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    Home » Recipes » Desserts » Rhubarb Oatmeal Bars

    Published: May 25, 2022 by Cara Lanz · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Rhubarb Oatmeal Bars

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    rhubarb oatmeal bars on a white plate
    rhubarb oatmeal bars on a white plate
    rhubarb oatmeal bars on a white plate
    rhubarb oatmeal bars on a white plate

    Rhubarb Oatmeal Bars are sweet and tart with a brown sugar oatmeal cookie crust, gooey fruit filling, and a buttery oatmeal crumble topping. This delicious cookie bar recipe comes together in minutes with fresh or frozen rhubarb.

    white plate with rhubarb bar and vanilla ice cream with platter of rhubarb bars in background

    Here in Minnesota, rhubarb season is our first taste of spring -- signaling it's time to make alllll the rhubarb recipes.

    Anyone with a rhubarb patch usually ends up with an abundance of rhubarb and by mid-summer, the entire state smells like rhubarb pie. 

    This great recipe for old fashioned oatmeal rhubarb bars was inspired by family favorite recipes I found in our grandmothers' recipe boxes -- it was right past the Coconut Dream Bars and Hello Dolly Bars.

    This sweet dessert has a brown sugar oatmeal cookie base, gooey, sweet, and tart rhubarb fruit filling with a hint of orange, and a crunchy oat crumble topping.

    These old fashioned rhubarb bars are the perfect dessert to enjoy cold with a hot cup of coffee, or warmed up topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. 

    You’re going to love these

    Super easy to make with simple ingredients

    You can make these rhubarb oatmeal bars with fresh or frozen rhubarb 

    Orange zest and juice in the rhubarb filling makes it taste extra summery

    The brown sugar oatmeal cookie crust and buttery crumble topping is to-die-for

    Ingredients

    rhubarb oatmeal bars ingredients

    Old fashioned rolled oats. Old-fashioned oats, aka, rolled oats, are the best choice for baking because they will keep their texture when baked. 

    Brown sugar. I always use dark brown sugar, but light brown sugar will work just fine, too. 

    Cinnamon. One teaspoon of cinnamon adds just the right amount of warm flavor to the cookie base and crumb topping.

    Salt. A little bit of salt in the oatmeal mixture and rhubarb filling helps to enhance the flavor. 

    Melted butter. Since you’re already adding salt, use unsalted butter. 

    Rhubarb. You can make these bars with fresh rhubarb or frozen, unthawed rhubarb. You may be able to find frozen chopped rhubarb in grocery stores.

    Orange juice and zest. Citrus enhances the flavor of the rhubarb and brings another fresh flavor to these delicious old fashioned rhubarb bars. You can also use lemon juice and lemon zest. 

    Corn starch. A little cornstarch thickens the rhubarb mixture as it bakes. 

    Step-by-step instructions

    Step 1

    Heat oven to 350 degrees. 

    Line a 9x9 pan or baking dish with parchment paper. The bars shouldn’t stick to the pan, but the parchment makes it easier to remove them out of the pan. 

    Step 2

    In a large bowl, add the all purpose flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and salt. Use a spoon to break up the brown sugar and stir the oat mixture together. 

    Step 3

    Add the melted butter and stir until it comes together like clumps of wet sand. 

    white bowl with oat crumble mixture

    Step 4

    Pat ⅔ of the mixture into the bottom of the pan. Bake the cookie crust for 10 minutes.

    Step 5

    In a medium bowl, combine rhubarb, sugar, cornstarch, orange juice, orange zest, and salt together.  

    Step 6

    Arrange the fruit mixture over the bottom crust. Crumble the remaining crumb mixture over the top. 

    9x9 pan with rhubarb mixture over oat crust

    Step 7

    Bake for 30-40 more minutes or until the top is golden brown. 

    Dig in right away to enjoy a warm and gooey rhubarb bar with a scoop of ice cream or chill them in the refrigerator until they're set up.

