle with crunchy turbinado sugar for a glittery finished look.

Alternative topping: streusel

If you’re new to pie crust, the double pie crust requires a bit of finesse to get it right. Want an easier pie topping? Try the crumble topping from this Rhubarb Streusel Pie! It will taste even sweeter this way since the streusel has sugar, so you may want to cut the sugar in the crumbles in half (reduce to 2 tablespoons brown sugar).

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie (4)

Serving strawberry rhubarb pie

Make sure to allow ample time for this strawberry rhubarb pie to cool. Allow to cool for 4 hours before serving. This might seem like overkill, but it’s important for the pie to come to room temperature, which solidifies the textures.

If you like, you can top this strawberry rhubarb pie recipe with vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream. But we like it as is without topping! This allows the beautiful fruity flavor to shine through.

More rhubarb recipes

Got more rhubarb? Here are a few morerhubarb recipeswe love:

  • TryClassic Rhubarb Crisp
  • Opt for a classic Rhubarb Pie or Rhubarb Bars
  • Go for Rhubarb Muffins or Rhubarb Streusel Bread
  • Opt for Rhubarb Sauce

02

Rhubarb Muffins with Streusel

03

Classic Rhubarb Pie

04

20 Rhubarb Recipes for the Season

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Strawberry Rhubarb Pie (9)

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star

5 from 1 review

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 1 hour
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Total Time: 2 hours
  • Yield: 1 pie (8 large or 12 small slices) 1x

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Description

This strawberry rhubarb pie recipe is pure perfection, with thick sweet tart berry filling and flaky pie crust. 5 stars!

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 recipe Homemade Pie Crust* (2 crusts; or your favorite recipe)
  • 3 cups (about 1 pound) sliced fresh strawberries
  • 3 cups (about 1 pound) diced rhubarb stalks
  • 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon orange zest (or ½ teaspoon lemon zest)
  • 1 egg, for egg wash
  • Turbinado sugar, for sprinkling

Instructions

  1. In a large skillet, stir together the sliced strawberries and chopped rhubarb with the sugar, cornstarch, vanilla, and orange zest. Cook on medium high heat for about 5 minutes, until the cornstarch activates and the sauce thickens. Transfer to a bowl to cool completely while you make the crust.
  2. Make the pie crust.
  3. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Place a rack in the lower third of the oven with a rimmed baking sheet covered in foil to preheat.
  4. Grease a standard 9-inch pie pan.
  5. Roll out the first pie crust and transfer it to a standard 9-inch pie pan, allowing the edges to drape over the sides (following these instructions). Add the filling and freeze the entire pie while rolling the next pie crust.
  6. Roll out the second pie crust. Use kitchen scissors to trim both crusts so there is about 1-inch of dough draping off of the edge. Fold both crusts under so they rest on the rim of the pan, then use your fingers to crimp the crust. Slice several vents in the crust with a sharp knife.
  7. Whisk the egg in a small bowl. Use a pastry brush to brush the top of the crust with the egg. Sprinkle generously with turbinado sugar.
  8. Place the pie directly onto the preheated baking sheet lined with foil. Bake immediately for 15 minutes. Then leaving the pie in the oven, reduce the oven temperature down to 350°F. Bake for 40 minutes until the crust is golden. (Check on the pie around 30 minutes and cover with aluminum foil if the crust is getting too brown.)
  9. Remove from the oven. Allow the pie to cool at least 4 hours at room temperature before serving.

Notes

*Want an easier pie topping? Make one crust, then top with the crumble topping from this Rhubarb Streusel Pie! It will taste even sweeter this way since the streusel also has sugar, so if desired you can cut the sugar in the crumbles in half (reduce to 2 tablespoons brown sugar).

  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: Dessert
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Published on / Last updated on

Categorized In:

  • Baked Goods
  • Dessert Recipes
  • Recipes

About the authors

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie (10)

Sonja & Alex

Hi, we’re Alex and Sonja Overhiser, married cookbook authors, food bloggers, and recipe developers. We founded A Couple Cooks to share fresh, seasonal recipes and the joy of cooking! Our recipes are made by two real people and work every time.

About Us

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Strawberry Rhubarb Pie (2024)

FAQs

How to keep strawberry rhubarb pie from being runny? ›

Macerate Your Rhubarb With Sugar To Draw Out Excess Liquid

Mixing fruit with sugar draws out moisture through the process of osmosis, which happens when water naturally balances out by migrating from the cells in your fruit to the dissolved sugar molecules on the surface, the same way it does with salt.

