Rhubarb Berry 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.

VERY BERRY RHUBARB BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 13x9-inch baking dish.
• Mix 2 cups flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon together in a bowl. Cut 1 cup unsalted butter into the flour mixture until crumbs form; press into bottom of prepared baking dish.
• Bake crust in preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes.
• Blend eggs, white sugar, 1/2 cup flour, and salt in a blender until smooth; pour into a large bowl. Fold rhubarb, strawberries, and blueberries into the blended egg mixture. Spread the fruit mixture onto the baked crust.
• Mix 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, oats, melted butter, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon together in a bowl; sprinkle over the fruit mixture.
• Bake in preheated oven until lightly browned on top and the filling has set, 45 to 50 minutes.

RHUBARB OAT BARS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the rhubarb, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 3 tablespoons water and lemon juice. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; cook and stir for 4-5 minutes or until rhubarb is tender. , Combine the cornstarch and remaining water until smooth; gradually stir into rhubarb mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; set aside., In a large bowl, combine the oats, flour, coconut, salt and remaining brown sugar. Stir in butter until mixture is crumbly. , Press half of the oats mixture into a greased 8-in. square baking dish. Spread with rhubarb mixture. Sprinkle with remaining oat mixture and press down lightly., Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into squares.

STRAWBERRY RHUBARB CRUMB BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8x8-inch baking dish with butter.
• Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl; stir to combine. Mix in oats, white sugar, and brown sugar until well combined, using the back of a spoon to break up any brown sugar clumps. Add melted butter and vanilla extract and stir well until mixture is evenly moistened.
• Press 2 cups of the mixture into the prepared baking dish, pressing down lightly. Set remaining mixture aside.
• Combine strawberries and rhubarb in a bowl. Drizzle with lemon juice and toss to combine.
• Mix together 1/3 cup sugar and cornstarch in a small bowl. Add to strawberry-rhubarb mixture and mix well. Pour fruit filling on top of the crumb layer. Crumble reserved crumb mixture on top of the fruit, spreading evenly.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the top has browned and the filling is bubbly, about 45 minutes. Remove and cool before cutting into bars.

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.

RHUBARB BERRY BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Combine the first 6 ingredients in a large bowl. Add butter; mix well. Set aside 1 cup for topping; press remaining crumb mixture onto the bottom of a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake until crust is lightly browned, about 10 minutes., Combine the rhubarb, sugar, water and cornstarch in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until sauce is thickened, 3-5 minutes., Remove from the heat; stir in raspberries and vanilla. Cool slightly. Spread filling over crust; sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture., Bake until golden brown, 30-35 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars.