Cookie Crusted Rhubarb Bars Food

RHUBARB BARS WITH SHORTBREAD CRUST

Steps:

• Begin by prepping the rhubarb: chop the rhubarb into bite size pieces. I like to split each stalk at least in half lengthwise (if not thirds) so that you don't get any huge chunks. After slicing, chop into 1/2 to 1 inch pieces.
• Add all the rhubarb to a bowl, along with 1/2 cup grenadine syrup. Stir it all together so that the rhubarb is coated. Let sit for 1-2 hours on the counter stirring occasionally, or even overnight (put it in the fridge, covered, if you go overnight.) This is to get the rhubarb a nice bright red color. It is not a necessary step but it sure is pretty!* When you are ready to make the rhubarb bars, drain the rhubarb in a colander.
• While the rhubarb soaks, prepare the shortbread crust. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Line an 8x8 or 9x9 inch square pan with parchment paper, or spray with nonstick spray. Set aside.
• In a large bowl or stand mixer, add 1 cup (2 sticks) softened butter. Beat until smooth and creamy, making sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl.
• Add 3/4 cup granulated sugar and beat again for at least 1-2 minutes, stopping to scrape the sides and bottom, until the mixture is light and fluffy.
• Add 1 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract and beat.
• Add 2 cups of flour, spooned and leveled, and 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt.
• Beat in the flour and salt until the mixture has come together and has formed a ball. Scrape sides as necessary. Do not over mix; beat just until the flour is combined and then no more (otherwise your shortbread will be tough).
• Divide the dough into two, one with a little more than half the dough. (Cover the smaller piece of dough and put it in the fridge.)
• Press a little more than half of the dough into the prepared square pan. Getting your hands a little damp can be helpful. I like to leave the edges raised a half inch or so, so that you have a bit of crust on the edge pieces, but pressing it all flat will work too. If you have time, chill the dough for a few minutes, 10-20 minutes is best. Cold dough going into a hot oven makes for very tender shortbread.
• Bake the crust at 375 for about 15 minutes, or until light brown on the edges. My shortbread puffed up in the middle even though I had made a raised crust, so I gently pressed the center back down with the back of a spoon, when it was very hot from the oven still.
• Set the crust aside and let cool for a few minutes.
• Leave the oven on but lower the temperature to 350 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, prepare the rhubarb filling: drain the rhubarb in a colander or strainer. Add your red rhubarb to a medium bowl.
• Stir in 3/4 cup sugar (add a couple extra tablespoons if you skipped the grenadine soak*).
• Add 1/4 cup all purpose flour and stir.
• At this point you can add 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1 teaspoon zest, but it is optional. It brightens up the flavor of the rhubarb, but you can definitely taste the lemon. Feel free to add just the juice and skip the zest for a milder hint of lemon. If you are a rhubarb purist, skip the lemon entirely.
• Pour the rhubarb filling over the baked crust.
• Use you fingers to break off medium pieces of shortbread from your stash in the fridge. Check the photos to see the size we're talking. I like big ol chunks. You don't have to cover the rhubarb entirely.
• Bake the rhubarb bars in the oven at 350 for about 45-50 minutes. The bars are done when the shortbread on top is golden in several spots across the top. A fork should also slide easily into a piece of rhubarb; it should be completely tender.
• Let the bars cool completely. I stuck mine in the freezer to speed this up.
• If you would like to top with a vanilla glaze, in a medium bowl combine 1 cup powdered sugar with 2 teaspoons milk, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and a pinch of salt. Whisk until smooth. Drizzle over the top of the cooled bars and let the glaze set up for 20-30 minutes before slicing and serving.

COOKIE CRUSTED RHUBARB BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 and grease an 11x7 baking pan.
• Combine flours and powdered sugar; cut in butter until mixture resembles coase crumbs (mixture will seem powdery, but will come together while baking).
• Press mixture to bottom on baking pan and bake for 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, gently combine sugars, flour, egg whites and vanilla. Stir in rhubarb.
• Pour mixture over warm crust and bake for 35-40 minutes until wooden pick comes out clean.
• Cool on wire rack, can be served warm.
• Store in refrigerator.

