I can tell when rhubarb season is upon us when I start seeing a surge in views for the rhubarb recipes here on the blog. So, allow me to make it easy for you to decide what to do with the sour, flavourful bounty from your garden patch or local market — here’s a Rhubarb Roundup of more than a baker’s dozen of recipes and ideas!
[You may notice that some of these photos are still watermarked “Life Through the Kitchen Window,” the former name for the blog. With about 400 posts published before I switched to Urban Cottage Life, it’s going to take more time than I have to switch them all over! I’m working at it, though.]
Rhubarb Roundup: 14 Recipes and Ideas
Crisps
Let’s start with the obvious: crisps. Rhubarb lends itself so well to this easy, rustic-style dessert. The classic pairing is with strawberries, but one of these days I need to venture forth and try some other combinations. Check out this Sassy RhubarbStrawberry Crisp, or this even sassier version. And if you’re looking for a vegan crisp, how about Strawberry Rhubarb Coconut Crisp Parfait?
Rhubarb Baked Goods
Muffins are a great vehicle for showcasing rhubarb; I offer Rhubarb Bran Muffins. Yup, there’s bran in them … your muffins should work for you, no? And for a new twist on a loaf cake, try this Rhubarb Spice Loaf.
Spreads & Compote
If you’re making muffins or even toast, how about some spreadable rhubarb?
This Rhubarb Orange Butter is just the thing! I’ve also spread Rhubarb Compote on baked goods; it’s great for baking. I may try using some in those muffins sometime, along with the chunks of rhubarb. It freezes well, too. Strawberry Rhubarb Jam is another classic and I’ll be making some more soon; you can see some pretty pictures of it on my blog and I point you in the direction of the recipe that I used for it.
Bonus Recipe
Intrigued by the idea of rhubarb ketchup? Visit my blogging friend Barbara’s PEI food blog, My Island Bistro Kitchen, for her Homemade Rhubarb Tomato Ketchup!
Rhubarb Jelly for Dessert
When we think jam, we think jelly too. But this isn’t jelly for toast; this is a wibbly, wobbly rhubarb jelly just made to spoon up with whipped cream in the shade on a hot summer day.
Beverages
How about drinking your rhubarb? It all starts with a rhubarb syrup. You can turn that into a refreshing rhubarb-infused water or, for the grown-ups in the crowd, how about a cocktail or two? It was fun coming up with these recipes for a Rhubarb G&T and a Rhubarb & Lime Gin Fizz.
The Rhubarb Roundup Hits the Barbecue
And finally, those drinks would go mighty fine with some ribs slathered with this tangy, sweet and spicy Rhubarb Barbecue Sauce.
So there you have it, a collection of recipes to carry you through rhubarb season and beyond, if you’re crafty enough to make some preserves or put some rhubarb or compote up in the freezer. Pucker up and enjoy!
Looking for More Seasonal Recipe Ideas?
If you have more asparagus and strawberries on hand than you do ideas, here are two seasonal recipe collections to help you out: 7+ ideas for asparagus and 20 strawberry recipes. Enjoy!
Updated 2018 06 22
Republished 2019 06 02
Republished 2020 05 23
the rhubarb barbecue was a hit so thank you…
I’m very happy to hear that!
Thank you will try again …
Perhaps I live too far south as I never have seen rhubarb in our markets since we moved to Florida. I’m going to look for it frozen for the barbecue sauce recipe, as I think frozen would work in that recipe.
Frozen rhubarb would work well in this barbecue sauce, I’d also use it in pie and numerous other dishes that benefit from its tart flavour.