Rhubarb Shortbread 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.

RHUBARB SHORTBREAD BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Mix 1 cup flour, butter, and confectioners' sugar together in a bowl; pack the mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9-inch square baking dish.
• Bake in preheated oven until the crust hardens slightly and is very fragrant, but not yet browned, about 15 minutes.
• Whisk brown sugar, eggs, white sugar, 1/4 cup flour, and salt together in a bowl until completely smooth; add rhubarb and stir to coat. Pour the rhubarb mixture over the crust.
• Bake in oven until the rhubarb mixture sets, about 40 minutes; cool at least 10 minutes before cutting into bars.

STRAWBERRY RHUBARB SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan with butter and dust with flour, tapping out the excess. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.
• Beat the butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the sugar and continue to beat until very fluffy, about 2 minutes longer. In a small bowl, whisk together the cream and eggs. Add half the flour mixture and half the egg mixture to the creamed butter and beat until combined. Repeat with the remaining flour and egg mixture. Add the lemon zest and vanilla and beat the batter on medium-high speed for an additional 1 to 2 minutes.
• Transfer the batter to the prepared cake pan, spread the top evenly and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the top sprigs back to the touch, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool in the pan 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.
• For the filling: Combine the rhubarb with 1/2 cup of the sugar and 1/4 cup water in a medium pot. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and continue to cook, stirring, until the rhubarb cooks down into a thick puree, 18 to 20 minutes. Cool completely, then fold in half of the strawberries. Stir the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar into the remaining berries.
• For the whipped cream: When ready to assemble the cake, whip the cream with the sugar and vanilla in a medium bowl with a mixer until stiff peaks form.
• Using a serrated knife, slice the cake in half horizontally and place the bottom half on a cake stand or serving plate cut-side up. Spread with 1 cup of the whipped cream, stopping about 1/2 inch from the edge of the cake, then top with the strawberry-rhubarb mixture. Place the second half of the cake cut-side dow, over the strawberry-rhubarb filling and spread the remaining whipped cream over top, going close to the edge of the cake. Garnish with the remaining sliced strawberries.

RHUBARB TART WITH SHORTBREAD CRUST

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring rhubarb, sugar and water to a boil. Reduce heat; cook and stir until thickened and rhubarb is tender. Cool slightly. Transfer to a food processor; cover and process until mixture is smooth; set aside., For crust, place the flour, pecans, butter, confectioners' sugar and salt in a food processor; cover and process until crumbly. Press onto the bottom and up the sides of an ungreased 9-in. tart pan with removable bottom. Bake crust at 350° for 18-20 minutes or until lightly browned., Meanwhile, in a small heavy saucepan over medium heat, whisk the egg yolks, sugar, lemon juice, zest and rhubarb mixture until blended. Add butter; cook until butter is melted, whisking constantly. Stir in food coloring if desired; pour into prepared crust., Bake at 350° 12-15 minutes longer or until center is almost set. Cool completely on a wire rack. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Just before serving, dust with confectioners' sugar.

RHUBARB SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Make the jam: Combine rhubarb, sugar, and 1/2 cup water in a medium saucepan. Split vanilla bean, scrape the seeds into the pan, and toss in the pod. Bring to a simmer over low heat, cook, stirring often, until rhubarb softens and forms a soft mass, about 10 minutes. Remove and discard vanilla bean. Transfer to a shallow bowl and let cool. Can be made ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container, for up to one week. If refrigerated, return to room temperature before using. You may substitute 1 cup of your favorite jam or preserves for the homemade.
• Make the shortbread: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter on high speed until pale and fluffy. Add egg yolks and sugar, and beat until sugar is dissolved and the mixture is light. Reduce mixer speed to low, and add the dry ingredients, mixing only until the ingredients are incorporated.
• Turn the dough out onto a work surface and cut into two pieces. Shape each piece into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap. Place in freezer until firm, about 30 minutes. Can be made ahead and frozen for up to one month. Thaw in refrigerator overnight.
• Assemble and bake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees with rack in center. Remove one ball of dough from freezer and, using the large holes on a box grater, grate the dough into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Pat the dough gently just to get it into the corners (you don't want to press it down), and spread with the rhubarb jam. Grate the remaining dough over the jam, and press it lightly to distribute it evenly.
• Bake until golden brown, about 40 minutes. Dust with confectioners' sugar as soon as it is removed from oven. Cool on a wire rack.
• Cut the shortbread into bars when it is cool. You can cut whatever size bars please you, although as a rough guide, 3-inch squares, or rectangles 1 1/2 inches by 3 inches make nice servings. Store covered at room temperature for up to 2 days.

RHUBARB SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Make the jam: Combine rhubarb, sugar, and 1/2 cup water in a medium saucepan.
• Split vanilla bean, scrape the seeds into the pan, and toss in the pod.
• Bring to a simmer over low heat, cook, stirring often, until rhubarb softens and forms a soft mass, about 10 minutes.
• Remove and discard vanilla bean.
• Transfer to a shallow bowl and let cool.
• Can be made ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container, for up to one week.
• If refrigerated, return to room temperature before using.
• You may substitute 1 cup of your favorite jam or preserves for the homemade.
• Make the shortbread: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter on high speed until pale and fluffy.
• Add egg yolks and sugar, and beat until sugar is dissolved and the mixture is light.
• Reduce mixer speed to low, and add the dry ingredients, mixing only until the ingredients are incorporated.
• Turn the dough out onto a work surface and cut into two pieces.
• Shape each piece into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap.
• Place in freezer until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Can be made ahead and frozen for up to one month.
• Thaw in refrigerator overnight.
• Assemble and bake: Preheat oven to 350° with rack in center.
• Remove one ball of dough from freezer and, using the large holes on a box grater, grate the dough into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
• Pat the dough gently just to get it into the corners (you don’t want to press it down), and spread with the rhubarb jam.
• Grate the remaining dough over the jam, and press it lightly to distribute it evenly.
• Bake until golden brown, about 40 minutes.
• Dust with confectioners’ sugar as soon as it is removed from oven.
• Cool on a wire rack.
• Cut the shortbread into bars when it is cool.
• You can cut whatever size bars please you, although as a rough guide, 3-inch squares, or rectangles 1 1/2 inches by 3 inches make nice servings.
• Store covered at room temperature for up to 2 days.

RHUBARB SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Mix 2 cups rhubarb and 1 cup sugar together in a bowl; set aside to allow juices to release, about 10 minutes. Combine flour, sour cream, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Add rhubarb-sugar mixture to flour mixture; mix until just blended. Pour into an 8-inch square baking pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 25 to 35 minutes. Cut shortcake into 9 squares.
• Mix 1 1/2 cups sugar and strawberries together in a bowl; set aside to allow flavors to meld, about 10 minutes.
• Place 3 cups rhubarb and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in 1 cup sugar; bring to a boil. Lower heat; simmer until tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat; mash with a potato masher. Return to medium heat; add cornstarch and return to boiling. Simmer, stirring, until sauce is thick, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Pour strawberry-sugar mixture into rhubarb sauce; stir until well mixed. Cool completely in the refrigerator, about 1 hour. Spoon sauce over shortcake squares.