Easiest Rhubarb Dream Bars
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Rhubarb is great for a pie or a crumble, but it can also be transformed into a spectacular cookie bar. Our Rhubarb Dream Bars are soft, sweet and tart, with a bit of crunch. Learn how to make them here!
Rhubarb Bars are the perfect early summer picnic treat – but if you freeze rhubarb when it’s rip – they’re the perfect little bite of sweetness all year round. These easy dream bars go together in just a few minutes and they are delicious!
Rhubarb Dream Bar Ingredients
I was home in Iowa for a week and my BFF has three huge rhubarb plants in the back yard and I couldn’t help but steal some and bring home! (Yes – I packed rhubarb in my luggage.) While I was there, she made me her neighbor’s famous Rhubarb Dream Bars and now I’m sharing with you! Here’s what you’ll need:
- all purpose flour
- powdered sugar
- butter
- eggs
- sugar
- salt
- diced rhubarb
When Can I Pick Rhubarb?
First up – rhubarb plants get big quick! But – if you’re transplanting – it’s best to wait 2 summers before you pick – and this was the first summer we could pick from these. Woohoo!
You can pick rhubarb when the stalks are 7-15 inches. You also want to pick all your rhubarb by early July. After that – just leave the plants as is and they’ll regrow and recharge over the winter.
How to freeze rhubarb
Now – what to do with all that fresh rhubarb you pick by the 4th of July?! If you have enough rhubarb – you can freeze it and it’s so simple! 3 steps and you’re done! Save all that summer flavor all year long!
Step 1: Cut your rhubarb! Cut the stalks near the base and snap off the leaves. Then trim each end to cut off the woody base.
Step 2: Chop rhubarb into 1″ chunks. You could do the whole stalks but they’re really long. This way you can pull the frozen chunks out and drop them right into whatever recipe you’re making rather than have to thaw and dice them later.
Step 3: Spread the diced rhubarb on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Freeze for 3 hours until firm.
After they’re frozen – just pop them into a freezer bag and you’re done! I recommend freezing bags with 2 cups each as that’s typically what you use in a recipe.
How to make Rhubarb Custard Bars
Rhubarb Dream Bars are super simple – my BFF makes it all summer long!
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
- In a medium bowl, stir together your shortbread crust ingredients: Combine flour, powdered sugar and butter.
- You can use a food processor or pastry blender for this step if you’d like.
- Pat crust mixture into the base of your 9×13 baking dish. (It’s a thin crust in that size pan – use a smaller pan for a thicker bar.)
- Bake the crust for 15-20 min in preheated oven.
- While the crust is baking, in a large bowl, mix together your custard with eggs, sugar, flour and salt. You can use the mixer for this step.
- Fold the rhubarb into the custard mixture
- Let the baked crust cool slightly for just a few minutes. Then pour the rhubarb filling mixture on the crust.
- Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.
I can promise you – everybody will gobble these up! Amy has to make them about once a week because husband and son eat half the pan each! I helped put a dent in the pan this time – it was for research!
Tips & Tricks!
Heck no! Rhubarb is like celery – you don’t need to peel it.
I had some leftover after making this recipe and I threw it into blueberry muffins I was making! Rhubarb goes great with strawberries, blueberries and more!
Dice into bite size chunks as you see in the photos above.
Rhubarb leaves are toxic when ingested – so be sure to discard them safely. You’re fine to touch them when trimming the rhubarb. We usually just leave them in rhubarb patch for mulch.
Store in airtight glass containers. They’re fine on the counter for a day or so – longer than that – you might want to put them in the fridge. They never last longer than that at my house!
Yes – you can freeze them in airtight containers (glass or zipper bags) for up to 3 months.
Summer Dessert Recipes
More Rhubarb Recipes
Easiest Rhubarb Dream Bars
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour
- 5 Tbsp powdered sugar
- 1 stick butter
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1/4 cup flour
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 2 cups diced rhubarb
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- In a batter bowl, mix together 1 cup flour, powdered sugar and butter1 cup flour, 5 Tbsp powdered sugar, 1 stick butter
- Pat batter/dough into the base of a 9×13 baking dish. It's a thin crust – feel free to use a smaller baking dish for a thicker crust.
- Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes until crust is slightly browned on edges
- In bowl, mix together eggs, sugar, 1/4 cup flour and salt.2 eggs, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1/4 cup flour, 3/4 tsp salt
- Fold in diced rhubarb2 cups diced rhubarb
- Remove crust from oven and let cool for 5 minutes
- Pour filling onto crust and spread out rhubarb chunks
- Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes
- Let cool for 10-15 minutes before serving
Can you please tell me what size the bars are when the Nutrition Information says a serving is 12 bars?
i didn’t measure them – it’s a 9×13 pan –
My daughter and I love rhubarb! This is by far our number one favorite dessert! So fun and easy to make too! I will be making this again soon!
Oh yes please! I absolutely love rhubarb! I’m happy to fond this recipe
I never tasted Rhubarb, as they it is not available in India. But I am loving the recipe. Looks delicious.
I love rhubarb so much! Thank you for this tasty recipe!
Your Rhubarb Dream Bars look delicious. Rhubarb and custard are a great combo, thanks for sharing.
The recipe ingredients state 1 c flour, yet the recipe shows 1 1’4 c flour? How nuch flour should I be using in total?
1 cup flour is for the dough and 1/4 cup is in the filling. They’re listed separately.
I just made this and it is absolutely deliciousโฆI love this dessert..very simple and easy to make. If you like sweets you will love this. Definitely a keeper for meโฆ๐๐