This tart-sweet Rhubarb Upside Down Cake is both elegant and rustic at the same time. It’s a uniquely delicious summer dessert!
If you love rhubarb, my Rhubarb Crisp is a delicious and very easy summer dessert idea.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Rhubarb is weird, you guys.
And, I love it!
It looks like giant pieces of reddish/pink celery from outer space and I honestly can’t imagine how someone ever decided it should be baked into a dessert. But, whoever took that leap, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Table of contents
Easy Rhubarb Cake Recipe
I’d made it this far in life without baking one gosh darn thing with rhubarb. That changed the day before the 4th of July with this completely scrumptious Rhubarb Upside Down Cake recipe. The first one was demolished by my family overnight so I baked a 2nd cake the very next day. Always a good sign.
This is a uniquely beautiful, old-fashioned cake that I thought was just perfect for serving on the 4th of July.
I just love that no matter how much cooking and baking I do, there’s always something new to try. I am now officially a huge fan of rhubarb and plan to broaden my horizons with more recipes using this unusual veggie which apparently is actually classified as a fruit (but everyone knows it’s actually a veggie!).
The flavor of rhubarb is quite tart but in a really wonderful way when balanced with sugar in sweet pies, tarts, crumbles, crisps, and cakes. I’ve seen recipes for cocktails made with rhubarb syrup which I think I need to try ASAP.
When is Rhubarb in Season
Peak rhubarb season runs from April through June, but fear not! You will most likely be able to find rhubarb in the produce section of your grocery store through August and possibly even September.
How to Choose Rhubarb
Pick stalks that are crisp and firm and have good color. They will stay nice and fresh for up to a couple of weeks if kept refrigerated. I bought mine with every intention of baking this cake right away… and then life happened. I was surprised to find how fresh and crisp the stalks remained tucked away in the produce drawer in my fridge for well over a week.
Trimming Rhubarb Leaves
Probably the weirdest thing I learned about them is that the green leaves are poisonous. You’ll most likely find trimmed stalks at the grocery store, but it’s important to note that if you grow it yourself or buy it at the farmer’s market and it hasn’t been trimmed, you need to trim the stalks by about an inch and discard the green leaves.
How to Make Rhubarb Upside Down Cake
This is a quick overview of the steps of this recipe. You’ll find detailed instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- After washing and trimming the stalks, slice them into 1/2-inch pieces and scatter them across the bottom of a 10-inch springform pan that has been generously coated with non-stick cooking spray.
- Next, a mixture of sugar, flour, cinnamon, and a touch of nutmeg is sprinkled over the top. Don’t be tempted to skimp on the sugar. Rhubarb needs a good dose of sweetness.
- The sugar and spice topped rhubarb is drizzled with melted butter. And, a simple cake batter is spread out over the top.
- After the cake comes out of the oven it should be inverted on to a serving plate and then it will release easily from the springform pan.
This cake is overwhelmingly a new family favorite. One of my guys said it is his new #1 cake which is big, people because there have been lots and lots of cakes in this house.
I hope you try it and love it as much as we do!
Rhubarb Upside Down Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
Rhubarb Topping
- 3 cups sliced fresh rhubarb, (½-inch slices)
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ cup butter, melted
Cake Batter
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅔ cup whole milk
- sweetened whipped cream or whipped topping, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat the bottom and sides of a 10-inch springform pan generously with nonstick cooking spray.
- Scatter the sliced rhubarb over the bottom of the prepared pan. Combine 1 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, ½ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon nutmeg in a small bowl and sprinkle it over the rhubarb. Drizzle ¼ cup melted butter over the top and set it aside.
- For the batter, in a large bowl, beat ¼ cup melted butter and ¾ cup sugar until blended. Beat in the egg. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Add about half of the dry mixture to the egg mixture and beat just until combined. Add half of the milk and beat again until combined. Repeat with remaining flour mixture and milk, beating well. Spoon the cake batter over the rhubarb mixture and use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to spread out evenly.
- Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and run a knife along the edge of the cake and the pan to loosen the edges and then immediately invert onto a serving dish. Unlatch and remove the sides of the springform pan. Use a knife to lift up the base of the pan and remove it.
- Allow to cool for about 10 to 15 minutes and then slice and serve warm with whipped cream, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home.
Like this? Please rate & comment below!
Adapted from Taste of Home
Thank you for the recipe, it’s a keeper! I just found some frozen rhubarb from last year in my freezer and made the cake, thinking we’ll have it for breakfast tomorrow, – well, half the cake is gone already and the family keep nudging to just finish it already and make another one in the morning, lol.
The recipe is nicely straightforward and forgiving: I was feeling too lazy to take my electric mixer out, so I just beat the batter with a hand whisk, without overworking myself, – and the cake is fluffy and perfect. I also liked that it used less butter and less sugar than my previous recipe for an upside down rhubarb cake.
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you love the recipe. 🙂
Maybe a different kind of pan? Beautiful sauce ran all out the bottom 🤔. I will bake in regular pan from now on.
Hi Susan. It sounds like you didn’t have a good seal on your springform pan. I recommend using a leakproof springform pan to help with this issue.
I have frozen rhubarb in the freezer. Do I thaw it first or keep it frozen when making this recipe. It really sounds good.
If you don’t thaw the rhubarb first, I’d be inclined to add an extra tablespoon of flour. I haven’t tried this but do think it should work fine.
This was a nice cake. I was hesitant at first, 1/4cup butter for the batter didn’t seem though for me but it worked out well and rhubarb is yummy too. Thanks
Love this recipe.
Will keep this one.
Turned OUT GREAT!!!
Thank You For Sharing☺