Guilt-Free Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

Delightful & Low-Point: Your Guide to Weight Watchers Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

Embark on a delightful culinary journey with our incredible 4-point Weight Watchers Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp recipe. This dessert strikes a harmonious balance between the vibrant sweetness of ripe strawberries and the refreshing tartness of rhubarb, creating a flavor profile that is both comforting and exhilarating. Crafted with an emphasis on fresh, seasonal fruits, this crisp guarantees the most authentic and robust flavors imaginable. The luscious fruit filling is delicately infused with a subtle hint of vanilla, adding an extra layer of warmth and sophistication.

Beyond the exquisite filling, the crisp oat topping elevates this dessert to new heights. It’s not just any topping; it’s a carefully balanced medley of textures and tastes. Hearty quick oats provide a satisfying crunch, beautifully contrasting the tender, juicy fruit beneath. Infused with aromatic cinnamon and a touch of unsweetened cocoa powder, this topping introduces warm, earthy notes that perfectly complement the bright fruit. The cocoa powder, a surprising addition to some, lends a depth that enhances the overall richness without overwhelming the delicate fruit flavors. To complete this textural masterpiece, slivered almonds are incorporated, delivering a pleasant nutty undertone and an irresistible crunch-factor that makes every spoonful a delight.

What makes this recipe truly outstanding is its simplicity and health-conscious design. Despite its gourmet appeal, this strawberry rhubarb crisp is incredibly easy to prepare, requiring only two main components: the fruit filling and the streusel-oat topping. Both elements come together effortlessly in less than 15 minutes of active preparation time. Once assembled in your baking dish, the oven handles the rest, allowing you to relax while your kitchen fills with an irresistible aroma. By strategically using zero-calorie sweetener and a light butter substitute, we’ve managed to keep this dessert remarkably low in Weight Watchers points, yet uncompromisingly delicious. This means you can indulge in a classic, old-fashioned fruit crisp experience without the guilt.

Perfect for any occasion, this delightful summer dessert comfortably serves eight people, making it an ideal choice for intimate gatherings, family dinners, or even as a casual weeknight sweet treat. Its ease of preparation ensures that you don’t need a special event to enjoy this wholesome and flavorful crisp. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting out, this Weight Watchers Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp recipe promises a rewarding and utterly delicious outcome, blending health-conscious eating with pure dessert bliss.

Delicious individual serving of Weight Watchers strawberry rhubarb crisp in a ramekin

Why This Weight Watchers Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp is a Must-Try

  • Perfect for Beginner Bakers: Don’t let a lack of baking experience deter you from creating something truly delicious! This recipe is incredibly forgiving and designed for success, even for those new to the kitchen. It involves straightforward mixing of ingredients for both the fruit filling and the oat topping, without requiring complicated techniques like pastry folding, kneading, or intricate decorating. With clear, step-by-step instructions, anyone can follow along and produce a beautiful, flavorful crisp. It’s a fantastic way to build confidence in your baking abilities while enjoying a homemade treat.
  • Unforgettable and Irresistible Flavor Profile: Prepare your taste buds for an exquisite symphony of flavors! This fruit crisp masterfully combines the inherent sweetness and juicy succulence of fresh strawberries with the distinct, refreshing tartness of rhubarb. This classic pairing is then elevated by warm, inviting spices. Aromatic cinnamon provides a comforting embrace, while a subtle touch of unsweetened cocoa powder introduces an unexpected depth that harmonizes beautifully with the fruit. Completing this delightful ensemble is a hint of pure vanilla extract in the filling, adding a creamy, fragrant note. The result is a complex yet perfectly balanced dessert that will leave you craving more with every bite.
  • Packed with Wholesome and Healthy Fruit: Indulge guilt-free knowing that you’re enjoying a dessert rich in beneficial nutrients. Both strawberries and rhubarb are nutritional powerhouses. Rhubarb is an excellent source of dietary fiber, promoting digestive health, and is also rich in Vitamin K, crucial for bone health and blood clotting, as well as Vitamin C and potassium. Strawberries, on the other hand, are renowned for their high Vitamin C content, an essential antioxidant, and also provide significant amounts of folate, manganese, and other antioxidants. Incorporating this crisp into your diet is a delicious way to boost your daily fruit intake, offering a wealth of vitamins, minerals, and fiber in every serving.

