This strawberry rhubarb bread with a cinnamon-sugar topping is one of my top sweet treats for spring and summer. The juicy strawberries balance the tart rhubarb perfectly, and the cinnamon streusel ties it all together for a dessert everyone will enjoy.
I love eating fresh fruit and produce in the warmer months. My parents always had a garden, so I grew up around homegrown fruits and vegetables and picked up a few gardening habits along the way. This year our garden was smaller because of home construction, but we still kept a few plants going.
Rhubarb is one of the things we look forward to most each spring and summer. It has big, beautiful leaves and bright pink stalks, and a very tart flavor that’s great for pies, crumbles, jams, and sauces. I especially like pairing rhubarb with sweet strawberries — their sweetness complements the rhubarb’s tartness, and both are in season at the same time.
One of my favorite things to bake in spring and summer is this strawberry rhubarb quick bread. Sweet strawberries and tangy rhubarb bake together in a cinnamon-sweet loaf that’s delicious warm, especially with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The cinnamon-sugar topping is the perfect finishing touch.
I enjoy cooking from scratch, but I also appreciate shortcuts. This recipe is quick and easy thanks to a boxed muffin or cake mix. I use a vanilla muffin mix to speed things up, which is helpful when little helpers want to join in.
Tips for using muffin mix to make quick bread:
– Bake at a lower temperature for longer. A good rule is to reduce the oven temperature by 25ºF.
– Make sure you have enough batter: choose a mix that makes at least 12 muffins. Fill the loaf pan within 1–2 inches of the top. If you’re worried about overflow, place a baking sheet underneath.
I’ve included the adjusted temperature and time below, so you don’t need to make any other changes.
Strawberry Rhubarb Bread With Cinnamon Sugar Topping
PREP TIME: 5 minutes
COOK TIME: 50 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 55 minutes
YIELD: 1 loaf
Ingredients
Bread
– 1/2 cup rhubarb, chopped
– 1/2 cup strawberries, chopped
– 1 package vanilla muffin mix
– 1/4 cup flour
Cinnamon Sugar Streusel
– 1/3 cup sugar
– 1/4 cup flour
– 1 teaspoon cinnamon
– 1/4 teaspoon salt
– 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a loaf pan.
2. Prepare the muffin mix according to the package directions (use the amounts listed for oil, water, and eggs) in a large bowl.
3. In a separate bowl, toss the chopped rhubarb and strawberries with 1/4 cup flour to coat. This helps keep the fruit from sinking.
4. Fold the fruit into the batter and pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
5. In a small bowl, mix the streusel ingredients with a fork until crumbly.
6. Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar streusel evenly over the batter.
7. Bake 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool, slice, and enjoy.
To enjoy rhubarb year-round, you can freeze it for later use.
How to Freeze Rhubarb
Rhubarb has a short growing season, so freezing it is an easy way to save some for later. Wash and dry the stalks, cut them into 1-inch pieces, place them in an airtight freezer bag, and freeze. They’ll keep for up to a year.
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