Easy Rhubarb Cake Recipe (2024)

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ThisEASY RHUBARB CAKEis SO moist and delicious! Serve it cold as a snacking cake, or warm with ice cream or whipped cream. It’s a perfect go-to dessertfor family gatherings or decadent mid-morning treat with a cup of coffee!

I do love rhubarb season, but it’s short so I try to make most of my favourite rhubarb recipes while it’s here.

This old-fashioned rhubarb cake is my favourite rhubarb recipe ever. Along with my buttermilk-rhubarb muffins, it’s one of the first things I make it every year as soon as the rhubarb is ripe.

Easy Rhubarb Cake Recipe (1)

Several years ago, a good friend of mine was transplanting her grandmother’s rhubarb patch, and she gave me a chunk of the root for my garden.I popped it into the ground beside our tool-shed, and every year, it yields a bigger crop than the year before. Then, last year, when it was on its way to producing a decent harvest, someoneran over it with the lawnmower. I’m still not sure who that was. No-one here is owning up to it..

THIS year, after a very warm and sunny spring, my rhubarb patch has finally flourished! HOORAY!

It’s bursting with ruby-red stalks of fruit, topped with gigantic green leaves, and it’s been just begging to be harvested.

Easy Rhubarb Cake Recipe (2)

The other day, I pulled a bunch of it, and made a couple of my all-time favourite rhubarb recipes; one of them being this simple, from-scratch rhubarb cake that’s been in our family for years.

Easy Rhubarb Cake Recipe (3)

How to Make This Easy Rhubarb Cake

Ingredients:

(printable recipe at bottom of post)

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 and 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup softened butter
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 and 1/2 cups chopped, fresh rhubarb (3 large stalks or 5-6 med stalks)
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Topping:

  • 1/3 cup white sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
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To Make Your Cake:

Sift flour, baking soda, salt into a small bowl and set aside.

In a larger bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar until well-blended. I do this by hand with a wooden spoon.

Easy Rhubarb Cake Recipe (6)

Add egg and continue to beat, by hand, until well-mixed.

Stir in vanilla.

Now, ALTERNATE between adding the 1 cup of milk and the flour/baking soda/salt mixture that you had set aside:Add about a 1/4 of the milk and stir well. Then add about 1/4 of the flour mixture, and stir well.
Continue until all is added to the batter.

Stir in chopped rhubarb.

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Spoon into a sprayed (or greased and floured) 9 x 13 baking dish or cake pan.

Adding the cinnamon-sugar topping:

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Mix the white sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and mix well. Sprinkle over the batter until cake is entirely covered.

Shake the pan from side to side to evenly distribute the sugar if necessary.

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Bake at 350º F for 40 minutes (or until knife comes out clean).

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Remove from oven and allow to cool a little before serving.

Serve your rhubarb cake warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or top with real whipped cream. Alternatively, you could top it with fresh fruit and berries.

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I hope you enjoy this simple summertime cake as much as we do! The tart, tangy rhubarb combined with the sweet, sugary topping is simply amazing.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can you make this cake with frozen rhubarb?

Yes! Just thaw and drain your rhubarb before adding it to the batter.

How many people does this rhubarb cake serve?
It’s a super dessert for family, but large enough to serve when you have company for dinner. You’ll get 12 good sized-pieces out of your 9×13 pan.

How to store this cake:
To store leftover cake, simply cover baking dish with plastic wrap and keep at room temperature.

Want to grow your own rhubarb at home or at school with your students? Check out Megan Zeni’sguide for growing, caring for and harvesting rhubarb with kids.

Easy Rhubarb Cake Recipe (12)

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4.98 from 35 votes

Easy Rhubarb Cake – a Delicious Summertime Treat

This easy Rhubarb cake is moist and delicious every time. Tart, garden-fresh rhubarb and a sweet sugary topping make this cake perfection. Great served cold as a snacking cake, or warm from the oven with a scoop of ice cream.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time40 minutes mins

10 minutes mins

Total Time55 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: fresh rhubarb, rhubarb cake, rhubarb recipes

Servings: 12 pieces

Calories: 406kcal

Author: Happy Hooligans

Ingredients

  • 2 cups All-Purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1.25 cups brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup softened butter
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2.5 cups chopped approx 3 large stalks or 6 small-med stalks, fresh rhubarb
  • TOPPING: 1/3 cup white sugar mixed well with 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

  • In small bowl, sift together flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

  • In larger bowl, by hand, cream together brown sugar and butter.

  • Add egg and continue to beat by hand until well-blended.

  • Stir in vanilla.

  • Now, ALTERNATE between adding the 1 cup of milk and the flour mixture that you’d set aside.

  • Add about a 1/4 of the milk and stir well. Then add about 1/4 of the flour mixture, and stir well.

  • Continue until all is added to the batter.

  • Stir in the chopped rhubarb.

  • Spoon into sprayed (or greased and floured) 9 x 13 baking dish or cake pan.

  • Sprinkle with white sugar/cinnamon topping.

  • Bake 40 minutes at 350º F. (or until knife comes out clean)

  • Shake pan from side to side to evenly distribute sugar topping if necessary.

  • Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream.

Nutrition

Calories: 406kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 241mg | Potassium: 177mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 300IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 1.8mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @happyhooligansblog or tag #happyhooligansblog!

