This Easy Rhubarb Sauce is a staple for summer and is a great way to enjoy this abundant fruit! Sweet and tart at the same time, it tastes great spooned over yogurt, paired with a pound cake, or as a topping for a vanilla ice cream sundae.
Growing up, my Mom used to make this delicious rhubarb sauce from fresh rhubarb we grew in our backyard. I used to watch the rhubarb stalks grow taller and taller by the week until it was time to harvest. And boy, did we ever enjoy the bounty! Fresh Rhubarb Pie, rhubarb cobbler, and, most often, this simple rhubarb sauce. Every bite takes me right back to rhubarb season when I was little, and I love exploring new ways to use this easy and delicious sauce. It's one of my favorite fruit sauces, and I can't wait for you to try it.
In This Post
Why I Love This Recipe
There are so many reasons I love this recipe!
- Great for when you have so. much. rhubarb. If you've ever grown rhubarb on your own, you know how much fruit it can yield. What starts as a small rhubarb plant can suddenly leave you with lots of rhubarb you have no idea what to do with. This is one of my favorite rhubarb recipes because there are so many ways you can use it, and it's one of the best ways to use up all that rhubarb.
- Easy. This recipe is incredibly simple, requiring only a few ingredients and a short cooking time.
- Good for you! Rhubarb is so great for you - it has tons of fiber and lots of vitamins. I also love that my homemade rhubarb sauce doesn't contain any red food coloring, making me feel so much better about feeding it to my kids.
- Delicious. This easy rhubarb sauce results in a tangy sauce with a perfect balance of sweetness that can be used in a variety of ways. Whether you enjoy it over vanilla ice cream, stirred into plain yogurt, or as a topping for pound cake, this rhubarb sauce is sure to become a staple in your kitchen.
Key Ingredients
I think this is the BEST rhubarb sauce recipe because it uses just 3 simple ingredients and really lets the taste of the rhubarb shine through (perfect if you're a rhubarb lover!). Here's what you'll need to make this simple recipe.
- Rhubarb. Fresh, long stalks of rhubarb are the star of this recipe, providing a tangy flavor that pairs beautifully with sweet desserts.
- Sugar. The sugar helps to balance the tartness of the rhubarb, creating a deliciously sweet and tangy sauce. You can customize the amount of sugar you use here to your liking - want your rhubarb a bit on the sweeter side? Add a bit more sugar. Want a little more tart? Reduce the amount. I like my rhubarb sauce to have a tart flavor so I prefer a bit less sugar.
- Water. Just a little water helps to dissolve the sugar and cook the rhubarb evenly.
How to Make Rhubarb Sauce
This is one of the easiest rhubarb recipes to make. Here's what you'll do:
- Prepare the rhubarb. Start by chopping your raw rhubarb stalks into ¼-inch pieces. Ensure you have about 2 lbs of rhubarb chunks for the recipe.
- Combine the ingredients. In a medium saucepan, combine the chopped rhubarb, 1 cup sugar, and a splash of water. You can use up to 1 cup of water here, and you can add more as the rhubarb reduces if you'd like a thinner sauce. Play around with it until you get the consistency you want for the sauce.
- Cook the rhubarb. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the rhubarb breaks down and the sugar dissolves. This should take about 15-20 minutes.
- Cool and store. Remove from heat and allow the sauce to come to room temperature. Transfer the rhubarb sauce to an airtight container and refrigerate. The sauce will keep for up to 1 week.
Variations and Substitutions
Want to mix up your sauce a bit? Here are a few ideas for ways you can customize this easy rhubarb recipe.
- Less sugar. If you prefer a tangier sauce, reduce the amount of sugar.
- Strawberry rhubarb sauce. Add fresh strawberries to the rhubarb to make a strawberry-rhubarb combination. This is a nice way to add some extra sweetness if you'd rather not add extra sugar, since strawberries are naturally sweeter fruits.
- Add some zing! A touch of ginger, a squeeze of lemon juice or lemon zest, or even a splash of orange juice are all bright flavor additions.
- Add vanilla. A touch of vanilla extract deepens the flavor of the sauce and creates a delicious topping for ice cream.
- Try a different sweetener. Substitute granulated sugar with maple syrup or honey for a richer flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store your homemade rhubarb sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. For longer storage, use a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 6 months. (This is a great way to enjoy this early summer fruit year-round!)
I'm not a canner, but if you are, you can also can rhubarb sauce to save for a longer period of time.
Yes, you can use frozen rhubarb. Simply thaw it before cooking and proceed with the recipe as usual.
If the sauce is too thick, add a little water while cooking to reach your desired consistency.
How to Serve Rhubarb Sauce
There are countless ways to enjoy this delicious rhubarb sauce:
- Over vanilla ice cream. The sweet and tangy flavors complement the creamy texture perfectly.
- With yogurt. Stir into plain or vanilla yogurt for a nutritious breakfast or snack. (I love having plain Greek yogurt and rhubarb sauce for breakfast!)
- As a topping for breakfast dishes! I love this rhubarb sauce served on top of or alongside waffles or pancakes.
- On a pound cake. Drizzle over pound cake or angel food cake for an easy yet elegant dessert.
- In drinks. Add a teaspoon to a glass of prosecco for a refreshing, fruity twist.
- With savory dishes. Pair with roasted meats for a unique, tangy sauce. (If you go this route, I'd remove the rhubarb from the heat a bit sooner to leave it a tiny bit chunky, almost like a rhubarb compote. This would go great with something like pork or chicken.)
- On its own! Similar to applesauce, this delicious recipe stands up great all on its own!
This Quick and Easy Rhubarb Sauce recipe is the perfect way to make the most of your rhubarb plant or fresh rhubarb from the farmers' market. If you make this easy recipe, let me know what you think in the comments below. And don't forget to tag me @frontrangefed on Instagram - I'd love to see all the creative ways you're using the sauce!
More Summer Fruit Recipes
- Rhubarb Pie
- Peach Pie
- Sweet Peach Ice Cream
- Cherry and Burrata Salad
- Homemade Strawberry Cake Filling
- Cherry Pineapple Popsicles
- Easy Peach Cobbler
- Blackberry Creamsicles
Recipe
Quick and Easy Rhubarb Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs rhubarb chopped into small, ¼ inch pieces
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- splash of water (up to one cup)
Instructions
- Prepare the rhubarb by washing it and slicing the crispy stalks into ¼-inch pieces.
- In a medium-sized saucepan, add the rhubarb, sugar, and water.
- Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Allow the rhubarb to reduce and break down, about 25-30 minutes. Add more water if you desire a thinner sauce.
- Remove from heat. Allow sauce to come to room temperature, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Notes
- Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week in the refrigerator, or freeze for up to 6 months.
- Eat as is (like applesauce), over vanilla ice cream or yogurt, on pound cake or angel food cake, pancakes, waffles, or add a teaspoon to a glass of prosecco (you're welcome!)
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Sarah says
This is just like my Mom used to make. I love this with yogurt or ice cream!