Roasted Strawberry Rhubarb Breakfast Muffins With Pistachio Crumb Topping

These strawberry rhubarb muffins are the perfect spring treat, made with roasted strawberries and rhubarb and topped with a crunchy pistachio crumble.

In a hurry? Click here to JUMP TO RECIPE!

strawberry rhubarb muffins against dark backdrop

This weekend felt like the first real spring weekend here in Midwest America. Heavy rain and thunderstorms carried on all week to give way to a beautiful and sunny Saturday that was filled with blooming flowers and budding trees. We wandered over to our first farmer’s market of the season (!!!!) yesterday and I snatched up all the seasonal goodies I could get my hands on (ramps! fresh flowers! rhubarb! microgreens!).

Our town is relatively small so the farmer’s market only occurs one day a week, which gives it the feel of a community gathering since half the town is there. The vendors are filled with local farmers while the ends are taken up by street musicians and the outskirts riddled with food trucks. This is the time of the year where everyone is still happy to be sharing this space with you; it’s cool but sunny and the idea of wandering through rows of fresh and local produce is still a novelty.

As the summer goes on, the market will get more and more crowded and people will become more and more distressed as they fight against the heat and cramped crowds to try and get their weekly spinach bundle. But for now, it’s all waves and slow walking and ‘ohh look at those ramps!’ and ‘check out these flowers’ which I am perfectly fine with.

photo collage showing strawberry rhubarb muffins on wood cake stand next to hand holding a muffin

It felt so good to play with colors other than green, green, and green! I was photographing these strawberries and rhubarb and was just amazed at the vibrancy of it all. The strawberries aren’t at peak around here yet, but who can resist when it’s rhubarb season so I snatched up a few pints anyways. To avoid the disappointment of bland berries, I roasted the fruit before incorporating them into these strawberry rhubarb muffins to bring out their natural sweetness, which pops in every bite of the muffin.

The crumb has a pistachios base because…well I’ve become pretty obsessed with pistachios. I love how they are the only nuts that can give you a pop of color while still giving that filling and crunchy texture to your baked goods. Heck, I’d even go as far to say that pistachios have become the staple to my baking as much as matcha has to Molly Yeh or dates as sweeteners to Oh Ladycakes.

These strawberry rhubarb muffins are light, bright in flavor, and, dare I say, healthy! They are the perfect breakfast treat or afternoon snack.

photo collage showing fresh strawberries and rhubarb next to bowl of muffin batter

What’s Needed for Strawberry Rhubarb Muffins?

These healthy strawberry muffins are so easy to make! Here’s what you’ll need to make these breakfast muffins:

  • Strawberries
  • Rhubarb
  • Sugar
  • Milk
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Spelt flour
  • Baking soda
  • Salt
  • Lemon zest
  • Sunflower oil
  • Maple syrup
  • Banana
  • Egg
  • Vanilla extract
  • Rolled oats
  • Pistachios
  • Brown sugar
  • Butter
strawberry rhubarb muffins in muffin cups

How to Make Strawberry Rhubarb Muffins

I’ve given detailed instructions in the recipe card below on how to make strawberry rhubarb muffins. Here are the basics:

  1. Roast the strawberries and rhubarb.
  2. Whisk together the dry ingredients, then stir in the wet.
  3. Gently fold in the roasted fruit.
  4. Divide the muffin batter between 12 muffin cups.
  5. Sprinkle pistachio crumb topping evenly over muffins.
  6. Bake until done.
photo collage showing roasted fruit on baking tray and empty bowl with residual muffin batter in it

Do I Have to Use Spelt Flour?

Nope! I used spelt flour in this recipe, but you can substitute for all-purpose flour if that is what you have on hand.

Can I Use Frozen Strawberries?

