The Star of Summer: Rhubarb
I tapped my collection of thrifted recipe boxes and church cookbooks to source some recipes where rhubarb is the star of the show.
Summer is on the horizon, and it’s time to roll out the red carpet for the true star of the season: rhubarb!
In Minnesota, it feels like almost everyone has rhubarb poking up in their backyard. If not, they likely have access to a friend or neighbor who is willing to share their stash…often in exchange for some rhubarb bars, a cobbler or crisp, rhubarb crunch, or another delightful treat where rhubarb plays a starring role.
When rhubarb season hits in late Spring, it seems to come on fast which always has me scrambling to find ways to make the most of the small bounty I have in my garden.
I have a few go-to recipes, but this year I really wanted to expand my own rhubarb recipe repertoire! I thought what better way to find inspiration than the tried-and-true recipes of passionate home cooks in the Midwest who probably know a thing or two about rhubarb?
I started with my thrift shop recipe boxes (I have several!) as many feature the original owner’s recipes still inside!
One recipe box, in particular, has more than 20 rhubarb recipes, which certainly shows this person has a passion and expertise for all things rhubarb. There are many of the usual suspects (crisps, crumbles, crunch and cake) but a few like Rhubarb Whip which I had never heard of. You can scroll through a sampling of these recipes below.
I love how the keeper of these recipes noted on the cards which recipes were “good” including the Layered Rhubarb Cake, Rhubarb Crumble—a sign that these were likely cherished recipes she kept on repeat year after year during rhubarb season.
I actually made her Rhubarb Crumble recipe on a recent cabin weekend up north when we were looking for a simple rhubarb dessert we could make gluten-free. Our whole family, including both the gluten haves and the have-nots, all loved the familiar texture of apple crisp (another family-favorite dessert) combined with tender and tart rhubarb. It was indeed good!
No surprise, my church and community cookbooks also feature a variety of rhubarb recipes. As you may expect, the crisps, crumbles and cobblers are abundant but there are a few noteworthy performances that caught my attention including Ritzy Rhubarb, Orange Rhubarb Pie and Rhubarb Rolls. I am especially excited about the Rhubarb Pie Slices as the recipe sounds very similar to Apple Bars and has me wondering, “why didn’t I think of this?”
I can’t wait to try some of these vintage rhubarb recipes, but I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge one of my all-time favorite rhubarb recipes that has a recurring role at our house each year: Rhubarb Meringue Dessert.
From my mom’s recipe box, this dessert includes a simple crust and rhubarb custard-like filling that is topped with a fluffy cloud of light meringue. If you’ve ever made anything with meringue you know it is equally stunning to look at it as it is fun to eat. This would be an amazing dessert to bring to your next get-together (it’s a true scene stealer) or to offer a slice to that neighbor who shared some of their rhubarb!