Rhubarb & Strawberry Crumble Bars

Rhubarb does not get the hype that she deserves. I am still new to the rhubarb world, and I am kicking myself for waiting so long. I made Claire Saffitz’s rhubarb loaf a few years ago, and I am so excited to bake with it again. With Memorial Day coming up, I needed a dessert to share with my family, and I figured you could never go wrong with a dessert bar. I found these rhubarb crumble bars from Molly’s Home Guide, which I changed a bit by adding lemon zest and almond slices! If you like tart over sweet, then these are the desserts for you!

Ingredients

  • 1¼ to 1½ cups rhubarb, cut into small pieces
  • 1¼ to 1½ cups strawberries, hulled and diced
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • Zest of 1 Lemon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Pinch of salt
  • 12 tablespoons softened unsalted butter
  • ⅓ cup packed brown sugar
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1⅔ cups plain flour
  • ¼ cup rolled oats
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup chopped nuts (optional) – I used almonds

Let’s Get Baking

Preheat the oven to 375F

Line a 8×8 square pan with parchment paper and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the diced rhubarb + strawberries + cornstarch + lemon zest + lemon juice + cinnamon + vanilla extract + salt + brown sugar. Mix well and set aside.

Using a mixer, cream together the butter + brown sugar + white sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Slowly add in the flour + oats + salt, mixing until incorporated.

Take 2/3 of the dough and place it into the prepared pan. Using your hands, press the dough evenly into the bottom of the pan to create the crust.

Using a slotted spoon, transfer the fruit mixture into the pressed dough crust. Spread the fruit evenly over the crust.

Mix together the remaining dough mixture with almonds (or nuts of your choice if using). Spring the crumble over the fruit layer, gently pressing it into the fruit mixture.

Bake the bars for 35-40 minutes. The crumble on top should be golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool before cutting.

Enjoy warm or keep in an airtight container in the fridge for about 5 days.

Made with Love,

Hannah

Claire Saffitz’s Rhubarb Cake

SUMMER = RHUBARB SZN!

I’m new to this rhubarb game, but from what I know of it, rhubarb can be tart, which is right up my alley. My mom and I were invited up to Maine to celebrate her friend’s husband’s birthday. I was digging through my cookbooks to figure out something good to bake and BAM, I come across this recipe from our girl Claire. As we know I love a recipe that features seasonal produce and so when I saw a rhubarb cake I was in! It is absolutely delicious, sweet and tart, and incredibly moist. Claire notes to bake this cake longer than you think & I totally agree, I would have baked mine an additional 10 minutes. For the life of me I could not find Demerara sugar that she calls for so I just used regular sugar.

Ingredients

You will need an 4 1/2 x 8 1/2 in loaf pan

  • 1 LB (454g) Rhubarb Stalks
  • 1/2 TSP Baking Soda
  • Butter & Demerara Sugar for the pan
  • 1 3/4 (228g) Cups All Purpose Flour
  • 2 1/2 TSP Baking Powder
  • 3/4 TSP Salt
  • 1 1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1 Stick Unsalted Butter, melted and cooled
  • 2 Large Eggs
  • 1 1/2 TSP Orange, finely grated
  • 1/3 Cup Plain Whole-Milk Greek Yogurt
  • 1 TSP Vanilla Extract
  • Demerara Sugar for sprinkling on top [I used regular sugar]

Let’s Get Baking

Preheat the oven to 350F and coat the pan with butter. Line with parchment paper and sprinkle sugar on the bottom.

Choose the thinnest rhubarb stalks, or trim accordingly, making about 4-5 pieces that are about 8 1/2 in in length. Set these pieces aside.

Chop up the remaining rhubarb into 1/2 in pieces. Transfer 227g into a small sauce pan and set aside the remaining 113g to fold into the batter later.

Add 1 TBSP water to the saucepan and cook the chopped rhubarb over MED heat, stirring often and mashing with the back of a wooden spoon, until the pieces have broken down. Claire notes the mixture should begin to resemble applesauce, which will take about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. Once the mixture is cooled, stir in the baking soda, it will bubble and turn a grayish color which is normal! Set mixture aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk the flour + baking powder + salt, set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar + melted butter + eggs + orange zest. Whisk in the yogurt, vanilla, and rhubarb mush until smooth. Scrape the bowl as needed until all the dry ingredients disappear. Switch to a flexible spatula and fold in the remaining 113g of chopped rhubarb into the batter.

Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Place the reserved rhubarb stalks over the top of the batter in parallel lines. Sprinkle with Demerara sugar [ or regular sugar] and bake for 60 minutes. Reduce the temp tp 325F and cook for an additional 30-40 minutes or until the cake tester comes out clean. Tent the top with foil if it starts to get too brown.

Let cool for 20 minutes in the pan before removing it from the pan and letting it cool completely.

If you’re a rhubarb person, trust me you’ll love this!

Made with Love,

Hannah