This Weight Watchers Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp isn’t just a dessert; it’s a testament to how healthy eating can be both easy and incredibly satisfying. Whether you’re looking for a simple baking project, a truly delicious treat, or a healthy way to enjoy seasonal fruits, this recipe ticks all the boxes. Its simple construction and wholesome ingredients make it a standout choice for any dessert lover.

Recipe Overview & Nutritional Highlights

  • Serving Size: A generous 153g per serving ensures a satisfying portion.
  • Number of Servings: This recipe yields 8 delightful servings, perfect for sharing.
  • Time to Cook: Just 45 minutes in the oven, plus minimal prep!
  • WW Points Per Serving: Each serving is a mere 4 Weight Watchers points, making it an excellent choice for those managing their intake. The entire recipe totals 29 WW points. You canclick here to view this recipe in the Weight Watchers app (WW login is required).

Enjoying dessert while staying on track with your health goals has never been easier or more delicious. This crisp offers a perfect blend of taste and nutritional consciousness, proving that healthy eating doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor or enjoyment.

Essential Ingredients for Your Weight Watchers Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

Crafting this irresistible crisp requires a selection of fresh, high-quality ingredients that come together to create a symphony of flavors and textures. Each component plays a vital role in achieving that perfect balance of sweet, tart, and crunchy.

For the Sweet & Tart Strawberry Rhubarb Filling:

  • 1 lb fresh strawberries, rinsed, halved or quartered: Opt for ripe, vibrant red strawberries. After rinsing, halving, or quartering them, they release their sweet juices and tender texture, forming the base of our flavorful filling. These berries are essential for their natural sweetness and appealing color.
  • 1 lb fresh rhubarb, rinsed and chopped: Look for firm, reddish-green stalks. Rinsed and chopped, the rhubarb contributes its signature tartness, which beautifully cuts through the sweetness of the strawberries and keeps the dessert from being cloyingly sweet.
  • ½ cup zero-calorie sweetener (use a cup-for-cup sugar replacement like monk fruit powder): To keep this dessert Weight Watchers-friendly without compromising on sweetness, we use a cup-for-cup sugar replacement, such as monk fruit powder or erythritol blend. This ensures the filling is perfectly sweet without adding extra points.
  • 2.5 tbsp Cornstarch: This is our secret weapon for a perfectly thickened filling. Cornstarch helps to absorb the natural juices released by the fruits during baking, creating a luscious, spoonable consistency that isn’t watery.
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract: A touch of pure vanilla extract enhances all the other flavors, adding a warm, aromatic note that rounds out the fruity brightness.

Note: The fruit measurements provided are for the weight before trimming and chopping. It’s always best to purchase slightly more than needed to account for any waste during preparation.

Group of fresh ingredients for strawberry rhubarb crisp filling, including strawberries, rhubarb, sweetener, cornstarch, and vanilla extract

For the Crispy, Aromatic Oat Topping:

