Rhubarb muffin recipe makes a moist sweet and tender muffin loaded with fresh rhubarb under a warm and crunchy brown sugar cinnamon streusel topping.
Rhubarb is one of the first things to pop up once the weather gets warmer. We love the stuff and these Rhubarb Muffins with Cinnamon Butter Crumble is one of the first things I make whenever I get my hands on some.
It’s time for the Spring version of “The Freaky Friday” blog hop, and I’m bringing Rhubarb Oat Muffins with Cinnamon Butter Crumble to the party!
The Freaky Friday blog hop organized by Michaela who runs An Affair From the Heart, is a group of bloggers that are secretly assigned each others’ blogs from which we choose a recipe.
It is so much fun, and the bloggers that participate are all amazing foodies. The biggest problem I always have is picking just one recipe to post about.
This time I had the pleasure of being assigned Michele’s blog “Bacon Fatte“. Michele is a Minnesota gal who doesn’t apologize for her use of bacon, butter, or booze.
How can you not love someone like that? Michele does an amazing job making colorful dishes for the family and some amazing entertaining cuisine.
I had a heck of a task trying to decide on which recipe to make. Her Linguine con le Vongole and her New Potato Salad with Basil, Shallots, and Lemon were all contenders.
Our selection needed to be springy was the only stipulation. You know me, guess what my search gravitated toward?
Yep, bread and Michele didn’t disappoint. I had my eye on her Spiced Bakery Style Ginger Pear Muffins but her Rhubarb Oat Muffins with Cinnamon Butter Crumble were the ultimate winner.
These muffins have such a beautiful contrast between the sweetened rhubarb and warm cinnamon and brown sugar.
Even though the batter is quite thick they bake up soft and tender. They’re perfect with a cup of coffee for breakfast or a special treat with dinner. They’re easy to put together and makes up to 24 muffins!
How to make Rhubarb Muffins
There are two steps to making these muffins. I make the Streusel top first and just set it aside. Let’s start with it.
Cinnamon Brown Sugar Streusel Topping
- Combine flour, old-fashioned oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and turbinado sugar together in a small bowl.
- Dice cold butter. Using two forks or a pastry cutter, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until it appears crumbly. Set aside (I put mine in the refrigerator).
- Don’t overwork it or it will blend together and not crumble over the muffin.
- Don’t use your fingers. The heat in your hands will soften the butter and break down your crumble.
Muffin Batter
- In a large bowl combine the dry ingredients, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, oats, baking soda, and salt. Whisk together until blended.
- In a separate bowl combine the wet ingredients, milk, vinegar, vanilla extract, oil, and egg. Whisk together.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients using a spatula. Mix only until combined.
- Fold in the rhubarb.
Assemble/Finish
- Fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Sprinkle with additional rhubarb pieces and crumble. For an extra crunch sprinkle with the top with turbinado sugar.
- Bake
Tips for the perfect muffin
- Chop the rhubarb into smaller pieces to ensure that it disperses evenly and bakes evenly.
- Milk and vinegar listed in the ingredients can be replaced with buttermilk.
- Don’t over mix the crumble or the batter, mixing only as long as necessary. Over mixing will result in a tough muffin.
- You can use frozen rhubarb. Frozen rhubarb holds a lot of moisture and should ve thawed and extra moisture lightly pressed before using it.
- Turn the muffin pan halfway through baking to assure muffins bake evenly. Remove the muffins when a toothpick or cake tester comes out with light crumbs.
- Let the muffins cool in the pan 10 minutes and then remove them from the pan.
- It’s best to use two pans but if you only have one, make sure it’s cool before refilling it.
Storing Rhubarb Muffins
Muffins are best stored in a cake carrier or covered container once they’re completely cool. They don’t do well in a plastic bag because the crumble will become soggy. Muffins freeze well in an airtight container.
Other Rhubarb recipes that you may enjoy
Pin it this amazing rhubarb muffin recipe!
We’re muffin lovers and these are some of our favorites!
