Step aside, strawberries! It's rhubarb's time to shine this year. Come spring, after dreaming of produce like arugula, strawberries, and peaches all winter, we are always on the hunt for ingredients that'll instantly perk up anything from desserts to salads. And nothing does that better than rhubarb. The super tart vegetable (yep, not a fruit, even though it is usually served in a sweet setting) is one of our favorites for its bright beautiful color and unique flavor (that goes oh so well in our rhubarb cake, for one). Try one of our 16 rhubarb recipes and see for yourself!
You may have heard that rhubarb is poisonous, so we’re here to set the record straight: yes, the leaves of rhubarb are mildly toxic, but the likelihood you’ll even encounter them is super rare. Even at the farmers market, we usually see the pink stalks already prepared for consumption. Though they look kind of like celery (and even are sometimes a similar shade of pale green only tinged with pink), you probably wouldn’t want to eat them on their own—they’re extremely sour. Instead, pair them with lots of sugar and enjoy them as a dessert, like in our rhubarb pie or rhubarb crisp.
Because they show up seasonally around the same time, and rhubarb desperately needs a sweet pal, strawberry is often paired with this tart veg, like in our strawberry rhubarb pie. If you’ve got extra rhubarb, try pairing it with one of our myriad other strawberry desserts too!
For more seasonal fruit and veggie inspiration, check out our guides to cherry and lemon desserts, and recipes for how to use up all that spinach.
1
Rhubarb Cake
Rhubarb is strikingly beautiful, and this cake shows it off well. The stalks bake right into the cake, becoming soft and jammy, and surrounded by a crunchy sugary crust. It’s quick and simple–more like a snacking cake–meaning you can eat it with your hands if you so desire.
Get the Rhubarb Cake recipe.
2
Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
Made with a double batch of our favorite pie dough recipe, this pie showcases the pretty pink hues of rhubarb and strawberry as they peek out from under the golden lattice. If you're intimidated by lattice crusts, don't be! Keep your strips of pie dough well chilled until you're ready to assemble for the best results.
Get the Strawberry Rhubarb Pie recipe.
3
Rhubarb Crisp
Hot pink does not equal a better tasting stalk of rhubarb. (But it is a lot prettier.) You'll want to look for firm, crisp stalks, nothing limp or speckled with a lot of blemishes. If you can't find fresh, use frozen!
Get the Rhubarb Crisp recipe.
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4
Rhubarb Jam
When you see rhubarb, BUY IT. Then immediately make this jam. Because as much as we love rhubarb pie and rhubarb crisp, desserts only last for a day or two. This jam will stay good in your fridge for up to a couple months!
Get the Rhubarb Jam recipe.
5
Best-Ever Rhubarb Pie
This pie lets the tart rhubarb take the center stage. Making homemade pie crust isn't totally necessary, but we highly recommend it. Don't have sanding sugar? No problem—just sprinkle granulated sugar on top before baking.
Get the Best-Ever Rhubarb Pie recipe.
6
Pistachio Pavlova with Rhubarb Cream
We put a spring spin on the traditional pavlova, folding nutty pistachios into the crisp and chewy meringue and mixing tangy rhubarb and strawberries into the cream that's piled on top. Yum!
Get the Pistachio Pavlova with Rhubarb Cream recipe.
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7
Red Berry Rhubarb Pie
Rhubarb is paired here with an innovative combination of raspberries, strawberries, and green apple—this pie is a (literal!) prize winner!
Get the Red Berry Rhubarb Pie recipe.
8
Rhubarb Tart
This springtime dessert doubles as a stunning table centerpiece. Arrange the rhubarb stalks in a spoke, like we have here, or get creative!
Get the Rhubarb Tart recipe.
9
Strawberry Rhubarb Layer Cake
Move over strawberry rhubarb pie! This luscious vanilla cake, layered with fresh rhubarb compote and frosted with cream cheese icing, is sure to become a family favorite.
Get the Strawberry Rhubarb Layer Cake recipe.
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10
Pavlova with Rhubarb, Strawberries, and Fresh Cream
Pavlova is a meringue-based dessert with a crispy shell and a soft, marshmallow-y center. It's traditionally topped with whipped cream and fruit; this version uses an almond-scented whipped cream and an Amaretto-spiked strawberry-rhubarb compote and it's a spring dessert you're going to want to have on repeat.
Get the Pavlova with Rhubarb, Strawberries, and Fresh Cream recipe.
11
Rhubarb Upside Down Cake
This rhubarb upside-down cake is an elegant spring cake that showcases absolutely stunning fresh seasonal fruits. No need to sweat over frosting or fiddle with a lazy Susan! With effortless beauty and incomparable flavor, this cake is ready to eat after it’s flipped out of the pan (with fresh whipped cream, perhaps?)
Get the Rhubarb Upside Down Cake recipe from The Pioneer Woman.
12
Rhubarb and Citrus Salad with Black Pepper Vinaigrette
In just 15 minutes you can throw together this refreshing spring salad (packed with ricotta salata, rhubarb, and cara cara oranges) that's basically like eating sunshine.
Get the Rhubarb and Citrus Salad with Black Pepper Vinaigrette recipe from Good Housekeeping.
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13
Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
The sweetness from the strawberries helps to balance out the tartness from the rhubarb in this classic spring dessert. For even more flavor, orange zest and vanilla are added to the filling.
Get the Strawberry Rhubarb Pie recipe from The Pioneer Woman.
14
Cinnamon Rhubarb Bread
This quick bread comes together (literally) super quickly! It has tart bits of rhubarb, warm cinnamon, and a brown butter glaze that's scary good.
Get the Cinnamon Rhubarb Bread recipe from The Pioneer Woman.
15
Rhubarb Crisp
We don't what's better: the sweet-tart filling of rhubarb and strawberries or the crumbly oat and pecan topping. Luckily, we don't have to choose since this recipe has the best of both worlds!
Get the Rhubarb Crisp recipe from The Pioneer Woman.
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16
Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler
This simple fruit dessert has a thick, biscuit-like crust that's sprinkled with sugar. It makes the topping deliciously crunchy and hard to put down!
Get the Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler recipe from The Pioneer Woman.
Camille Lowder
Digital Food Producer
Camille Lowder is the digital food producer at Delish, otherwise known as our resident queen of recipe galleries. Previously, she attended the Natural Gourmet Institute for culinary school and worked at/managed a number of New York restaurants. She loves anything vegan, foods masquerading as other foods (hello, cauliflower), and a well-used Oxford comma.
Mackenzie Filson
Mackenzie Filson is a food writer and contributing digital food producer at Delish. Her favorite ice cream flavor is chocolate-pine. If wine was an astrological sign she'd be a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. She's never met a bag of Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos she didn't eat in one sitting.
