Nothing says spring like the sweet, tart, wonderfully pink pairing of strawberries and rhubarb.

It taps into that part of my brain that controls the desire to wear wonderfully fake eyelashes and fabulous clothes and run through a crowded train station singing “Don’t Rain on My Parade.”

If you have the time, a strawberry-rhubarb pie or cobbler is fantastic, but if you need a really quick-n-dirty fix, go for this Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp. The filling is simply the fruit tossed with sugar. The topping is a crumbly mix of oats, flour, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and butter – things you probably have in the pantry right now! Oh, yes! Bake the crisp for about 40 minutes, cool it for 10, and bring on the ice cream. (Or, if you’re eating a bit lighter, try a scoop of light ice cream and spoon a little of the crisp over the top. Heaven.)

Now, feel free to sing along …

Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp

Adapted from “Williams-Sonoma Essentials of Baking”

Makes 8 servings

    Filling: 

  • 6 medium stalks rhubarb, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 2 cups (8 ounces/250 grams) strawberries, hulled and halved lengthwise
  • 1/2 cup (4 ounces/125 grams) sugar
    Topping: 

  • 1 cup (5 ounces/155 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup (1.5 ounces/45 grams) old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1/3 cup (3 ounces/90 grams) sugar
  • 1/3 cup (2.5 ounces/75 grams) firmly packed golden brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
  1. Position a rack in the middle of the oven, and preheat to 350 degrees F. Have ready a 2.5 quart ceramic or glass pie dish or baking dish.
  1. For the Filling: In a large bowl, stir together the rhubarb, strawberries and sugar until well mixed. Pour into the baking dish, and set aside.
  2. For the Topping: In a large bowl, stir together the flour, rolled oats, sugars, cinnamon and salt until well blended. Stir in the melted butter until evenly moistened crumbs form. Spoon the crumb mixture over the filling.
  3. Bake the crisp until the rhubarb is tender when tested with a toothpick, the juices are bubbling, and the topping is golden brown, 35-40 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool for 10 minutes. Serve warm.

STORAGE: The crisp can be cooled, covered with plastic wrap and stored at room temperature for up to 2 days. Rewarm in a 250-degree F oven for 15 minutes before serving. Preferably with a substantial scoop of vanilla ice cream.