Jumbo bakery-style buttermilk muffins with fresh strawberries and rhubarb, baked with a brown sugar crumble topping.
Just when you thought you were done eating cake, along comes a batch of giant strawberry rhubarb buttermilk muffins to pull you back in.
These big, moist muffins are topped with fresh strawberries, rhubarb and a brown sugar crumble. They might remind you of a good coffee cake, with their crumbly streusel topping and a buttery, tender texture inside.
But we don’t really believe that muffins are actually a form of cake, do we? Otherwise we wouldn’t feel so free to indulge in them first thing in the morning!
The great American muffin is actually a traditional quick bread, with a batter leavened with baking powder rather than yeast. They’re so easy to make and seem to make everyone happy, especially when they’re large and overstuffed with good-for-you ingredients like fresh fruit.
Adding buttermilk to the batter gives the muffins a light, moist texture and since muffins generally have less sugar than cake I feel comfortable enjoying them as an all-day, anytime snack. Let’s just not call them dessert, okay?
What makes these strawberry rhubarb buttermilk muffins so impressive is their generous size — they’re baked in a jumbo muffin tin, which makes them very shareable.
Because the batter plus the toppings fill up the muffin cups, I like to bake these muffins in tulip-shaped parchment paper cups so that they keep their shape better (plus they look pretty).
It’s very easy to make your own bakery-style liners out of parchment paper — cut 6-inch squares of paper to fit a jumbo pan, or 5-inch squares to fit a standard muffin pan (here’s a step-by-step video showing how to do it),
Don’t worry if all you have are regular cupcake liners or even no liners at all — just be sure to oil your muffin pan thoroughly, including the top of the pan.
big strawberry rhubarb muffins with brown sugar streusel
Prep
Cook
Total
Yield 6 large muffins
The recipe makes 6 jumbo "Texas" style muffins or 12 standard-size muffins.
The muffins keep well for a few days, wrapped or stored in a covered container.
Ingredients
Streusel Crumble:
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
Muffins:
- 8 ounces strawberries, hulled and chopped
- 2 stalks rhubarb (6 - 8 ounces), diced
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- Grated zest from 1 orange or lemon
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees with a rack positioned in the middle. Oil a 6-cup muffin tin and fill with muffin liners or tulip-shaped parchment liners.
- Place the ingredients for the streusel in a bowl and mix until it forms large, moist crumbs. Set aside.
- Put the strawberries, rhubarb, cornstarch, brown sugar and lemon juice in a bowl and gently stir to combine. Set aside while you mix the rest of the muffin batter.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and grated zest. Make a well in the center and stir in the egg, oil, butter, buttermilk and vanilla. Mix until the batter just comes together and the flour is incorporated.
- Divide the batter evenly into the muffin cups. Spoon the strawberry mixture evenly over the batter, then top with the streusel crumbs.
- Bake 20 - 25 minutes, until the muffins are golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins comes out with a few moist crumbs.
Courses muffins
Cuisine baking
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Here are some other recipes with strawberries and rhubarb to try:
- Super refreshing strawberry-rhubarb gin cocktails
- Light and flaky buttermilk scones with roasted strawberry jam and cream
- Pink rhubarb bellinis with prosecco
- Strawberry crostata tart with mascarpone cheese
Hi there! I’m Karen, a mother of two and a professionally trained cook certified in holistic nutrition.
As the recipe developer, photographer and publisher of Familystyle Food, I share recipes and tips for making easy seasonal meals that are healthy and flavorful. Learn more about me here.
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Natalie says
YUM! These muffins look and sound so comforting and perfect as a sweet breakfast – simply yummy!
Christine says
This is an elegant muffin. I appreciated your clear instructions and the video on the parchment liners. Altitude adjustments of slightly more egg/buttermilk and slightly less sugar/leavening/heat worked for me at 5,000 ft. Thank you!
Karen says
So glad you liked them Christine! Thanks for sharing the tip for altitude baking, too 🙂