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Tangy rhubarb filling atop a buttery oat crust, finished with a smooth and tangy cream cheese topping. A seasonal dessert perfect for spring.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 3/4 cup melted butter
  • 4 cups chopped rhubarb
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons water (splash)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (divided)
  • 8 oz softened cream cheese
  • 1 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment or lightly grease it.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, rolled oats, and melted butter until crumbly but sticks together when pressed.
  3. Press the crust mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
  4. Bake crust for about 15 minutes until edges are golden and crust feels firm.
  5. While crust bakes, combine chopped rhubarb, granulated sugar, cornstarch, and water in a saucepan.
  6. Cook rhubarb mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thick and jammy.
  7. Stir in half of the vanilla extract into rhubarb filling at the end of cooking.
  8. Spread warm rhubarb filling evenly over baked crust.
  9. Bake pan for another 10 to 15 minutes to help filling set.
  10. Beat softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and remaining vanilla extract until smooth and fluffy.
  11. Once bars are completely cooled to room temperature, spread cream cheese topping over rhubarb layer in gentle swirls.
  12. Chill assembled bars in refrigerator for at least 2 hours until cream cheese layer firms.
  13. Cut chilled bars into squares using a sharp knife, wiping knife clean between cuts for neat edges.

Notes

To reduce tartness, stir in 1 to 2 cups chopped strawberries into the rhubarb filling while cooking., Add a pinch of lemon or orange zest to cream cheese topping for a bright, zesty flavor., Swap 1/2 cup rolled oats for chopped nuts (almonds, pecans, or walnuts) in crust for crunch and nuttiness., Add 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger or cinnamon to rhubarb filling for warm spice notes., Try mascarpone sweetened with powdered sugar instead of cream cheese for a delicate topping., Gluten-free option: use gluten-free all-purpose flour blend and certified gluten-free oats.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookerygood.com/rhubarb-bars-with-cream-cheese/