Rhubarb Cake

Nothing beats the flavor of a sweet cake made with slightly sour rhubarb in this rhubarb cake recipe.

With just a handful of ingredients that you likely have on hand, this rhubarb cake recipe is easy to make, extra moist, and full of tart rhubarb flavor.

It’s rhubarb season and this fruit (yes, it’s a fruit!) is making appearances in everything from pies to muffins! This recipe for rhubarb cake showcases its unique color and flavor, in a lightly sweetened, fluffy cake that’s perfect as a quick snack or dessert.

A Delicious Summer Cake

Moist and delicious, rhubarb is used in cakes, pies, cobblers, crumbles, and crisps, and is also made into jams, syrups, and sauces.

Moist and delicious, rhubarb cake is a sweet/tart treat with its own unique flavor.
This recipe uses ingredients you likely have on hand along with some rhubarb stalks.
This cake can be made when rhubarb is plentiful but it also freezes beautifully. So make a cake or two (or muffins) to save for later?
Fresh rhubarb is always best but if the craving for rhubarb cake comes up off-season, frozen will do. Simply allow it to thaw and pat dry with a clean paper towel before using.
It tastes so good with some ice cream, whipped cream, or vanilla custard.

Ingredients

Rhubarb: Choose stalks that are ripe and firm with a clean, sweet scent. Rinse the stalks thoroughly and chop them into even pieces. If there isn’t enough rhubarb to equal 3 cups, add sliced strawberries or chopped apples. Or, if you have extra rhubarb, if can be chopped or you can freeze it.

Flour – This cake batter uses all-purpose flour.
Butter – Use unsalted butter. If you only have salted, reduce or leave out the salt in the recipe.
Lemon – Fresh lemon adds flavor and also reacts with the soda to make the cake light and fluffy (so it cannot be left out). If you’d like zest the lemon and add 1 teaspoon of lemon zest to the cake.
Other – Use large eggs and granulated sugar.

When preparing the rhubarb, be sure not to include the leaves as they contain a toxic substance and should not be ingested. The leaves should be discarded.

process of adding ingredients together to make Rhubarb Cake

How to Make Rhubarb Cake

This is a delicious and sweet way to use up that harvest of rhubarb.

Whisk dry ingredients together in a large bowl and wet ingredients in a medium bowl.
Toss the rhubarb in the dry mixture.
Combine the wet and dry ingredients (per the recipe below). Pour the cake batter into the prepared baking dish or cake pan.
Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and bake.

Tips for a Perfect Cake

Create a well in the center of the dry mixture and pour the wet into the dry. Gently fold the dry into the center and turn the bowl as you stir. This method aerates the batter ensuring a light, fluffy cake.

Mixing the rhubarb with the flour first ensures it doesn’t sink to the bottom of the cake.
Rhubarb is very tart so there is a little bit of extra sweetness in this cake.
Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature.

Storing Rhubarb Cake

Keep rhubarb cake covered at room temperature for up to 3 days. Freeze leftover portions by wrapping them tightly in plastic wrap and storing them in zippered bags for up to 10 weeks.

More Rhubarb Recipes

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Sweet & tart rhubarb cake is the best way to use up all that summer harvest!

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 pan and set aside.
Whisk flour, salt, & baking soda in a large bowl. Set aside.
In a small bowl, combine sugar, milk, melted butter, lemon juice, and vanilla. Stir in the egg.
Add the rhubarb to the flour mixture and gently mix.
Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture and stir with a spatula until combined.
Pour the cake mixture into the prepared pan.
Combine the sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over the cake.
Bake 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool and serve with ice cream.

Mixing the rhubarb with the flour first ensures it doesn’t sink to the bottom of the cake.
Rhubarb is very tart so there is a little bit of extra sweetness in this cake.
Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature.

Leftover cake can be kept for up to 3 days at room temperature in a covered container.
Freeze portions by wrapping in plastic wrap and storing in zippered bags for up to 10 weeks. Thaw at room temperature.

5 from 7 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
Or to leave a comment, click here!

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Cake, Dessert

Cuisine American

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