More of our best cake recipes:

  • Crazy Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Icing
  • Crazy Good Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
  • Easiest Coffee Cake Ever
  • Easy Buttermilk-Rhubarb Muffins

More of our best summer recipes:

  • Easy Chocolate Covered Strawberries
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Easy Rhubarb Cake Recipe (14)

Jackie Currie

Jackie is a mom, wife, home daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind Happy Hooligans. She specializes in kids’ crafts and activities, easy recipes, and parenting. She began blogging in 2011, and today, Happy Hooligans inspires more than 2 million parents, caregivers and Early Years Professionals all over the globe.

Easy Rhubarb Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with my rhubarb? ›

You can roast it, boil it, can it, bake it, saute it. Dey's uh, rhubarb pie, rhubarb crisp, rhubarb smoothies, rhubarb oatmeal, rhubarb pancakes, rhubarb sauce for your pancakes, even rhubarb ketchup.

What is the best way to cook rhubarb? ›

Directions
  1. Place rhubarb in a large pot and fill with enough water so that it is almost covered. Bring to a boil, then simmer over medium heat until starting to fall apart, about 20 minutes. Stir occasionally.
  2. Remove from heat; stir in sugar and cinnamon until sugar has dissolved. Serve hot or cold.
Feb 2, 2024

What is Ukrainian cake made of? ›

Kiev cake is perhaps one of the most well known Slavic cakes. It is made with layers of crunchy hazelnut meringue (made with a little bit of flour) and rum-infused buttercream (a little different from regular buttercream). The original Kiev cake uses cashews instead of hazelnuts though.

Should you soak rhubarb before baking? ›

Discard leaves and woody ends. Wash rhubarb with cool tap water, but do not soak.

Do I need to peel rhubarb before baking? ›

Peeling rhubarb is rarely necessary. Most recipes require the rhubarb to be cut into batons. Using a paring knife, top and tail the stem, slice at an angle into the size that the recipe requires – this could vary from 1 inch chunks for quick-stewed rhubarb to longer batons for roasting or poaching.

Does rhubarb affect blood pressure? ›

Anthocyanins have demonstrated protective effects on blood vessels and blood pressure, and recent research suggests that anthocyanins may offer anti-cancer benefits, too. Rhubarb is also a great source of vitamin K1, which is important for blood clotting and bone health.

Can I freeze fresh rhubarb raw? ›

Yes, absolutely! Once washed, cut the lengths into rough 2.5cm pieces. Space out on a baking sheet lined with baking parchment and freeze until frozen (around 2hr). Then decant into a freezer bag or freezer-proof container and freeze for up to 3 months.

Is it OK to freeze fresh rhubarb? ›

You can freeze rhubarb raw, blanched or fully cooked. Regardless of which stage you choose to freeze at, the rhubarb will break down more as it defrosts, so it's best used in dishes where you don't need neat sticks of it.

How to prep rhubarb for baking? ›

Maincrop rhubarb can sometimes have tough, stringy ribs, so after washing it, strip these off with a small, sharp knife and slice the stalk thinly or thickly as required. Forced rhubarb should be tender enough not to need peeling – just wash, then trim the top and bottom of the stalks and slice.

Is cooked rhubarb a laxative? ›

Rhubarb is a type of laxative called a stimulant laxative. Stimulant laxatives can cause diarrhea and decrease potassium levels. Some medications for inflammation, called corticosteroids, can also decrease potassium levels.

How do you get the bitterness out of rhubarb? ›

Peeling it seemed to somewhat reduce the bitterness. Rhubarb can be baked into muffins, cakes, squares, even used as a pizza topping. Stewed up with a little sugar (to taste) and water, it can be a topper for ice cream or biscuits, or eaten on its own.

What is jamaica cake? ›

Dubbed as the original and best for over 50 years, McVities Jamaica Ginger Cake is a moist, sweet loaf cake with a delicious ginger 'kick' that is guaranteed to delight the taste buds. Did you know our secret Jamaica Ginger Cake recipe also makes the perfect pudding? That's why we call it a Sticky Pudding Cake!

Why is it called German cake? ›

A common misconception is that German Chocolate Cake comes from Germany. In fact, the name comes from American baker, Samuel German, who developed a type of dark baking chocolate in 1852. The baking chocolate was then named Baker's German's Sweet Chocolate in honor of German.

What is Louisiana Russian cake? ›

Russian Cake is prepared by mixing our almond cake, gold cake and devil's food cake with raspberry jelly, rum flavor and a hint of anise oil (licorice flavor). It is then topped with buttercream and nonpareils (aka sprinkles).

Does rhubarb get sweet when cooked? ›

Rhubarb has an extremely tart flavor that many find unpleasant. It's crunchy like celery when raw, but it becomes soft and after it's cooked. The sour flavor does mellow a little when cooked, but rhubarb is almost always mixed with sugar to counteract the lip-puckering taste.

How long does rhubarb last in the fridge? ›

Larger stalks are stringy and not as tender as the medium-sized stalks. For proper storage, trim and discard leaves. The stalks can be kept in the refrigerator, unwashed and wrapped, for up to three weeks.

Is baked rhubarb good for you? ›

Rhubarb is also a great source of vitamin K1, which is important for blood clotting and bone health. A half cup of cooked rhubarb provides more than one-third of the recommended dietary intake of vitamin K1, along with two grams of fiber (which helps prevent colorectal cancer), some calcium and vitamin C.

Can I freeze rhubarb? ›

For loose pieces of rhubarb, spread the pieces in a single layer on lined trays and open freeze them. Once frozen, tip the pieces into containers or bags. Otherwise, if you are not worried about them sticking together, freeze them straight into the container or bags. Use within three months.

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