I don’t know what it is about the garden at my parents’ house, but it seems to be the place to be in town for rhubarb. Come spring and summer, every year without fail our little vegetable patch turns into a forest of the stuff, you’d honestly never know that anything else grows there.
My dad is most definitely the biggest rhubarb fan, but I have to admit that his repertoire of rhubarb recipes could do with a little bit of an upgrade considering the fact he tends to make the same two desserts repeatedly.
Rhubarb isn’t something that I have cooked with a lot, only because it was always my parents who did. I am sure I will be inheriting a mountain of rhubarb in the next few months, so I had better prepare myself to whip up some new and exciting dishes.
Delicious Rhubarb Recipes
1. White Chocolate Mousse with Poached Rhubarb
Chocolate mousse desserts always look far more difficult to make than they are, hence why I quite enjoy making them for family or friends coming round for dinner. Especially when you have multiple components and layers, like in thisWhite Chocolate Mousse with Poached Rhubarb, you’re bound to have a restaurant quality dessert.
White chocolate can often be overly sweet in my opinion, which is precisely why it pairs perfectly with the tartness of rhubarb.
2. Rhubarb Crumble Tart
One of my dad’s two classic rhubarb dishes is rhubarb crumble, so I am sure he wouldn’t begrudge upgrading it to this Rhubarb Crumble Tart.
This tart reminds me a little of a frangipane one, so if you love those, then you are bound to feel the same about this. Recipes that come along with suggestions for what to serve along with them are right up my street, as I am not too talented at pairing flavors together myself. I initially thought the sauce in this dessert was a classic creme anglaise, but in fact, it has bay laurel leaves in it. Which will add yet another unique flavor element to the rhubarb.
3. Rhubarb Sorbet with Pistachio Brittle
You can’t go wrong with a good, sharp sorbet in my opinion, and I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of rhubarb before as the perfect ingredient to deliver on both those characteristics.
I can imagine this Rhubarb Sorbet being the ultimate refreshing snack on a hot summer’s day, and it has few, easy to source ingredients. The addition of the pistachio brittle is unique, as I have seen things like this along with ice cream but never sorbet. It would add a whole new element of both texture and flavor, and any leftovers could be snacked on as a little treat.
4. Strawberry Rhubarb Pate de Fruit
Don’t worry, I wasn’t too sure what this was when I first saw the name either, but they are pretty much strawberry and rhubarb flavored jelly sweets. As soon as I discovered this, I was desperate to try them out.
I am a sucker for jelly sweets, and although these Strawberry Rhubarb Pate de Fruit still aren’t the healthiest, at least I would know what was in them by making them myself. This recipe makes around eight dozen pieces, meaning that they would be perfect for sharing, or even giving out in little bags as gifts or party favors. That hint of alcohol will give them a grown-up kick, and take them from a regular sweet to something a bit more special.
5. Rhubarb and Ginger Twice Baked Soufflés
Rhubarb and ginger are two flavors which compliment each other perfectly, so I can imagine this dessert tasting delicious, especially when served piping hot with a dollop of vanilla ice cream on top.
Because the rhubarb is made into a compote with vanilla, sugar, orange and sweet wine, it will lose its sharp tartness while still maintaining its unique flavor. I have always thought of soufflés to be unachievable for people like me who can follow a recipe but isn’t the best of cooks, but this recipe for Rhubarb and Ginger Twice Baked Soufflés makes them look like a realistic goal to set myself.
6. Rhubarb Lattice Tart
Even if you don’t like the sound of this Rhubarb Lattice Tart, you cannot deny that it looks like a masterpiece. I would be incredibly proud of myself if I managed to make something this beautiful looking, even if it took me a while and was destined to be demolished by hungry mouths.
As fancy as it looks, this tart sticks to rather simple flavors, which I am fond of because it means that it will both deliver on the rhubarb flavor and also be a crowd pleaser. The majority of the preparation work goes into that pretty pink lattice. Otherwise, it is simple to do and is bound to go down a treat.
7. Rhubarb Hand Pies
Hand pies are always a great go-to, purely because of how delicious they are and how quick and easy they are to make.
These Rhubarb Hand Pies are packed full of rhubarb, so if you’re a fan of it or know someone who is then this recipe would be perfect. Because rhubarb has a rather strong flavor, it is often combined with other flavors to tone it down a little, but here it is left in all its glory. Pastry can often be a tad tricky to work with, but the method in this recipe looks delicious and straightforward.
