InstaRecipe: Straight Up Rhubarb Bars

By Julia Weeman in Food on Jul 21, 2013 7:00PM

Rhubarb is one of those things that just tastes like summer. While it pairs wonderfully with its common partner in crime, strawberries, sometimes you just want to enjoy the beautifully tart flavor of rhubarb all by itself. This is a delicious recipe for a quick, easy rhubarb fix. It travels well, keeps well and is the perfect sweet treat to bring to your next BBQ or picnic.

Straight Up Rhubarb Bars
Makes 16 bars

Ingredients

For the shortbread:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup confectioner’s sugar
1 cup flour

For the filling:
2 cups chopped rhubarb
1/3 cup raw sugar
1/3 cup white sugar

For the topping:
2/3 cup oatmeal
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
2 Tablespoons raw sugar

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix shortbread ingredients until dough comes together and pat evenly into an 8" × 8″ baking dish. Using a fork, poke a few holes in the surface and bake for 15 minutes. Let cool while you make the filling.

Bring filling ingredients to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer 10 minutes. Turn up heat to medium high and stir constantly for 3 minutes to reduce liquid. Set aside while you make the topping.

With your hands, mix together topping ingredients until coarse and crumbly. Spread filling evenly over baked shortbread and sprinkle topping, then raw sugar over it. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool and cut into bars.