- Basic Muffin Recipe
- Mango Muffins
- Lemon Pistachio Muffins
- Crystallized Ginger Muffins
- Double Chocolate Muffins
- Cherry Almond Muffins
Rhubarb Oat Muffins with Cinnamon Butter Crumble
Ingredients
Cinnamon Butter Crumble
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter chilled and cut into 1/4″ pieces
- 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup old-fashioned oats
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp turbinado sugar optional (sugar in the raw)
Rhubarb Muffins
Dry Ingredients
- 2-1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1-1/4 cups brown sugar I used dark brown sugar but either is fine
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 tsp white vinegar or lemon juice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil or canola
- 1 egg lightly beaten
- 2 cups rhubarb chopped – reserve 1/4 cup for topping
Instructions
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two standard muffin pans with cupcake liners or spray with a non-stick cooking spray.
Cinnamon Butter Crumble
- Combine crumble ingredients in a small bowl. Use two forks to cut butter into other ingredients. I used my fingers and “pinch” the ingredients together until it resembles coarse crumbs. If the butter gets to warm it will not crumble. Refrigerate before crumbling it gets too soft.
Rhubarb Muffins
- In a large mixing bowl add flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, oats, baking soda, and salt. Whisk together to combine.
- in a medium bowl combine milk, vinegar, vanilla extract, oil, and egg. Whisk together.
- Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix together until just combined. Fold in 1-3/4 cups chopped rhubarb.
- Fill muffin cups 1/2 to 3/4 full. Top with remaining rhubarb and crumble. Sprinkle with turbinado sugar.
- Bake 20 to 25 minutes rotating pans halfway through baking. Remove from the oven when a toothpick inserted in the middle of the muffin comes out clean. Cool muffins 10 minutes in the pan and then remove them to a baking rack to finish cooling or serve warm.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator. May be frozen for a longer period of time.
Notes
Nutrition
Just go see for yourself all of the amazing recipes on Bacon Fatte. I’ll guarantee you’ll want to stay awhile. While you’re at it, take a look at what these other Freaky Friday participants are cooking up!
A Dish of Daily Life – Korean BBQ Chicken Skewers
An Affair from the Heart – Everything Bagel Dip
Bacon Fatte – No Bake Strawberry Shortcake Dessert
Bowl Me Over – Best Enchilada Sauce
Hostess at Heart – Rhubarb Oat Muffins
LeMoine Family Kitchen – Brown Sugar Jalapeño Bacon
Life Currents – French Onion Tart
Lisa’s Dinnertime Dish – Tuscan Pork Sheet Pan Dinner
Mildly Meandering – Roasted Red Pepper Dip
Take Two Tapas – Mexican Beer Cheese Skillet
West Via Midwest – Reuben Totchos
Who Needs a Cape? – Raspberry Daiquiri Pie
Sunita Bassra says
This was awesome. I replaced the whole milk with oat milk, and used coconut oil instead of canola and it worked great! I also used 1 c. coconut palm sugar instead of brown. YUM!
Julie Menghini says
Thank you, Sunita! I love that you shared your substitutions. That’s always appreciated by other bakers wanting to give them a try.
Pat says
I tried the recipe….the muffins turned out perfectly, they are delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
Julie Menghini says
Thank you, Pat! We love these muffins when we can get that yummy fresh rhubarb.
Cathy Deutsch says
Can I use steel cut osts for the baking batter? I usually use quick oats for toppings. . Or can I use the quick oats for everything? Very excited to try this recipe!!
Julie Menghini says
Cathy, the quick oats are o.k. but don’t use the steel cut. I hope you’ll stop and let us know what you think.
Susan l says
They look and smell wonderful. Wish I could post a picture
Julie Menghini says
Thanks for letting me know, Susan! I hope you enjoyed them as much as we do.
Diane says
Hello, do you think this would work cooking in a square 10’x10’ glass dish?
Julie Menghini says
I’ve never converted one of my muffin recipes into a “muffin cake”, Diane! Might be a new experiment! I think it would work better in a loaf pan if you want to give it a try.
YukonJ says
I made these today and they are delicious!