  • 1 cup quick oats: Quick oats are ideal for achieving that desirable crisp texture in the topping. They toast beautifully in the oven, providing a satisfying chewiness and structure.
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour: The flour binds the topping ingredients together, helping to form the classic crumbly streusel. For a gluten-free version, simply substitute with a high-quality gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.
  • ⅓ cup zero-calorie sweetener (use a cup-for-cup sugar replacement like monk fruit powder): Just like the filling, the topping benefits from a sugar replacement to maintain its low-point status. A cup-for-cup monk fruit powder or similar sweetener works perfectly here, contributing sweetness without the added calories.
  • ¼ cup chopped slivered almonds: These almonds add a delightful nutty flavor and an extra layer of crunch, making the topping even more complex and enjoyable. They toast lightly during baking, enhancing their aroma and texture.
  • 5 tbsp light butter substitute (I used I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! Light): Using a light butter substitute significantly reduces the fat and calorie content while still providing the necessary moisture to create a rich, crumbly topping. Ensure your chosen substitute is dairy-free if aiming for a vegan crisp.
  • ¾ tsp cinnamon: Ground cinnamon is a classic pairing with fruit crisps, adding a warm, inviting spice that complements both the strawberries and rhubarb beautifully. Its aroma will fill your kitchen as the crisp bakes.
  • ¾ tsp unsweetened cocoa powder: This might seem like an unusual addition, but the cocoa powder adds a subtle depth and a hint of rich, earthy flavor that surprisingly enhances the fruit without making the topping taste like chocolate. It’s a nuanced touch that sets this crisp apart.

Gathering these simple yet powerful ingredients is the first step towards creating a truly memorable and guilt-free dessert. Each ingredient has been chosen not just for flavor, but for its contribution to the Weight Watchers friendly profile of this delicious crisp.

Assorted ingredients for crispy oat streusel topping, featuring quick oats, flour, sweetener, slivered almonds, light butter substitute, cinnamon, and cocoa powder

Instructions for Making Weight Watchers Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

Follow these straightforward steps to create a perfect, bubbly strawberry rhubarb crisp that’s both delicious and low in points.

  1. Prepare the Fruit Filling: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Begin by thoroughly rinsing your fresh strawberries and rhubarb. Carefully halve or quarter the strawberries and chop the rhubarb into similar-sized pieces for even cooking. Place all the prepped fruit into a large mixing bowl. Add the zero-calorie sweetener and cornstarch, tossing gently to ensure the fruit is well coated. The cornstarch is crucial here as it will thicken the fruit juices during baking, preventing a watery crisp. Finally, stir in the vanilla extract. Let the fruit mixture sit for a few minutes while you prepare the topping; this allows the cornstarch to begin hydrating, which helps in thickening.
  2. Create the Crispy Oat Topping: In a separate microwave-safe bowl, melt the light butter substitute until just liquid. In another medium bowl, combine all the dry ingredients for the topping: quick oats, all-purpose flour, zero-calorie sweetener, chopped slivered almonds, cinnamon, and unsweetened cocoa powder. Mix these dry ingredients thoroughly until uniformly combined. Next, pour the melted butter substitute over the dry mixture. Using your fingertips, gently mix and rub the butter into the dry ingredients until a crumbly, streusel-like texture forms. Be careful not to over-mix or press too hard, as this can cause the mixture to clump together rather than remaining crumbly and light. The goal is small, distinct crumbles that will become perfectly crisp when baked.
  3. Assemble and Bake: Lightly grease an 8 or 9-inch square baking dish to prevent sticking. Transfer the prepared fruit mixture evenly into the bottom of the greased baking dish. Spread it out into a single layer. Once the fruit is in place, generously scatter the crumbly oat topping evenly over the entire surface of the fruit. Ensure full coverage for maximum crispiness.
Unbaked strawberry rhubarb crisp in a square baking dish, topped with golden oat streusel

4. Bake the strawberry rhubarb crisp for approximately 40 to 50 minutes. The crisp is done when the top is a beautiful deep golden-brown color and the fruit filling underneath is visibly bubbly around the edges. It’s important not to pull the crisp from the oven too early; the bubbling indicates that the fruit juices have thickened properly. Allowing it to bubble ensures that it will set to the ideal consistency as it cools. For my oven, 45 minutes of baking time yielded perfect results. Let it cool slightly before serving to allow the filling to set further.

Close-up of a warm, bubbly Weight Watchers strawberry rhubarb crisp being served, showcasing its golden topping and fruit filling

Versatile Variations and Smart Substitutions

This Weight Watchers Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp recipe is wonderfully adaptable, allowing you to tailor it to various dietary needs or ingredient availability without sacrificing flavor.

