Classic Rhubarb Pie with a Lattice Crust

I grew up with a big rhubarb patch in our backyard. On occasion, my mom would surprise us with this Classic Rhubarb Pie with a Lattice Crust. With a double crust and no custard, it’s just plain delicious!

Childhood memories come pouring back with each tasty bite of this rhubarb pie. A simple rhubarb pie filling highlights the true flavors of this fabulous spring vegetable!

Classic Rhubarb Pie with a Lattice Crust

We had loads of rhubarb and rhubarb sauce also appeared in our fridge in the summer. I’ve mentioned before that my mom wasn’t much of a dessert maker, but my sisters and I swooned when she did succumb and bake up something special (my dad claimed not to care for sweets, but he definitely indulged!).

Rhubarb bread is definitely a fond memory, and I adore Rhubarb Muffins, too. Dorie Greenspan’s Rhubarb Upside-Down Cakes are darned irresistible, too. How about some Rhubarb Sauce over vanilla ice cream? Then there’s this tempting Rhubarb Crisp that I’ve been eyeing as well! But one of my favorite memories was when she’d bake up a classic rhubarb pie. Flavored with just sugar and a touch of butter, it was pure rhubarb ecstasy! No custard to muddy up the sheer gloriousness of this summer fruit!

How to Make a Lattice Topping

If I’m using a good pastry recipe, a lattice topping is a fun twist for the top crust. Built-in air vents and a gorgeous presentation. I brush the lattice with some heavy cream and sprinkle with coarse sugar for a beautiful finish for this classic rhubarb pie.

I start by laying a strip of crust down the center, then a second strip perpendicular, crossing in the center. I continue to add strips in each direction, folding up and down those strips in their path allowing me to weave a lattice. One of my dear friends commented with her first bite, “This is definitely not Pillsbury.” Though store-bought crust is wonderful in a pinch, there is nothing better than buttery, flaky homemade pie crust.

I’ve referenced Simply Recipes’ post on How to Make a Lattice Crust in the past as the photos demonstrate the technique much better than I could explain.

What is Rhubarb? A Fruit or a Vegetable?

Rhubarb is officially classified as a vegetable as it is the stem of the rhubarb plant. Like celery stalks, stems are vegetables. As a vegetable, rhubarb is far from sweet so more sugar is needed than in the average pie or you’d be puckering with every bite.

But we treat these rhubarb stems, which range from green to red in color, as a fruit as it’s used in recipes for pies, tarts, cakes, muffins and even ice cream toppings. And please note that only the stems are edible as the rest of the plant is poisonous. They contain oxalic acid and other toxic substances. I got a lot of grief when I posted my rhubarb muffins with some of the stems and leaves in the background. Mind you, I wasn’t suggesting you eat them raw or cooked!

What Does Rhubarb Taste Like?

Rhubarb cooked by itself is very tart, like a sour green apple. But balancing the tartness with the perfect amount of sugar makes rhubarb a favorite ingredient for spring and summer desserts.

How Should I Store a Rhubarb Pie?

Rhubarb and other fruit only pies are fine to store at room temperature for up to 2 days. Longer than that, place your pie in the refrigerator. You may want to gently warm up a slice in the microwave to get the chill off before eating.

If your rhubarb pie filling contains custard, it must be refrigerated to avoid bacteria from growing due to the perishable nature of custard.

You May Need:

• Pie Plate (glass)
• Pie Plate (ceramic)
• French Rolling Pin

More Incredible Summer Fruit Pies:

• Blueberry Peach Pie from Sally’s Baking Addiction
• Peach Pie from Two Peas and Their Pod
• Strawberry Cream Pie 
• Patriotic Stars and Stripes Pie
• Freeze and Bake Blueberry Pie 
• Blueberry Peach Custard Pie
• Peach Crumb Pie
• Simple Strawberry Pie
• Pie Recipes
• Dessert Recipes

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Classic Rhubarb Pie

A classic rhubarb pie from my childhood topped with a beautiful, woven lattice crust.

Prep Time 1 hour

Cook Time 1 hour

Total Time 2 hours

Yield 8 servings

Ingredients

• 6-8 tablespoons flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 tablespoon butter, cut into pieces
• 4 cups chopped rhubarb
• 1 double crust pie crust recipe* (or store bought)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 450º.
2. Mix together the flour and sugar in a large bowl. Add rhubarb and toss to combine.
3. Roll out your bottom crust and place in a pie plate. Add the rhubarb to the pie plate and dot with butter. Roll out the top crust and either cut strips to weave or top with the whole sheet of dough. Trim edges and crimp the two crusts together. Cut some air vents in the top of the crust if you're not making a lattice top.
4. Place pie on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes.
5. Reduce heat to 350º and bake for 30-50 more minutes OR until the filling is bubbling in the middle. Cover edges with foil if the crust is browning too quickly during the baking.

Notes

*I used this Perfect Pastry recipe from Bake.Eat.Retreat. It makes enough for 2 double crust pies.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1 slice
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 345Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 104mgCarbohydrates: 70gFiber: 2gSugar: 51gProtein: 3g