To my knowledge, no. This breakfast muffin recipe is best with fresh berries.

photo collage showing woman holding rhubarb stalks and woman sprinkling sugar into baking tray

Tips for Making Strawberry Rhubarb Muffins

If using spelt flour, be sure to not over-mix as I’ve been told it’s a delicate flour.

I also swapped out the spices for lemon zest to give it an extra bright flavor but you can sub in cinnamon, cardamon, nutmeg etc if you’d like a spicier treat!

These muffins will keep on your counter for a few days, but you can also freeze them to enjoy later. To thaw, simply set on your counter.

photo collage showing strawberry rhubarb muffins in baking tin and on wood cake stand

Want More Rhubarb Recipes?

Roasted Strawberry Rhubarb Breakfast Muffins With Pistachio Crumb Topping
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
18 mins
Total Time
48 mins
 

These Roasted Strawberry Rhubarb Muffins with Pistachio Crumb Topping are the perfect spring muffin to start any day with!

Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: muffins, rhubarb, strawberry
Servings: 12 muffins
Author: Shelly Westerhausen
Ingredients
Strawberry rhubarb muffins:
  • 1 pint strawberries , stems removed and quartered
  • 2 large stalks rhubarb (about 1/2 cup once chopped), chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 2 Tablespoons sugar (I used organic natural cane sugar here)
  • 1 cup coconut milk (or any milk will do here)
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • 2 cups spelt flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1/4 cup sunflower oil
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1 very ripe banana , smashed
  • 1 egg , lightly beaten (should be able to sub in another cup of bananas for vegan version)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Crumb topping:
  • 1/4 cup rolled oats
  • 1/4 cup pistachios
  • 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 Tablespoon cold butter (use coconut oil to make vegan)
Instructions
Roast the strawberries and rhubarb:
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  2. Transfer the strawberries and rhubarb to the baking sheet in a single layer and sprinkle with sugar.

  3. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the strawberries start to ooze. Remove from oven and let cool completely.

  4. Lower your oven to 350 degrees F.

Make the muffins:
  1. Measure out the coconut milk in a large liquid measuring cup and add the apple cider vinegar. Let sit for about 10 minutes so that the vinegar has time to curdle with the milk.

  2. Line a muffin pan with 12 muffin liners and set aside.

  3. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and lemon zest.

  4. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the mashed bananas, egg, oil, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and coconut milk. Whisk the wet ingredients together until combined and then fold the dry ingredients into the wet until just incorporated.

  5. Next, fold in the roasted fruit. Evenly divide the batter between your 12 muffin pan and set aside.

  6. In a food processor or high speed blender, pulse the oats, pistachios, brown sugar, salt, and butter until combined and a chunky crumble has formed.

  7. Top each muffin with a tablespoon of crumb (or divide it evenly between all the muffins) and transfer to your warmed oven.

  8. Bake muffins for 18 to 22 minutes, or until the top has browned and a toothpick comes out of the center muffin clean.

  9. Remove from oven and let cool before serving.
Recipe Notes

Adapted from Tropical Mini Breakfast Muffins. 

strawberry rhubarb muffins on black cake stand
mixed floral bouquet against black background
woman's hand holding a strawberry rhubarb muffin
college showing roasted strawberry rhubarb muffins on dark cake stand

Styling: Tablecloth: thrifted / Cake stand and Enamel baking sheet: West Elm / Wooden knives: mostly thrifted (+ one gifted from Carey) / Wooden Tier-Plate: thrifted

Comment

27 Comments

  • Letty (Letty's Kitchen)
    April 12, 2015

    Love that you roasted the berries and rhubarb to concentrate flavor and color. Raw strawberries baked into muffins usually are disappointing. Roasting changes everything.

    • Shellywest
      Letty (Letty’s Kitchen)
      April 16, 2015

      Could not agree more about raw berries sometimes being a bit of a let down in baked goods – roasting really does do amazing things to improve that!

  • Katie @ 24 Carrot Life
    April 12, 2015

    Yum! I can’t wait to make these once I get my hands on the perfect strawberries and rhubarb this summer! Your photos are gorgeous btws!

