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Grandma’s Old-Fashioned Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Recipe

Grandma’s Old-fashioned Strawberry Rhubarb Pie recipe combines sweet juicy strawberries and tart rhubarb piled high between a buttery flaky crust. This fresh fruit pie is the one you want when you’re craving summer, porch swings, and sharing with friends.

This post has been updated to improve our readers’ experience. No changes were made to the recipe.

Flay lay photo of two slices of pie on a red checkered napkin with the cut pie in the background.

I get my love for this old-fashioned classic strawberry rhubarb pie from growing up watching my grandmother make it. Grandma’s rhubarb pies were brimming with fresh rhubarb, and I couldn’t wait for them to come out of the oven. That sweet strawberry rhubarb pie filling would bubble through her golden brown buttery crust just begging for a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

I can usually get my hands on fresh strawberries, but when rhubarb season is here that means it’s time to pull out all the stops and serve it any way that I can. My Grandma’s strawberry rhubarb pie recipe is one of our very favorite pies. But I sure wouldn’t turn down my Mom’s Rhubarb Custard pie or a generous slice of Strawberry Rhubarb Bread topped with a sweet crunchy streusel and glaze.

Whether you get your strawberries and rhubarb from the farmers market, pick-your-own, or grab them at the grocery store make sure you get extra and make this easy strawberry-rhubarb pie recipe.

What is Rhubarb?

Rhubarb is such an interesting vegetable. The raw form of edible rhubarb is a lot like celery. The stalks of the plant are the only edible part and are most often baked in pies. Rhubarb is pretty tart so strawberries or other fruit and sugar provide a nice balance.

Fresh sliced rhubarb in a white bowl with stalks of rhubarb on an antique tray.

How to Choose Rhubarb

Purchase Rhubarb in the grocery store in Spring or Summer for the freshest flavor. In the U.S. the main producers have two growing seasons in April/May and June/July.

Look for rhubarb that is crisp and firm with shiny stalks between 12 and 18 inches in length.

Do not get rhubarb that is soft or limp or has visible blemishes. Check out these great tips for selecting rhubarb at the store.

Once you pick home-grown rhubarb, you will need to use it quickly as it can dry out fast. Don’t dice it until you are ready to use it. If you can’t use it right away, dice it up and freeze it in an airtight container to use later.

A single slice of a strawberry rhubarb pie recipe on a plate.

Why make this recipe for Strawberry Rhubarb Pie?

If you already love an easy strawberry pie, my Old-Fashioned Rhubarb Pie recipe is going to blow you away. The sweetness of the strawberries combined with the tartness of the rhubarb makes this the best Strawberry Rhubarb pie that I’ve ever made and my go-to recipe. This is a very traditional pie where I grew up and if you haven’t tried it, you’re in for a treat.

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Ingredients

  • Strawberries. Always pick the freshest, most ripe strawberries you can find. I prefer our local farmer’s market when they are available.
  • Rhubarb. A tart vegetable that looks a lot like celery. Rhubarb stalks can be green, red, or a combination of both.
  • Sugar. White Granulated Sugar
  • Ground Cinnamon – Just a small amount. This is optional.
  • Cold Butter. I typically use salted butter in this recipe.
  • Pie Crusts. We made a top and bottom crust using our all-butter homemade pie crusts. This pie would be beautiful with a lattice crust. You can use a store-bought pie crust as well.
  • Egg. Whipped with water to use as an egg wash.
  • Turbinado Sugar. A coarse sugar to top the pie crust with a nice crunch.

How to Make Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

It’s a super easy strawberry pie to make, especially if you buy your pie crusts already made!

  1. Preheat your oven to 350º first so it gets nice and hot.
  2. Slice the strawberries and the stalks of rhubarb into even thicknesses. There’s no need to peel rhubarb. Just remove the leaves and the white portion on the other end if it wasn’t removed before you got it.
  3. Mix the first five ingredients (strawberries, rhubarb, sugar, cinnamon, and butter) in a medium bowl.
Strawberry rhubarb filling ingredients in a bowl.
  1. Place the bottom crust in your pie pan.
  2. Add the fruit filling.
A pie crust filled with a strawberry and rhubarb filling
  1. Cut the cold butter into small pieces and put it randomly over the top of the filling.
Strawberries and rhubarb filling in a pie crust dotted with pieces of butter.
  1. Top with the second pie crust.
  2. Whisk the egg and 1 teaspoon of water together in a small bowl until foamy to make an egg wash.
  3. Brush the top of the pie crust with the egg wash and quickly sprinkle with the turbinado sugar before the egg wash dries.
Fork piercing a pie crust
  1. Make 4 to six slits with a sharp knife in the top crust so the steam can escape.
  2. Bake at 350°F for 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.

Tips for a Great Rhubarb Strawberry Pie

  • Use fresh rhubarb for your old-fashioned Rhubarb Pie. This will ensure that your pie will not be watery. You can use frozen rhubarb but make sure it is completely thawed and press any excess liquid out of it. Too much water will cause your pie to have a soggy bottom.
    • This pie doesn’t require thickeners such as ground tapioca or corned starch. If you end up with a juicy pie it may be from underbaking.
  • We put our unbaked pie on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet to prevent it from bubbling over in the oven. It also makes removing the pie from the oven easier.
  • Place a pie shield or strips of aluminum foil over the edge of the pie plate during the last 10 minutes if the pie is becoming excessively brown.
  • If you make this pie gluten-free using a gluten-free pie crust.
  • Many egg washes use only egg whites, but I’ve found the crust browns more golden by using both.
  • If the egg wash dries, the coarse sugar will not stick. Put it on right away for a delicious crunch and texture.
  • Keep your pie dough cold and roll it out right before you need it. Or roll it out and cover it with plastic wrap in the refrigerator. If your crust is at room temperature or too warm becomes soft making it hard to crimp edges.
  • What eggwash I have left I cook up for my pup. She loves it.
Easy strawberry pie slice on a plate.

