The Best Rhubarb Pie
You won’t miss the strawberries in this elegant spring dessert flavored with gin, ginger, and cardamom.
- Makes
One 9-inch pie
- Time
4 hours 15 minutes

Blush pink rhubarb pairs beautifully with gin and ginger in writer Ellen Gray’s classic all-butter crust. The extra steps of blind baking and adding a thin layer of cookie crumbs—amaretti pair particularly well with the rhubarb—help contain the pie plant’s notorious runaway juices. European-style butter is best for making the pie dough, as it contains less water and more fat than conventional American versions, resulting in a richer crust.
Ingredients
For the dough:
- 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
- 1 Tbsp. sugar
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 18 Tbsp. cold unsalted butter, cut into ½-in. pieces
For the filling:
- 2 Tbsp. fine, dry cookie crumbs
- ¾ cup sugar
- ½ cup dark brown sugar
- 1 tsp. finely grated orange zest
- 3–4 Tbsp. cornstarch (use the larger amount if you prefer a more sliceable pie)
- ¼ tsp. kosher salt
- ¾ tsp. ground cardamom, divided
- 2 lb. rhubarb, cut into 1-in. pieces (about 7 cups)
- ¼ cup finely chopped candied ginger
- 2 Tbsp. gin
- 1 Tbsp. fresh orange juice
- 4 dashes rhubarb bitters or bitters of choice (optional)
- 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into ½-in. pieces
- 1 large egg yolk whisked with 1 Tbsp. water
- 2 Tbsp. raw cane sugar
Instructions
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- Make the dough: In a liquid measuring cup, combine the vinegar with ½ cup of ice water, then refrigerate.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt. On a clean surface, use a floured, flexible bowl scraper to lightly flatten the cubed butter, then scoop the butter pieces into the flour mixture. Using your fingertips, gently squeeze and toss the butter into the flour until you have shaggy, pea-size pieces. Pour half of the vinegar water around the edge of the bowl. Using your fingers, toss the mixture while rotating the bowl, until the water is evenly incorporated into the dry ingredients. Continue to toss in the vinegar water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough just holds together in a solid mass when gently squeezed. Turn out the dough and divide in half, then gently press each half into an even ½-inch disk. Wrap each disk tightly in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 3 days.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out one dough disk to a 13-inch round. Transfer to a 9-inch pie plate, easing the dough into the corners of the plate to avoid stretching it. Using a paring knife, trim the edges all the way around to a 1-inch overhang. Transfer to a large, rimmed baking sheet, cover loosely with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.
- Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 425°F. Line the pie shell with a sheet of parchment or foil and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until the crust is light golden brown, about 25 minutes. Carefully lift and remove the parchment and pie weights. The crust should be baked through and look evenly dry. If it is still gummy and wet, turn the oven to 325°F and continue baking 5–10 minutes more. Set the crust aside to cool on a rack.
- Meanwhile, unwrap the remaining dough disk, place on a lightly floured sheet of parchment, and set aside at room temperature for about 10 minutes. Lightly flour the dough and roll it out to an even 12-inch round, about ⅛ inch thick. Slide the dough (still on the parchment) onto a second baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate.
- Make the filling: When the pie shell is completely cool, sprinkle the cookie crumbs along the bottom in an even layer. Turn the oven to 400°F.
- In a small bowl, toss together the sugar, brown sugar, and orange zest, rubbing the mixture between your fingers to release the orange oil. Whisk in the cornstarch, salt, and ½ teaspoon of the cardamom. In a large bowl, stir together the rhubarb, ginger, gin, orange juice, and bitters if desired, then stir in the sugar mixture. Retrieve the top crust from the fridge. Transfer the rhubarb filling to the cooled pie shell and dot with the butter pieces. Dab some cool water along the edge of the bottom crust, then gently drape the top crust over the filling. Using a paring knife, trim the top crust so you have an even 1-inch overhang. Tuck the overhang under, then seal the top crust to the bottom crust by pressing gently all along the edges with the tines of a fork. Brush the top of the pie with the egg yolk wash and sprinkle the surface with the raw cane sugar and remaining cardamom. Transfer to the freezer until the top crust is firm, about 15 minutes.
- Place the pie on a large rimmed baking sheet. Using a paring knife, cut several slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape. Bake for 30 minutes, then turn the heat to 375°F, rotate the pie, and continue baking until the filling is bubbling and the crust is deep golden brown, about 45 minutes more. (If the crust starts to get too dark before the filling is bubbling, tent loosely with foil and continue baking.)
- Set the pie aside on a wire rack to cool for at least 3 hours before slicing. (For neat slices, it’s best to let the pie set even longer.) Store any leftovers loosely covered at room temperature for 1 day or covered in the fridge for up to 1 week.
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