Since Memorial Day I have been in summer mode. I’m eating copious amounts of watermelon, sleeping with both the fan and AC blowing on me, and having crazy salad cravings. Oh, and I’ve barely had any sweet potatoes!
In summer my eating habits change dramatically. I turn my nose up to the idea of eating non-seasonal foods, something I attribute to my Nana, a woman who—though she probably doesn’t realize it—has always embraced seasonal ingredients.
I also eat a lot healthier in summer. I’m having a green juice EVERY day, lots of raw vegetables, juicy fruit, plenty of water, and fewer nuts. Still, this healthy girl always saves room in her diet for some unhealthy sweet treats. I’m like one of those 80/20 dieters. 80% of the time I eat whole foods and greens, while the other 20% I get down with cake, cookies, ice cream, sorbet, and…vegan cherry-rhubarb crumble.
I’m sorry, but this crumble is not healthy. It’s got fresh fruit, and oats, but it’s also got the kind of satisfaction-inducing decadence that only vegan butter and sugar can deliver. When I eat it with vanilla Coconut Bliss ice cream I smile and do my food dance. That alone is all the healthy I need!
Since this dessert requires me to turn the oven on, I won’t be making it often this summer. It’s already hot in here! It was amazing while it lasted though. In the fall I’ll make it with the first harvest of pears, apples, or concord grapes. Persimmon in the winter, of course. And next spring it’s back to rhubarb, berries, and whatever other bounty Mother Earth blesses us with.
Cherry-Rhubarb Crumble
Ingredients
- 2 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour or gluten-free flour
- 1 cup + 2 tbsp coconut sugar or raw cane sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 tsp sea salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 6 oz Earth Balance cubed
- 6 stalks of rhubarb chopped into ½ inch pieces
- 3 cups frozen or fresh pitted cherries
- pint of vanilla Coconut Bliss Ice cream for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°.
- Add the dry ingredients (but reserve 2 tablespoons of the sugar) and Earth Balance to a food processor and pulse to blend until combined.
- Pour about ⅔ of the oat/flour blend onto the bottom of the baking dish, reserving the rest for the topping, and flatten.
- Cover the crust with the fruit.
- Sprinkle the remaining sugar over the fruit.
- Spread the remaining crumble on top, then cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove foil, and bake for another 15 minutes.
- Cool for 10 minutes before serving with ice cream.
Jenné @ Sweet Potato Soul / July 3, 2014 at 9:40 pm /
Oh my, that looks good! I love how you baked it outside on the grill.
I’m making the crumble tonight with mango, peach, and lime zest. I’ll be using a friends kitchen though. She has much better A/C 🙂
Frie / June 20, 2014 at 3:22 am /
Hola Jenne, this looked like fun to make with some local ingredients ( I’m in Costa Rica) so I made it with a fruit filling of mango-banana-passion fruit. And I used chilled coconutoil cuz I didn’t have butter. Was really tasty!
Greetings from Punta Banco
Jenné @ Sweet Potato Soul / June 30, 2014 at 12:13 pm /
Frie!! It’s so lovely to hear from you 🙂 I’m glad you made that dessert. Your filling sounds absolutely AMAZING! I’m definitely going to try that. Give a kiss to CR for me! xo
camille / August 13, 2021 at 9:13 pm /
this turned out so great! i made some banana nice-cream since i didn’t have coconut cream. *chefs kiss*
Cathy / June 19, 2014 at 2:55 pm /
YUMMMMM!!! I want some right now!!
Jenné @ Sweet Potato Soul / June 30, 2014 at 12:14 pm /
Saturday!!
Liz Taylor / June 19, 2014 at 2:47 pm /
This looks delicious, Jenne. One question – I’m English and I don’t know what Earth Balance is – can you tell me? Thanks
Jenné @ Sweet Potato Soul / June 30, 2014 at 12:15 pm /
Thank you Liz! Earth Balance is a vegan butter. It’s similar to margarine, but supposedly a healthier alternative because it doesn’t have trans-fat. I think coconut oil can work here though.
Nicole / June 19, 2014 at 11:58 am /
This is perfect! I’ve been looking for a way to use rhubarb since it’s so seasonal and I’ve never cooked with it before! Mmmmmm.
Jenné @ Sweet Potato Soul / June 30, 2014 at 12:16 pm /
It’s a pretty tasty way to use rhubarb, I’ve got to say 🙂 Let me know if you try the recipe Nicole!! xo