Red Fruit Crumble with Rhubarb, Cherry, and Pomegranate
Description
Tart and sweet, this ruby-colored treat is an easy-to-make, undeniable stunner.
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2½ pounds cherries, pitted, Bing preferred
- 1½ stalks rhubarb, trimmed, peeled and cut into ¼-inch dice (see Kitchen Tips)
- 3 tablespoons pomegranate molasses
- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
Topping:
- 2 cups (160 grams) rolled or old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup (130 grams) unbleached, all-purpose flour
- 1¼ cups (254 grams) brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon (2 grams) ground cardamom
- ¼ teaspoon (1.5 grams) salt
- 2 sticks (1 cup/227 grams/16 tablespoons) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into ½-inch cubes
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 385°F. Spray a 13- by 9-inch baking dish with nonstick vegetable oil spray and set aside.
- Prepare the filling: In a mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, salt, and cornstarch and whisk to combine.
- Add the cherries, rhubarb, pomegranate molasses, and vanilla bean paste to the brown sugar mixture, stirring to coat the fruit thoroughly. Scoop the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread lightly to form an even layer.
- Make the crumble: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, cardamom and salt. Add the butter and cut it in with a pastry cutter, 2 knives, or your very cold fingertips and gently rub until the most of the mixture forms small “pearls.” Taking a handful of crumble at a time, top the the fruit mixture with it, without patting.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the cherries are soft and the rhubarb is completely collapsed and cooked through. If the crumble topping remains too pale, bake for an additional 5 minutes at 400ºF. It will be very juicy.
Notes
To trim rhubarb, first cut off the leaf ends, discarding the tips of the stalk and all the greens, as they are toxic. Then trim off the root ends. Trim the strings by making a small cut at one end of the stalk just below the surface; pull down lengthwise—almost as though you were peeling a banana. Using this method, work your way around the stalk, removing the fibrous strings. To see step-by-step photos of this process, click here.
- Category: Dessert, Baking
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I substitute the rhubarb with another fruit?
You can substitute rhubarb with tart apples or pears, but keep in mind that the flavor will change slightly. 
What type of cherries should I use for the crumble?
Fresh or frozen tart cherries work best for this recipe, as they balance the sweetness of the pomegranate and provide a nice contrast.
How do I prevent the pomegranate seeds from sinking to the bottom of the crumble?
Toss the pomegranate seeds with a little cornstarch before adding them to the mixture; this helps them stay suspended during baking.
This looks yum!
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