One Bowl Rustic Rhubarb Bread
This rustic rhubarb bread is one of the tastiest things you can make with rhubarb. I’m so happy I bumped into this old recipe, and I can’t even remember who gave it to me! The flavor and texture of this bread are amazing! But the best part is it’s insanely simple to make! All you need to make the bread is a bowl and a spoon; there is no need to get out the mixer!
Rhubarb Is One Of Spring’s Greatest Gifts
As faithful as Old Faithful, rhubarb arises from its slumber every spring and starts pushing up stalks topped with leaves the size of an elephant’s ears. Please don’t eat those leaves, though; they are poisonous! Only the stalks are edible!
I saw the first red bumps breaking through the soil when I peered longingly at the rhubarb bed this morning. The rain will help it along, and I want it to hurry!
People have thought of rhubarb as sort of a spring tonic for centuries. The benefits touted include everything from aiding digestion to preventing Altzheimers! (Make mine a double, please!)
We have two venerable old plants. One is from stock that’s over 100 years old. Both produce heavily. Our rhubarb is a green stem variety, not as red as others. It’s every bit as tasty, though! Soon, I’ll be making this yummy bread, jam, pies, crisps, and cobblers! I’ll freeze some for next winter, and you can be sure I’ll be giving a bunch away!
First Grab A Knife And Get Busy Chopping Up Some Fresh Rhubarb
I love my old wooden cutting board. He’s been a friend for over 25 years. Now I have silicone ones that are very handy and even dishwasher-safe. I’m trying to develop some new habits and make them my go-to, but Piggy is the one I grab first when I’m not cutting up meat.
Slice the rhubarb fairly thin, and if the stalks are very thick, you can even split them. You can use frozen rhubarb, too. Defrost the rhubarb and place it in a strainer to drain off any excess liquid, then proceed as if you are using fresh rhubarb.
Toss The Crisp Rhubarb In A Bowl With Sweet Brown Sugar And Flour
Mix all the dry ingredients thoroughly before you toss them with the rhubarb. Mixing the rhubarb with the dry ingredients assures the diced rhubarb will stay suspended in the batter, evenly distributed throughout the loaf as it bakes.
Next, you will add one egg, some cooking oil, and a heaping teaspoon of fragrant vanilla. But the next step is when the magic happens!
Julia Child wisely taught that fat is what gives a thing flavor. This recipe calls for thick, tangy full-fat plain Greek yogurt.
Yogurt is acidic, and the acid tenderizes the gluten in the flour, lending to the more delicate texture after baking. You may need to look a little harder to find it in the dairy case, but it delivers the best results.
The batter will be quite stiff, but don’t be alarmed! When the yogurt meets the soda and the acidic rhubarb, the mixture gets all excited, and the bread rises! Then, the rhubarb releases its moisture as the bread bakes, and the delicious result will blow your mind!
How Can Such Weird-Looking Batter Make Such Amazing Bread
What seems impossible happens in the magic of the oven when you spoon the lumpy, bumpy batter into well-greased loaf pans! The rhubarb releases its moisture into the batter and gets very sweet and tender.
The baking soda used in this recipe is an alkaline compound. It combines to form tiny carbon dioxide bubbles when it meets the acid in the rhubarb and yogurt.
Those little bubbles get trapped in the batter, which makes it rise. There is your chemistry lesson for today! You’re welcome!
Now you know just how magical this bread is! But you won’t be thinking about chemistry when you smear butter on this bread and pop it in your mouth. All you will be thinking about is a second slice.
Three Good Reasons For Baking Mini Loaves
Most bread recipes are for standard nine by five-inch loaf pans, but guess what? The batter you make for a regular loaf pan can fill three of the five and one-half-inch by three-inch mini loaf pans or two of my medium-small bread pans that are about four by seven and one-half inches!
You will need to reduce the baking time on smaller loaves by about 25%. The oven temperature stays the same. You may want to experiment with the perfect bake times because every oven is different. The loaves are done when a toothpick, skewer, or cake tester comes out clean when inserted in the tallest part of the bread.
If you want to go big, go for it! However, I’m a BIG fan of the smaller loaves, even mini loaves. Why?
If your household is small, you can enjoy a loaf now and freeze the others for another day. Less waste.
Because you can indulge without splurging on a whole big slice. Less waist. 😉
Little loaves of bread make great gifts or something to send home with guests! Get free hugs!
P.S. If you don’t have mini loaf pans, you can buy disposable aluminum ones in the store or make this recipe into muffins instead!
Printable Recipe
One Bowl Rustic Rhubarb Bread
A recipe for rhubarb muffins with streusel topping. They aren't too sweet and, slightly tangy. You do not need a mixer, just a bowl. and a spoon. Tender and moist, lovely crumb.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups raw rhubarb, sliced thin or diced
- 2 3/4 cup flour, unbleached is best
- 1 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup full-fat plain Greek yogurt
- 2/3 cup vegetable oil, Canola oil preferred
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Mix the rhubarb, brown sugar, flour, salt, and baking soda in a bowl until the rhubarb is well coated.
- Add egg, oil, and vanilla. Stir well until blended.
- Add yogurt to the batter and stir well. The batter will be thick!
- Spray or grease pans liberally.
- Spoon into a standard loaf pan or three mini loaf pans (approximately 3" x 5 1/2").
- Bake at 350 degrees for about 45-60 minutes or until toothpick or skewer comes out clean.
- Smaller pans will take 25% less time to bake.
- Cool completely before slicing with a serrated knife.
Notes
You can use frozen rhubarb, too. Defrost and drain the excess liquid, then toss the rhubarb with the dry ingredients to ensure it stays suspended in the batter as it bakes.
If you enjoyed this recipe, please share it on your social media! I would love for more people to try this delicious and easy-to-make recipe. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you! Shhh… Join our secret foodie group on Facebook
What are your favorite recipes for rhubarb? Will you share, pretty please? Here are a couple of my favorites; Beautiful Rhubarb Poke Cake and Sassy Rhubarb Swirl. If you end up with too much rhubarb, here’s how to freeze rhubarb for later.
MORE OF OUR QUICK AND EASY FAMILY-STYLE RECIPES:
The Ultimate Bread and Butter Pickle Recipe
The Number 1 Practically Perfect Poppy Seed Bread
If you like these recipes, you are our people! You can check some related articles below or search via categories on the right. But, be warned; you will be on here for hours. Enjoy!
A hint for you and that is if you have horse poo available generously heap it on your rhubarb and you will never be without rhubarb.
Yes! I have a horsie friend who supplies me!!
I LOVE THIS!
Thank you! THAT MAKES ME SO HAPPY!
Can one substitute anything for the Greek yoghurt in the rhubarb bread?
I’m adding this link to my post- there are lots of options!!https://spoonuniversity.com/lifestyle/7-common-greek-yogurt-substitutes
What can I use instead of Greek Yogurt? Can I use a non dairy soya substitute?
I wish I was more help with non dairy but I’m not. In a recipe like this a person can use yogurt, sour cream, or buttermilk interchangeably but I am not familiar with non-dairy products, sorry.
First time seeing bread, going to try butter.
I’m sure it will be good! Breads and cakes made with oil do stay moist longer than those made with butter. That is because butter contain milk solids that evaporate.It’s a trick I have learned in food service. I have found a buttery flavored oil called Whirl Butter that is only sold in restauarant-size jugsand I love it. It lasts a year, I use it for baking and frying both.