    Add a dusting of powdered sugar on top of the bars, if you like.

    white platter with rhubarb bars

    Storage

    Store old fashioned rhubarb bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The crust and topping will soften the next day, but these rhubarb bars will still be really delicious. 

    Expert Tips

    If you use frozen rhubarb, do not thaw it first. 

    For a warm rhubarb crisp-like dessert, go ahead and dig into these oatmeal rhubarb crumble bars right away. 

    For a firmer bar-like consistency, chill them in the refrigerator. Don't worry, the fruit filling will still be nice and gooey!

    Recipe FAQs

    How do you enhance rhubarb flavor?

    As any rhubarb lover can attest, rhubarb is delicious on its own, but it also pairs really well with other flavors. 

    Fresh fruit. Fresh strawberries and blueberries are both great picks for offering sweetness to balance out the tartness. 
     
    Spices. Warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom all pair well with rhubarb. 
     
    Sugar. A sweetener like sugar or brown sugar is a great way to cut through the tart flavor of rhubarb oatmeal bars. 
     
    Salt. Don’t forget the role salt plays in bringing out the natural flavors of rhubarb, even in sweet desserts.

    Can I use instant oats to make old fashioned rhubarb bars?

    Old fashioned oats keep their texture through baking and help give these bars structure and the nice crumbly topping. Instant oats, or quick oats, cook faster and just won’t provide the same texture as old fashioned oats. 

    Are old fashioned oats the same thing as rolled oats?

    Yes. Old fashioned oats and rolled oats are two different names for the exact same thing.

    stack of 3 rhubarb bars on white countertop

    Hungry for more easy dessert recipes?

    • Strawberry Angel Food Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze
    • Mini Blueberry Pies
    • Banoffee Ice Cream Pie
    • Triple Chocolate Brownies with Frosting

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    Old Fashioned Rhubarb Oatmeal Bars

    Cara Lanz
    Rhubarb Oatmeal Bars are sweet and tart with a brown sugar oatmeal cookie crust, gooey fruit filling, and a buttery oatmeal crumble topping. This delicious cookie bar recipe comes together in minutes with fresh or frozen rhubarb.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 50 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 16
    Calories 232 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 ½ cups flour
    • 1 ½ cups old fashioned rolled oats
    • 1 cup brown sugar
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¾ cup melted butter
    • 3 cups rhubarb, fresh or frozen
    • ½ cup sugar
    • 1 tablespoon corn starch
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 tablespoon orange juice
    • 2 teaspoons orange zest

    Instructions
     

    • Heat oven to 350 degrees.
      Line a 9x9 pan or baking dish with parchment paper. The bars shouldn’t stick to the pan, but the parchment makes it easier to remove them out of the pan.
    • In a large bowl, add the all purpose flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and salt. Use a spoon to break up the brown sugar and stir the oat mixture together.
    • Add the melted butter and stir until it comes together like clumps of wet sand.
    • Pat ⅔ of the mixture into the bottom of the pan. Bake the crust for 10 minutes.
    • In a medium bowl, combine rhubarb, sugar, cornstarch, orange juice, orange zest, and salt together.
    • Arrange the fruit mixture over the bottom crust. Crumble the remaining crumb mixture over the top.
    • Bake for 30-40 more minutes or until the top is golden brown.
    • Dig in right away to enjoy a warm and gooey rhubarb bar with a scoop of ice cream or chill them in the refrigerator until they're set up (the fruit filling will still be nice and gooey!).
      Add a dusting of powdered sugar on top of the bars, if you like.
    • Store old fashioned rhubarb bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The crust and topping will soften the next day, but these rhubarb bars will still be really delicious.

    Notes

    If you use frozen rhubarb, do not thaw it first. 
    For a warm rhubarb crisp-like dessert, go ahead and dig into these oatmeal rhubarb crumble bars right away. 
    For a firmer bar-like consistency, chill them in the refrigerator.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 232kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 3gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 160mgPotassium: 130mgFiber: 2gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 293IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 49mgIron: 1mg
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    Hi, I'm Cara!

    I love dreaming up easier, and sometimes healthier twists on dishes from the heartland.

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