  • Make it Vegan or Dairy-Free: This recipe is already very close to being entirely vegan and dairy-free! The key modification lies solely in your choice of butter substitute. Simply ensure that the light butter substitute you select is explicitly labeled as dairy-free or vegan-friendly. Most major brands offer excellent plant-based alternatives that will work perfectly. Beyond this, all other ingredients in the recipe are naturally free from dairy or animal products.
  • Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp with Frozen Fruit: If fresh strawberries and rhubarb aren’t in season or readily available in your area, don’t despair! You can absolutely use frozen fruit. However, frozen fruits tend to release more liquid during baking compared to fresh ones. To compensate for this extra moisture and ensure your filling thickens beautifully, we recommend adding an extra 1 to 1.5 tablespoons of cornstarch to your fruit mixture. This slight adjustment will help maintain the desired luscious consistency.
  • Make it Gluten-Free: Adapting this crisp to be gluten-free is simple and straightforward. The main substitution involves swapping the all-purpose flour in the topping for a high-quality, certified gluten-free all-purpose flour blend. When choosing your gluten-free flour, look for blends designed for baking to achieve the best texture. Additionally, while pure cocoa powder and cornstarch are naturally gluten-free, it’s always a good practice to double-check labels to ensure they are certified gluten-free, especially if you have severe gluten sensitivities. Crucially, make sure that your quick oats are also certified gluten-free, as oats can sometimes be processed in facilities that handle gluten-containing grains, leading to cross-contamination.
  • Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp with Tapioca: For those who prefer or need to use tapioca starch instead of cornstarch as a thickener, the conversion is easy. Tapioca starch has less thickening power than cornstarch, so you will need to use double the amount. For this recipe, that would mean using 5 tablespoons of tapioca starch in the fruit filling.
  • Type of Oats: While quick oats are specified for their ideal crispiness, you can certainly experiment with other types of oats for a slightly different texture. Rolled oats, also known as old-fashioned oats, can be used as a substitute. They will yield a chewier, heartier topping with a bit more bite compared to the lighter crispness of quick oats. Both options are delicious, so feel free to choose based on your textural preference!

Expert Tips and Tricks for a Flawless Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

Mastering this delicious crisp is easy with a few helpful pointers. These tips will ensure your dessert turns out perfectly every time, from preparation to storage.

  • Optimal Storage for Freshness: Once your strawberry rhubarb crisp has cooled, you can conveniently store it directly in the same baking dish you used for baking. Alternatively, you can transfer individual servings or the entire remaining crisp to an airtight container. To maintain its freshness and prevent it from drying out, make sure to tightly wrap the top of the baking dish with plastic wrap or cover it securely with a lid. When stored properly in the refrigerator, your crisp will remain delicious for three to five days. For longer-term enjoyment, this crisp freezes beautifully! Simply transfer cooled crisp to a freezer-safe container, where it will keep well for about two months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat gently in the oven for best results.
  • Uniform Fruit Chopping: To ensure that both the strawberries and rhubarb cook evenly and reach the perfect tender consistency at the same time, it’s crucial to chop them into similar-sized pieces. If some pieces are significantly larger than others, they may remain too firm while smaller pieces become overly soft. Aim for consistent chunks, roughly ¾ to 1 inch in size for the rhubarb, and quartered or halved strawberries depending on their original size.
  • Dealing with Oven Hot Spots: Ovens can sometimes have “hot spots” – areas that cook faster or hotter than others, leading to uneven baking. If you suspect your oven has hot spots, a simple trick is to rotate your baking dish halfway through the cooking time. For this recipe, that would mean turning the dish 180 degrees around the 20-25 minute mark. This helps ensure that the topping browns evenly and the fruit filling cooks uniformly, preventing one side from being perfectly golden while the other is still pale.
  • Selecting the Best Fruit: For the most vibrant flavor, choose strawberries that are bright red, plump, and fragrant, with fresh green caps. Rhubarb stalks should be firm, crisp, and free from blemishes. While the color of rhubarb can vary from deep red to greenish-pink, it doesn’t always indicate ripeness or flavor; firmness is a better indicator.
  • Serving Suggestions: This warm strawberry rhubarb crisp is absolutely delightful on its own, but for an extra treat, consider serving it with a scoop of light vanilla ice cream, a dollop of fat-free whipped cream, or a drizzle of sugar-free caramel sauce. These additions can elevate the dessert experience without adding too many extra Weight Watchers points.