    • Shellywest
      Katie @ 24 Carrot Life
      April 16, 2015

      Thanks, Katie! I’m excited to see the fun and springy recipes you come up with once the rhubarb hits your neck of the woods!

  • Kathryn
    April 13, 2015

    Hurrah for spring! You’ve pretty much captured everything that’s good about this time of year in one delicious treat. And I absolutely love + am fully supportive of your love for pistachios. I can’t get enough of them either + the combo with strawberries is always particularly good.

    • Shellywest
      Kathryn
      April 16, 2015

      Thanks, Kathryn! I totally agree that the strawberry + pistachio combo is fantastic and perhaps underrated? I’ll work on trying to change that!

  • Sini | My Blue&White Kitchen
    April 13, 2015

    This post is stunning; an ode to spring!

    • Shellywest
      Sini | My Blue&White Kitchen
      April 16, 2015

      An ode to spring for sure! Thanks for the kind words, Sini!

  • Jessie Snyder | Faring Well
    April 13, 2015

    Oh my goodness what I would give for our farmers markets to start up already! I loved reading about yours. Sounds so quaint and pretty, I love FM in the spring. And these muffins, alllllll the spring vibes! Those colors make me so very happy. Gorgeously captured and now I want to go stuff my face with a few!! Now to just find some rhubarb… Happy Monday Shelly! <3

    • Shellywest
      Jessie Snyder | Faring Well
      April 16, 2015

      Yes – the market here is super quaint and pretty for sure! You’ll have to make a trip to the Midwest soon and I will bring you there!!

  • Sherrie
    April 15, 2015

    It’s been spring here in St. Louis for well over a month, I feel lucky about that. But why can’t I find ramps here in STL? Why can’t I find rhubarb? What’s going on in the world? Love this post Shelly, xo!

    • Shellywest
      Sherrie
      April 16, 2015

      I have no idea! We should be on the same produce timeline! Are there any good farmer’s markets in STL? The ramps are everywhere around here this week…

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    April 16, 2015

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  • Lisa
    April 17, 2015

    Is it possible to get the weight measurement for the flour? I tried making these and they came out gooey on the inside even when kept in the oven longer. While it might be my lame oven (gonna get an oven thermometer), I just want to try to cover all bases so I can try again.
    Thanks!

  • Lindsey
    April 17, 2015

    that rhubarb looks insane, shelly! can’t wait to get my hands on some soon! this post is so beautiful, love all the angles and light <3 happy spring!!!

    • Shellywest
      Lindsey
      April 20, 2015

      Awww – thanks for the kind works, Lindsay!

  • Tina Jui | The Worktop
    April 18, 2015

    Beautiful! It’s finally rhubarb season again.. whooop 🙂

    • Shellywest
      Tina Jui | The Worktop
      April 20, 2015

      I know! I love love love it!

  • clarkee1
    April 18, 2015

    Cant WAIT to make these!

    • Shellywest
      clarkee1
      April 20, 2015

      Let me know how they turn out for you!

  • Courtney
    April 21, 2015

    I just finished making these. They didn’t rise and we’re all stuck to my paper muffin cups. Not happy!

    • Shellywest
      Courtney
      April 21, 2015

      Oh no! Bummer! I’m thinking I may re-post this with weight measurements as it seems that some people are having trouble with this recipe but mine turned out wonderful. I’m also wondering if your dough may have over-mixed as spelt flour is super sensitive?

      • Courtney
        Shellywest
        April 22, 2015

        I actually used regular flour and whole milk but those were the only differences.

  • Keara McGraw
    May 23, 2015

    I’ve been thumbing through your muffin recipes in preparation for hitting the road suuuper early tomorrow morning. So pumped for these! They’ll both motivate me to get out of bed and impress the bf’s mom. Can’t wait to make ’em.

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