“I make this dessert for every single potluck I go to. I love serving it frozen – it’s SO good!!” ~Callandra
No Bake Rhubarb Dream Bars definitely live up to their name. I love them because they’re the kind of dessert you only get at home. You won’t find anything like this at a restaurant or a bakery, they’re the kind of thing your grandma would whip up — they have a simple, vintage charm.
Rhubarb gives these bars their rosy color and a unique tart flavor, vanilla bean gives them some depth, and a graham cracker crust grounds it all and gives you something to hold on to. Technically a veggie, rhubarb comes into season in early spring in much of the country, it’s one of the first foods you can harvest in the season, so this is really the quintessential spring dessert.
Keep these bars chilled until you’re ready to serve them. My husband likes them best frozen, and they work well either way.
If you love rhubarb, my strawberry rhubarb cobbler is another classic, old fashioned way to enjoy this spring ephemeral. Or, preserve that bright, tart flavor to enjoy throughout the year with my easy rhubarb butter. Still can’t get enough rhubarb?
make these no bake rhubarb bars your own
- Virtually any cookie can be crushed to make the crust. Use your imagination and go with what you like.
- Rhubarb varies widely in color from a light green to a deep crimson — if yours is very pale, you can add a tiny drop of food coloring to emphasize the rosiness.
- You can combine the rhubarb with strawberries or raspberries if you like, go half and half.
No Bake Rhubarb Dream Bars
Ingredients
crust
- 10 full graham crackers, about 1 sleeve
- 1 Tbsp packed brown sugar
- 6 Tbsp butter, melted
filling
- 2 cups chopped rhubarb (1 inch pieces)
- 4 Tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste, (or a whole vanilla bean, seeds removed, or 1 tsp vanilla extract)
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup cold heavy cream
Instructions
- Combine the graham cracker crumbs, the sugar, and melted butter together until fully combined. Press the crust firmly and evenly into the bottom of a 9×9 square baking pan. I like to spray it lightly and then line with a long piece of parchment so I can lift out the chilled bars for neater cutting. This is optional. Chill the crust while you make the filling.
- Put the chopped rhubarb and sugar in a saucepan along with 6 tablespoons of water. Bring it up to a boil and simmer until thick and soft…about 5 minutes. Stir frequently so the fruit doesn’t scorch. Puree the mixture until completely smooth. Blend in the vanilla and lemon and set aside to cool.
- When the rhubarb is cooled blend in the condensed milk.
- Whip the cream to stiff peaks. Fold in the rhubarb mixture gently but completely. Spread evenly over the crust and put back in the refrigerator to chill for at least 2-3 hours.
- The bars can be served chilled, or even frozen.
Beautiful antique knife! I just picked the first rhubarb from my plants today 🙂 This sounds delicious, Sue!
These no bake bars look scrumptious. I like that creamy pillowy topping.
oh I adore rhubarb and am always searching for different recipes. These really do look so light and fluffy. Beautiful stuff!
I’m tempted to say they’re like “buttah” (because of the butter knife) but I can tell they’re way better than butter! GREG
i believe this would be a wonderful introduction to rhubarb for my palate. i can’t recall ever eating it without some other fruit clouding its flavor and these look delectable!
I know Grace, I always try to include at least one pure rhubarb recipe every spring because it’s such an unusual and under-used flavor. I think strawberries kind of overpower the delicate taste of rhubarb…
These look so good, Sue. I can’t wait to go to the local farms and get fresh rhubarb soon. Love that you can make these so easily – they look like a dream!
So lovely! I’ll definitely be using some of my rhubarb for these (once it comes up, that is 🙂
My husband adores rhubarb, his grandmother used to make the most amazing rhubarb pie. I think he’d love these dream bars!
Love the pale pink color of these Sue! They sound delicious too!
Oh pink! I am all about the color of these. The local farmer’s market opens this weekend (finally!) and I can’t wait to rush down there and grab some rhubarb for sweet-tart desserts like this one!
I’m so lucky here, Annie, the markets go all year long…I think I get a little jaded 😉