RHUBARB JAM BARS

Steps:

• For the rhubarb jam: Toss the rhubarb with the cornstarch in a medium saucepan. Stir in the sugar and water and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring often, until the rhubarb has broken down and the mixture is very thick, about 20 minutes. Cool completely.
• For the crust: Place a large rimmed baking sheet in the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F. Line an 8-by-8-inch metal baking pan with foil; butter the foil.
• Pulse the flour, sugar and salt together in a food processor. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the water and pulse until the dough comes together in a ball.
• Measure out 2/3 cup of the dough and place in a small bowl. Transfer the remaining dough to the prepared baking pan and push evenly into the bottom of the pan. Refrigerate until firm, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add the oats, allspice and cinnamon to the dough in the bowl and mix well to combine. Refrigerate until firm, about 10 minutes.
• Spoon the rhubarb jam onto the chilled crust and spread evenly with an offset spatula. Crumble the oat topping over the jam. Place the baking pan on the preheated baking sheet and bake until the crust and topping are golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely. Carefully remove from the pan and cut into bars.

GO ANYWHERE RHUBARB SQUARES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine flour and confectioners' sugar; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press into a greased 11x7-in. baking dish. Bake at 350° for 12 minutes. , For filling, in a large bowl, combine the first four ingredients. Stir in rhubarb; pour over warm crust. , Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack. Serve warm if desired. Store in the refrigerator.

RHUBARB BARS

Steps:

• For the bars: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F with a rack in the middle.
• Grease and line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper. Cut enough so there are wings hanging over the sides of the pan for when it's time to remove the bars!
• In a food processor, combine the flour, almond flour, granulated sugar and salt and pulse to combine. Add the butter, egg white and rosewater, if using. Pulse until the mixture clumps together into small to medium clumps of dough.
• Pour the dough out into the prepared pan and press evenly all around the bottom with a measuring cup or the back of a spatula until smooth.
• Bake until the crust is just set and the edges are light golden, 15 to 18 minutes. Remove to a rack to cool. Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
• For the filling: Combine the rhubarb in a medium saucepan with water just to cover (about 1 1/2 cups water) and 1/4 cup granulated sugar. Scrape in the vanilla bean seeds and add the pod. Simmer until the rhubarb is falling apart, about 10 minutes. Cool, then strain and discard the solids. (See Cook's Note.)
• Add 1/4 cup of the reserved rhubarb juice to a small mixing bowl. Add the cornstarch. Use a small whisk or fork to combine until smooth and there are no cornstarch lumps. Add the rhubarb slurry to the saucepan with an additional 1/2 cup of the reserved rhubarb juice. (See Cook's Note for uses for any extra juice).
• Whisk in the eggs, yolks, salt, remaining 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar and 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Cook, whisking constantly, over medium heat until the mixture begins to simmer and thicken and bubbles pop to the surface, 7 to 10 minutes. Whisk in the zest, then the butter and coconut oil a little at a time. Whisk in just enough food coloring to make a salmon pink color, 2 to 3 drops.
• Pour the filling mixture over the cookie crust and bake until the edges are set, but the center is just a tiny bit jiggly, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove to a rack to cool completely.
• Once cooled, remove the bars from the pan. With a sharp knife, cut into 16 squares, wiping the blade after each cut. (You can also trim the edges for a cleaner look.) Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
• For longer storage, refrigerate between layers of parchment in a sealed container.

CREAM CHEESE RHUBARB BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Combine butter, flour, oats and brown sugar until crumbly.
• Press 1/2 the mixture into bottom of 9x13 baking pan.
• Beat cream cheese, white sugar, eggs, cinnamon and nutmeg in a large mixing bowl. Stir in rhubarb.
• Pour over prepared crust.
• Sprinkle with remaining reserved topping.
• Bake for 40-45 minutes. Cool and refrigerate.
• Serve cool.

RHUBARB CUSTARD BARS

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the flour and sugar; cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. , Meanwhile, for filling, combine sugar and flour in a bowl. Whisk in cream and eggs. Stir in the rhubarb. Pour over crust. Bake at 350° until custard is set, 40-45 minutes. Cool. , For topping, beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth; fold in whipped cream. Spread over top. Cover and chill. Cut into bars. Store in the refrigerator.

RHUBARB CUSTARD BARS

Steps:

• Preheat over to 350°F.
• Combine flour, melted butter, and powdered sugar. Put in a 9x13 inch pan, and spread out evenly. Bake for 15 minutes.
• Combine eggs, flour, sugar, and salt. Fold in rhubarb. Pour over crust and bake for 45 minutes.
• 1/2 batch fits in an 8x8 pan.