Storing and Freezing Your Pie

You can keep a rhubarb strawberry pie recipe for several days. We prefer to refrigerate it which will help to keep the juices from running out of the pie and becoming soggy.

You can freeze the whole pie by tightly wrapping it in plastic wrap and placing the pie in an air-tight container to keep for up to three months in the freezer. I like to freeze pies by the slice. That way none goes to waste when you only need one or two pieces.

Single slice of strawberry rhubarb pie on a plate with other pieces in the background.

Other Rhubarb Recipes

Apple Rhubarb Pie. A tart and sweet pie that will surprise you.

Rhubarb Sauce. Make this delicious smooth sauce as an ice cream drizzle, jam, or even served over pork!

Rhubarb Dessert with Strawberry Jello. Another perfect pairing you will enjoy.

Rhubarb Muffins. A beautifully moist muffin with cinnamon crumble.

Rhubarb Custard Pie. A creamy dreamy filling under a buttery lattice crust.

If you liked this recipe, we would appreciate your comment and a 5-star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review!

Don’t forget to stop back and let me know how your Old-Fashioned Strawberry Rhubarb Pie turned out!

A single slice of a strawberry rhubarb pie recipe on a plate with a second slice in the background.

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Recipe

Author: Hostess At Heart
Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Recipe is an old-fashioned favorite. It's the perfect blend of sweet and tart under a golden flaky crust.
4.92 from 12 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword: Pie, Rhubarb Pie
Servings: 6

Equipment

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 cups strawberries sliced
  • 3 cups rhubarb diced 1/2″ thick
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tbsp butter cold and diced into small pieces
  • 2 pie crusts package refrigerated or homemade
  • 1 egg whipped with 1 tsp water
  • 2 tbsp turbinado sugar
  • ½ tsp cinnamon

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 °F, and place a baking sheet on the lowest rack to catch any drips from the pie.
  • In a large bowl, add the sliced strawberries, diced rhubarb, cinnamon, and sugar. Stir to combine.
  • Place 1 pie crust in the bottom of a 9-inch pie plate. Spoon the fruit mixture over pie crust.
  • Cut the butter into small pieces and put it randomly over the filling.
  • Top the filling with the remaining pie crust.
  • Whisk the egg with 1 tsp of water until no longer thick. Brush the top of the pie crust with the egg wash. Immediately sprinkle the top of the crust with 2 tablespoons of white turbinado sugar. Cut 4 or 5 slits in top for steam to escape.
  • Bake at 350 °Ffor 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly. Shield the crust with aluminum foil during the last 10 minutes if the pie is becoming excessively brown.
  • Cool on a wire rack 30 minutes before serving.

Video

Notes

  •  My egg wash uses both the yolk and white mixed with a teaspoon of water and whipped together.
    • Many egg washes use only the white, but I’ve found the crust browns more golden by using both.
    • What eggwash I have left I cook up for my pup. She loves it.
  • Add the egg wash quickly followed by the sugar.
    • If it dries, the sugar will not adhere or cook onto the crust and just falls off.
    • I like turbinado sugar. It’s a coarser sugar that adds a nice crunch.

Nutrition

Calories: 437kcalCarbohydrates: 61gProtein: 5gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 279mgPotassium: 277mgFiber: 3gSugar: 31gVitamin A: 220IUVitamin C: 19mgCalcium: 71mgIron: 2mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.

Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

Other Strawberry Recipes

Strawberry Cheesecake Salad. A refreshing and sweet salad for summer.

Strawberry Kuchen. An easy dessert.

Strawberry Cupcakes. So pretty and perfect for Valentine’s Day or a summer picnic.

I hope you enjoyed this recipe for rhubarb strawberry pie. And, even though I don’t need an excuse to eat pie, Pie day would be a great one. Just look at these amazing pie day recipes!

More Recipes for Pi(e) Day

If you have a green thumb, you could grow your own with these tips. I’m happy to report that I now have my own beautiful rhubarb plants! Grown in the midwest, rhubarb will grow best between April and May.

Recipe Rating




Sandra

Saturday 15th of July 2023

Can I add a bit of dry jello package to make rhubarb red?

Julie Menghini

Monday 17th of July 2023

You certainly can!

Bonita

Tuesday 12th of July 2022

I have a quick question. The instructions say to mix cinnamon with the strawberries, rhubarb, and sugar, but cinnamon is not listed in the ingredients.... Do I add cinnamon or not? Thanks for your help =)

Julie Menghini

Thursday 14th of July 2022

Bonita, I put 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon in this pie. Thank you for catching that. Jumping over to add it.

Bev

Sunday 23rd of May 2021

I can’t wait to bite into this pie, it’s cooling right now, I do have one question, where does the butter go, I might be missing something ..I saw it in the ingredient list but not in the instructions, so I left it out

Julie Menghini

Monday 24th of May 2021

Oh heaven's, Bev, thank you for your comment. I dice up the butter and put it over the filling before I put on the top crust. I'm headed over to edit my recipe and really appreciate you stopping by.

Michaela Kenkel

Friday 26th of March 2021

Rhubarb anything has my heart!! I loved this recipe so much, and it was a nice change of pace from my Rhubarb raisin I always make!

Julie Menghini

Friday 26th of March 2021

Thank you, Michaela!

Madi

Monday 22nd of March 2021

I just got some rhubarb and I am definitely using it for this recipe! Looks amazing!

Julie Menghini

Tuesday 23rd of March 2021

Thank you, Madi! We really love this pie!

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