8. Roasted Strawberry Rhubarb Parfaits
I have seen a lot of these on-the-go breakfast parfait kind of things floating around the internet recently, and I am keen to give them a try. I am not the biggest breakfast lover but respect the fact that it is the most important meal of the day so always force myself to have something.
TheseRoasted Strawberry Rhubarb Parfaits look perfect for someone like me who wants something yummy but not too filling. You could personalize your parfaits by adding your favorite berries and granola alongside the other components included in this recipe.
9. Rhubarb and Custard Slices
Rhubarb and custard have to be one of the most classic flavor combinations out there. I am pretty sure there even used to be a cartoon with that name. Back when I went to school my friend and I used to walk home in summer and stop at the sweet shop. She would always buy rhubarb and custard flavored boiled sweets, so those flavors are nostalgic for me.
I like the fact that these Rhubarb and Custard Slices look far fancier than they are trying to make. You could serve these up at an afternoon tea or girls catch up session, and I doubt anyone would believe you when you said you didn’t buy them from an actual patisserie.
10. Rhubarb Tatin
When I used to work in a restaurant, we would occasionally get to take home leftover desserts and pastries at the end of a shift, and my favorite was always the apple tart tatin. I have never tried a Rhubarb Tatin, but going by my love of the apple I reckon I can rest assured that I would be a fan.
The dessert is beautifully spiced with star anise which will complement the rhubarb well. The best part of this recipe is that it caramelizes as it cooks so that the outcome will be a delicious, sweet caramel covered tart. Be sure to serve it with vanilla ice cream, which will run down the sides as it melts.
11. Vegan Chocolate Tart with Rhubarb
The sweet, ginger-flavored rhubarb will go perfectly with the rich dark chocolate in this recipe. Not everyone in my family likes overly dark chocolate, but because the rhubarb accompaniment will sweeten the entire dish I know it would go down well all around.
A chocolate tart always looks sophisticated and delicious; therefore I can imagine myself making this Vegan Chocolate Tart with Rhubarb for a dinner party or celebration of some sort. My sister has recently gone vegan, and I know my mom struggles to find desserts that she will be able to eat, so I will be sending her this in the hopes that she will make it for us all.
12. Rhubarb and Vanilla Sponge Pudding
Rhubarb and Vanilla Sponge Pudding is the second of my dad’s signature rhubarb dishes. He puts his special twist on it, however, lining half the bowl with rhubarb and half with apple to cater for those who don’t like one or the other.
It is probably because of my dad but, to me, this is the ultimate comforting dessert and always makes me feel warm and homely. It isn’t at all difficult to make, and the sponge is flavored with vanilla which puts it even higher up in my ranks. My favorite accompaniment to have along with this pudding is a good helping of hot custard.
13. Goat’s Milk Panna Cotta with Beet Meringue, Strawberries, and Rhubarb
Now, this is quite a mouthful to say, and I can imagine it would be quite the mouthful to eat too. As much as simple desserts are as delicious as fancy ones, it is sometimes nice to have a bit of fun with them, trying out something new that you wouldn’t necessarily have all the time.
ThisGoat’s Milk Panna Cotta with Beet Meringue, Strawberries and Rhubarb is a perfect example of that. Although I can’t imagine myself making this for dessert every Sunday, I do want to try it. Panna Cotta is always such a beautiful light dessert, perfect for the end of a summer meal, especially when paired with fresh strawberries and honeyed rhubarb like it is in this recipe.
14. Spiced Rhubarb Crumble
Crumble is a much-loved dessert, and I am yet to meet someone who doesn’t love a good bowl of hot crumble paired with custard, ice cream or cream.
Multiple different fruits can be used to make a crumble; it can be fun to combine more than one too. This Spiced Rhubarb Crumble keeps it simple with a rhubarb filling, but it’s still exciting and delicious because of all those spices that go in along with it. The combination of cinnamon, star anise, and ginger is bound to be spectacular, and incredibly comforting too.
15. Rhubarb and Greek Yogurt Popsicles
Yogurt-based popsicles are some of my favorites, but I feel that there is a lack of them on the market. That’s why I love finding unusual sounding recipes for them so that I can save them up for summer and make a couple of batches myself.