Julie Menghini says
Thank you so much for letting me know! I’m glad you enjoyed them.
Jenel says
These were delicious!! I only had white wheat flour…but it turned out perfect. Hearty enough for a breakfast muffin! Thanks so much.
Julie Menghini says
Thank you, Jenel! I’m so glad to know that wheat flour worked in these muffins too. ~ Julie
Bryan says
Ive never tried a recipe like this. I’m always open to try new muffin recipes though. I’m excited for this one
Julie Menghini says
Thank you, Bryan! It’s my quick and easy go-to muffin and so versatile. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do.
JEff says
Rhubarb, rhubarb, rhubarb. What a weird word. When I was a little kid, I used to steal a stalk of rhubarb from my neighbor’s back yard every spring and devour it as-is.
Julie Menghini says
I did too Jeff! We would dare each other to bite into it and I’m puckering up just thinking about it!
Michele @ Bacon Fatte says
Thanks so much for the kind words, Julie! These muffins are family favorites… Hope you loved them as much as we do! Yours, in bacon, butter & booze… Always! 😉
Julie Menghini says
Michele, I just loved this recipe. John took several of them to work and they loved them too. BBB forever!
Mimi says
Julie, these are beautiful! If only i could get rhubarb where I live.
Julie Menghini says
Thank you Mimi! Can you get frozen? That will also work.
Jennifer Stewart says
I don’t use rhubarb enough!! I need to get some and make a batch of these muffins to keep for busy mornings!
Julie Menghini says
Thank you Jennifer! I sure wish I cooked with it more too!
Michaela Kenkel says
Finding a new tried and true rhubarb recipe is like finding treasure for me!! I can’t wait to make these as soon as I get my hands on some rhubarb!! Just perfect!!
Julie Menghini says
Thank you Michaela! I’ve tried growing it a couple times and just can’t get it started. We love it too!
Deanna says
Mmm I would love to have one of these RHUBARB OAT MUFFINS WITH CINNAMON BUTTER CRUMBLE for breakfast! They look fab!
Julie Menghini says
Thank you Deanna! We loved them.
debi at Life Currents says
These muffins look super yummy! A great start to the day!
Julie Menghini says
Thank you, Debi!
[email protected]'s Dinnertime Dish says
These muffins sound absolutely delightful! They’d be perfect for a Mother’s Day brunch!
Julie Menghini says
Thank you, Lisa! They would be perfect for Mother’s Day!
Lori Vachon says
These certainly look delicious! Just saw some gorgeous rhubarb at a farmers market, great timing!
Julie Menghini says
Thank you Lori! We loved these muffins too and I’ll be heading for more at our farmers market too!
Debra C. says
Rhubarb is just my favorite! We enjoy rhubarb pie and pickles, but I’ve never put it in a muffin and I’m excited to give this a try! They look amazing and a great way to start my day!!
Julie Menghini says
Thank you, Debra! I love rhubarb but have never tried pickles! That sounds delicious!
michele says
Bacon butter and booze are winning in my book! (and the way she spells her name too). These muffins need to go on our weekend baking list! The sound delicious!
Julie Menghini says
I’m thinking the 3b’s should be a way of life. Thank you, Michele!
Madi says
These muffins are so up my alley! I love rhubarb!
Julie Menghini says
Thank you Madi! I love it too!
Michelle says
Hello breakfast!! I’ve never cooked with rhubarb before, but I think it’s time to start!
Julie Menghini says
I grew up using rhubarb so loved using it in these muffins. Thank you, Michelle!
Angela says
Oh Julie, you had me at cinnamon butter crumble! This is one spectacular recipe you chose to make. I’d certainly love to start my morning with one of these warm muffins and a cup of coffee.
Julie Menghini says
Thank you Angela! That’s exactly what we did and John took some to work too and they loved them.
Christie says
I never see rhubarb at the store. I look, but just haven’t found it. These look amazing by the way. And I have the exact same pan! LOL
Julie Menghini says
If you have a farmers market they’ll have it or you can also try the freezer section at your store. Thank you, Christie, these muffins were so good!