When cooked, rhubarb transitions from intensely tart and crunchy to a softer, sweeter, and more mellow taste that can resemble green apples—that’s why the two are staple crumble ingredients. For anyone who’s all crumbled out or simply looking for a new recipe to try, this rhubarb traybake will fit the bill.
Described as a “quick and easy” delight, the recipe combines a classic tart with the simplicity of cooking it in a sheet pan. There are no crumbly fluted edges to contend with, and it only takes 10 minutes to prepare, notes Fab Flour. All you need is 30 minutes spare to cook the delicious rhubarb tart until sweet and golden.
Method
Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan. In a large mixing bowl, rub together the flour, icing sugar, and butter with your fingertips until a crumb consistency is achieved.
Add five tablespoons of water and mix together with your hands to form a pastry dough.
Tip the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Break off about a quarter and set to one side (this will be the top of the tart). Roll the remainder into a rectangle large enough to line the baking tin.
Roll the pastry back onto the rolling pin to pick it up, drape it over the tin, and tuck it into the corners and up the sides. Trim any excess (add this to the reserved quarter of dough), and place the lined tin in the freezer.
Chop the rhubarb into 2cm diagonal pieces and put it into the (cleaned) large mixing bowl. Add the 200g caster sugar, orange zest and cornflour and toss the rhubarb so it’s all coated.
Spread the coated rhubarb into the pastry-lined tin, and fold in the pastry around the edge to create a crust.
Roll out the reserved quarter of dough and cut out some different-sized circles using cutters, a tumbler, or a bottle lid. Then, randomly place them on top of the rhubarb so there are still some gaps where you can see the fruit.
Brush the pastry with egg wash, sprinkle with caster sugar and bake for 30-35 minutes until the rhubarb is soft and the pastry is golden. Leave to cool slightly before serving with cream, custard or ice cream.