Description
Rhubarb Dream Bars are a delightful dessert featuring a buttery oat crust, a tart rhubarb compote, and a crispy brown-butter streusel topping, creating a perfect balance of textures and flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- 10 tbsp unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 4 cups rhubarb, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 tbsp cornstarch (dissolved in 1 tbsp cold water)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter, browned and slightly cooled
- 1/2 cup chopped almonds or walnuts (optional, toasted)
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- Pinch of flaky sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
- Make the base: In a bowl combine flour, oats, sugar, and salt. Cut in the cold cubed butter with a pastry cutter or pulse briefly in a food processor until the mixture holds together in coarse crumbs. Press two-thirds of the mixture into the prepared pan to form an even crust. Bake 12–15 minutes until the edges are pale gold.
- Prepare the rhubarb compote: In a medium saucepan, toss rhubarb with sugar and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 8–10 minutes. Stir in the cornstarch slurry and simmer 1–2 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
- Assemble: Spoon the rhubarb compote over the partially baked crust. Crumble the reserved base mixture over the top, then drizzle with the cooled browned butter and sprinkle with nuts, cinnamon, and salty.
- Bake again for 18–22 minutes until the topping is golden and filling bubbles at the edges. Remove and cool on a wire rack for about 1 hour, then chill for 30 minutes before slicing.
Notes
Chill bars briefly before slicing for clean edges. Allow bars to cool fully to firm the compote. You may use frozen rhubarb, but ensure to drain excess liquid before cooking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 20mg