TheseRhubarb and Greek Yogurt Popsicles sound like they would taste delicious, but also look extremely pretty due to their pale white color, bejeweled with pink rhubarb. There are very few ingredients in this recipe, so not only would they be simple to make but also incredibly inexpensive.
16. Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
Jam is always fun to experiment with. It lasts a long time once made, and also makes the sweetest little gift to share with friends and family.
My mom often makes raspberry jam to deal with the abundance of them we tend to get in the garden in the warmer months, and it always goes down well. This Strawberry Rhubarb Jam is a recipe I will be passing on to her, and I know my dad would be pleased with that too considering his love of rhubarb. I can tell this would taste delicious on toast or, even better, warm homemade scones.
17. Baked Lemon and Rhubarb Tarts
These Baked Lemon and Rhubarb Tarts remind me a little of creme brûlée, with the caramelized sugar top cracking away to reveal a creamy custard filling. They are one step better however, as they also have a layer of soft, roasted rhubarb at the bottom.
I love all the different layers that you will experience while eating this tart, both the physical layers and the layers of flavor. There is sweetness from the sugar, citrus from the lemon and a slight sharpness still left in the roasted rhubarb. I will certainly be trying these and sharing them others too.
18. Almond Rhubarb Picnic Bars
It is coming up to picnic season, meaning I am always keeping my eye out for easily portable desserts like these Almond Rhubarb Picnic Bars.
The construction of this looks highly therapeutic, and I am the kind of person who would thoroughly enjoy sitting chopping up the rhubarb and arranging it perfectly in the tin just like in this example. Almond as a flavor will mellow out the tartness of the rhubarb while acting as a perfect base for the bars. I can see these being carted along to more than one of our frequent summer picnics in the park.
19. Rhubarb and White Chocolate Blondies
Once again the genius combination of sweet white chocolate and tart rhubarb comes together to create beauty in dessert form. I have only tried making blondies once, and they were good, but not overwhelming flavor-wise. I certainly have much higher hopes for this recipe.
TheseRhubarb and White Chocolate Blondies both look pretty and sound like they would taste incredibly yummy. The blondie base is made with brown sugar which I always find gives desserts a delicious caramel hint to them. The rhubarb topping doesn’t have too much sugar added to it, meaning that the rhubarb will maintain that sharp, characteristic taste.
20. Rhubarb Pavlova
Pavlova is my granny’s signature dessert, and if there is even a hint of a celebration, you can be sure that she will turn up at the door with one big enough to feed the five thousand. She tends to top hers with mixed berries like strawberries and raspberries, but since the meringue itself is so sweet I think rhubarb would work exceptionally well.
I like an excellent thick, fluffy base on my pavlova, and I reckon this Rhubarb Pavlova would deliver on that front. Paired with the whipped cream and topped with that delicious rhubarb mixture, I can’t think of a better spring dessert for after a BBQ.
21. Waffles with Rhubarb-Vanilla Jam
Imagine waking up to these Waffles with Rhubarb-Vanilla Jam on a Sunday morning. They would be even better if someone else made them for you, we can all dream.
These are no regular waffles, they are liège style, meaning that they are extra crispy on the outside and extra fluffy on the inside. The idea of adding vanilla to the rhubarb jam is a brilliant one to me, not only because I love anything vanilla but because I feel they will make a perfect pair. If you want to treat yourself, why not add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of the hot waffles before you dig in.
22. Rhubarb Custard Cake
This deliciously moist Rhubarb Custard Cake would go perfectly with a cup of tea or coffee. I like that there is no actual custard in the cake, it is instead an interpretation of the classic flavor combination.
The hint of rum and lemon make the cake slightly more adult, lending it perfectly to an afternoon tea or overdue catch-up. The recipe itself is incredibly simple so it could be whipped up at short notice if need be, all you have to do is combine all the cake ingredients before pouring the mixture over the arranged rhubarb.
Conclusion
My thoughts when it comes to rhubarb now go far beyond my dad’s sponge and crumble. Although they are delicious, I will be subtly handing him some of these recipes and suggesting that he could give them a go.
A few I will be trying out myself, however, are the Rhubarb Sorbet which I can imagine being perfect for a summer’s afternoon, the Rhubarb Tatin to see if I love it as much as the apple, and the Baked Lemon Rhubarb Tarts merely because they look delicious.
Do you grow rhubarb? Which of these recipes can you see becoming a spring favorite?
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