Related Low-Point Recipes to Explore

If you enjoyed this Weight Watchers Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp, you might love these other delicious and healthy recipes:

  • Strawberry Rhubarb Muffins
  • Single Serve Apple Crisp
  • Apple Cranberry Crisp

5 from 1 vote

Weight Watchers Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

Servings: 8 people
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 1 hour

A single serving of freshly baked Weight Watchers strawberry rhubarb crisp, perfectly golden and ready to enjoy
A delightful and easy-to-make baked dessert featuring a vibrant, fresh strawberry and tart rhubarb filling, topped with a perfectly crispy, cinnamon-spiced oat streusel. This low-point recipe offers a harmonious blend of sweet, tart, and warm flavors, ideal for guilt-free indulgence.

Ingredients 

Strawberry Rhubarb Filling

  • 1 lb fresh strawberries, rinsed, halved or quartered for even cooking
  • 1 lb fresh rhubarb, rinsed and chopped into uniform pieces
  • ½ cup zero-calorie sweetener, use a cup-for-cup sugar replacement like monk fruit powder or erythritol blend
  • 2.5 tbsp Cornstarch
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Note: The fruit measurements are weighed before trimming and chopping.

Crispy Oat Topping

  • 1 cup quick oats
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • cup zero-calorie sweetener, use a cup-for-cup sugar replacement like monk fruit powder
  • ¼ cup chopped slivered almonds
  • 5 tbsp light butter substitute, I used I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! Light, ensure dairy-free for vegan
  • ¾ tsp cinnamon
  • ¾ tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
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Instructions 

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). After thoroughly washing and prepping the strawberries (halved or quartered) and chopped rhubarb, place them in a large mixing bowl. Toss the fruit with the zero-calorie sweetener and cornstarch until well coated, then stir in the vanilla extract. Allow this mixture to sit for a few minutes while you prepare the topping so the cornstarch can start to hydrate.
  • To make the crispy oat topping, melt the light butter substitute. In a separate bowl, combine all the dry ingredients: quick oats, all-purpose flour, zero-calorie sweetener, chopped slivered almonds, cinnamon, and unsweetened cocoa powder. Mix until thoroughly combined. Add the melted butter substitute and mix with your hands, using your fingertips, to form a crumbly mixture. Be careful not to over-mix or press the mixture too firmly, as you want distinct crumbles rather than a solid mass for the best crispy texture.
  • Lightly grease an 8 or 9-inch square baking dish. Transfer the fruit mixture evenly into the baking dish, spreading it into a single layer. Afterwards, scatter the crumbly oat topping generously and evenly over the fruit.
  • Bake the strawberry rhubarb crisp for 40 to 50 minutes, or until it’s perfectly done. You’ll know it’s ready when the top is a beautiful deep golden-brown color and the fruit filling underneath is visibly bubbly, especially around the edges. It’s crucial to wait for the fruit to be bubbly as this indicates that the cornstarch has properly thickened the juices. Mine took exactly 45 minutes of baking time to achieve perfection. Allow it to cool slightly before serving for the best texture.

Notes

Each serving of this delicious crisp is just 4 Weight Watchers points, making it a fantastic low-point dessert option for any occasion.

Nutrition

Serving: 153gCalories: 166kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 4.3gFat: 5.6gSodium: 57mgPotassium: 304mgFiber: 4.1gSugar: 3.8gCalcium: 78mgIron: 1.6mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be considered an approximation for dietary planning.

Additional Info

Course: Baking, Dessert
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