Why is strawberry rhubarb pie so good? ›

You almost never see a strawberry pie on its own. There's no complexity. It's like a sugar bomb. Rhubarb, when mixed with strawberries, gives you that sourness to balance the sweetness and the complexity.

How do you keep rhubarb pie crust from getting soggy? ›

Sprinkle dried breadcrumbs or crushed cornflakes, or other types of cereal, on the bottom crust before filling and baking in the oven. The layer will absorb moisture and prevent the filling from turning the crust soggy.

Should you peel rhubarb for pie? ›

Cut away and discard any tough, woody, or bruised parts of the stalks. Wash the stalks thoroughly and scrub with a vegetable brush. You don't need to peel peak-season rhubarb, but by midsummer, the stalks tend to be tough and fibrous. You might need to peel them to make them tastier.

Why is my rhubarb pie soupy? ›

Rhubarb pie fillings are often soft and runny. The rhubarb contains so much water, you either have to add too much thickener or coax the rhubarb to release its liquid before thickening it.

How to get the moisture out of rhubarb? ›

Venting is key for a perfect rhubarb filling.

Rhubarb has a surprising amount of moisture, and sugar draws it out. Make sure you've got plenty of vent holes — either make them with a circle cutter as I did, or top the pie with a lattice. Venting allows moisture to leave the pie as steam, and prevents sogginess.

How many cups is 1 pound of rhubarb? ›

One pound of rhubarb makes about 4 cups, or 1 quart, of cut-up rhubarb. Four stalks of rhubarb equals approximately 2 cups of diced rhubarb.

Should rhubarb be cooked before baking? ›

Cut the rhubarb stalks into 2-3cm pieces and arrange them in a shallow baking dish (there's no need to precook the rhubarb as it will soften in the oven). Sprinkle over the sugar and toss to combine. Rhubarb shrinks quite a bit, so don't be afraid to pile it high in the baking dish.

How healthy is rhubarb pie? ›

Rhubarb packs a double punch with both vitamin K and calcium. Vitamin K is necessary for healthy blood clotting along with general bone and heart health! Additionally, calcium supports healthy teeth and bones.

Should I egg wash the bottom pie crust? ›

One of my very favorite kitchen tricks is to brush a bottom pie crust with an egg white wash before filling. This keeps the filling from seeping into the crust and creating a soggy bottom. I like to avoid soggy bottoms at all costs. Egg white and water is also perfect for sealing edges, like when making a pie.

How to tell if rhubarb pie is done? ›

The best way to tell that this rhubarb pie is baked is to look at the filling. It should be bubbling out a little through the gaps in the lattice. Look for the middle bubbling too, not just the sides. This indicates the filling has gotten hot enough for it to set and for the starch to do its job.

Is rhubarb a fruit or a vegetable? ›

Rhubarb is a vegetable often thought to be a fruit. There's actually a good reason for this confusion: in 1947 the USDA classified it as a fruit because the tariffs on bringing fruits into the country were lower on fruits than vegetables. In actuality though, rhubarb is a vegetable - a member of the buckwheat family.

Why is my strawberry rhubarb pie runny? ›

Cool the pie completely.

Let fruit pies cool for at least 3 hours before slicing them. In fact, I recommend letting a pie cool overnight if you find it to be slightly runny. You'll most likely find that the pie will set up during the cooling time. Problem solved!

Why is my strawberry pie so runny? ›

Why is my strawberry pie runny? There are a few ways to prevent your strawberry pie from coming out runny. First, your recipe needs the right amount of cornstarch. Second, the cornstarch needs to be dissolved first in a cold liquid, then heated to its boiling point in order to fully activate its thickening power.

How do you keep pie filling from being runny? ›

You just use the same amount of tapioca starch as you would cornstarch. Cook your filling before putting in the pie shell, then bake. I chop about 5-6 cups, add 1 cup sugar (or more if you want sweeter), plus 3 tbsp cornstarch (add before hearing), and cook til thickened slightly, it will finish in the oven.

How do you keep strawberry pie from getting soggy? ›

Blind Bake

The most common way to ward off a soggy pie crust is by a process called blind baking. Blind baking means you pre-bake the crust (sometimes covered with parchment or foil and weighed down with pie weights to prevent the crust from bubbling up) so that it sets and crisps up before you add any wet filling.

How to thicken up rhubarb? ›

As for the question itself, throwing rhubarb into the pan and cooking until it is softened but not completely dissolved will give you a thick consistency.

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