Rhubarb Coffee Crumb Cake

These transitional days of lingering sunsets into strawberry moons and bountiful harvests signal one thing: Summer is well on its way. During this springtide interlude, we indulge in the final days of baking before we trade in pies and cakes for ice cream and no-bake delights, which brings us to today's recipe- Rhubarb Coffee Crumb Cake.

A buttery streusel topping is baked over a moist and crumbly cake that's speckled with tart jammy-baked bits of rhubarb for a cozy treat in the morning with coffee or a final evening bite with a comforting cup of tea. Our Rhubarb Coffee Crumb Cake will be fastened in your spring repertoire of desserts for years to come.

Today, we are answering your most asked questions- What is rhubarb? How do you cook rhubarb? Can you make savory meals with it, or is it only for desserts? What does Rhubarb taste like?

Then we will discuss recipe notes, tips, and of course, provide a tutorial video on today's recipe, so keep reading!

Rhubarb Overview

There are two types of people- those who live for rhubarb season and those who pass it in the store and think, "What's this reddish celery stalk?" and proceed to keep walking.

Well, we are here to answer your burning questions on this dubious vegetable.

For starters, Rhubarb is a fibrous plant of long red stalks that is quite bitter. Traditionally, it is stewed down into jams or preserves, or baked alongside other fruits, most commonly strawberries, due to the balance of flavors and likeness in color. However, there are actually a plethora of other ingredients you can pair with rhubarb in a whole host of different ways. Food & Wine featured 11 chefs who shared their creative takes on rhubarb, ranging from sweet to savory.

When cooking with something bitter, it's best to think of contrasting flavor profiles -sweet/sour, sour/salty, bitter/briny, bitter/spicy. So, there lies quite a bit of untapped potential in rhubarb, though the majority of search results will push you towards a sweeter option because, at the end of the day, a slice of Apple Rhubarb Pie or a forkful of Strawberry Rhubarb Tarts with Vegan Whipped Cream is hard to compete with.

One reader inquired if rhubarb was safe to eat. Now, you might think, what a silly question to ask if you're reading a rhubarb recipe; however, this is a valid inquiry because parts of rhubarb can be toxic. It's important to note that the leaves of the rhubarb plant are poisonous due to their high concentrations of oxalic acid. The rhubarb stalks are safe to ingest and actually provide several key health benefits since they are so high in fiber. While this does not affect today's recipe, I'd be remiss not to mention this important detail in our Rhubarb Overview for those curious enough to experiment with recipes on their own using rhubarb. This also answers the question of why rhubarb is distributed without its leaves.

Rhubarb Coffee Crumb Cake - Recipe Overview

Taste and Texture:

Rhubarb on its own is quite a tough and fibrous plant that's extremely bitter and tart. While it is considered safe to eat it raw, most usually don't. It cooks down easily whether you boil, bake, or sauté it. For today's recipe, I tossed the chopped rhubarb with sugar first to coat and add extra sweetness. Rhubarb bakes up easily, so you don't have to cook it beforehand. Simply fold into the cake batter and bake for a jammy result in each slice. The sweet and tart combination is so deliciously pleasant.

Difficulty Level:

Baking can be intimidating, but if you're comfortable in the kitchen, I say this recipe is quite easy. The best part is it's all made in a single bowl, so you don't need a lot of equipment, and this process also streamlines the prep and cleanup.

Preparation Process:

I like to sprinkle sugar over the rhubarb first so it can sit in the sweetness for a bit. Next, I prepare the streusel topping so everything comes together easily once the batter is mixed.

Pairing Suggestions:

A dollop of homemade whipped cream always elevates a dessert, but especially when it comes to fruit desserts. Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream also pairs deliciously with rhubarb. One cannot forget that a fresh cup of coffee or tea is also quintessential when it comes to crumb cake.

Ingredient Checklist for Rhubarb Coffee Crumb Cake

For the crumb topping:

• Unsalted butter
  • Note: I only bake with unsalted butter. I find this crucial, so you can control the salt content in your baked goods.
• All-purpose flour
  • Note: You can absolutely make this recipe with your favorite gluten-free flour mix.
• Brown sugar
• Ground Cinnamon

For the coffee cake:

• Rhubarb
• Sugar
• Eggs
• Vanilla extract
• Plain Greek yogurt (or sour cream)
• Buttermilk
  • Note: If you don't have buttermilk on hand, you can make a sour milk substitute by combining 1 cup whole milk with 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice. Let the mixture stand for about 10 minutes until the milk has curdled.
• Vegetable oil
• All-purpose flour
  • Note: As mentioned above, if desired, you can substitute all-purpose wheat flour with gluten-free flour. I've mentioned before that my favorite gluten-free blends for all-purpose baking are King Arthur's Measure for Measure Flour and Krusteaz All-Purpose Gluten Free Flour.
• Baking soda
• Salt

How to Store Rhubarb Coffee Crumb Cake

This crumb cake keeps nicely, and as a plus, it freezes well too! To keep it fresh longer, store in an airtight container and refrigerate. Take out about 20 minutes before serving for room temperature, or pop slices in the toaster oven for a quick reheat. If you find you have enough leftover but don't want it to go to waste, wrap it tightly in cling film and store it in a freezer bag. Now here's the debate on how long you can keep cake frozen in the freezer. Personally, within the context of this being leftover cake, not a cake made to freeze, I would not go beyond 3 months.

Video for Rhubarb Coffee Crumb Cake

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And that's our recipe and tips for Rhubarb Coffee Crumb Cake. If you enjoyed today's recipe, be sure to let us know in the comments below and if you make today's recipe, don't forget to tag us on social media! We always love hearing from you.

Happy Baking!

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