Rhubarb Custard Bars with Shortbread (Printable)

Buttery shortbread crust, sugared rhubarb, and a smooth custard filling for bright springtime bars.

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Shortbread Crust

01 - 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
03 - 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
04 - 1/4 tsp salt

→ For the Rhubarb Layer

05 - 3 cups (350 g) fresh rhubarb, chopped
06 - 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar

→ For the Custard Filling

07 - 3 large eggs
08 - 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
09 - 1/2 cup (60 g) all-purpose flour
10 - 1 1/2 cups (360 ml) heavy cream
11 - 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
12 - Pinch of salt

→ For Garnish (optional)

13 - Powdered sugar for dusting

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13-inch (23x33 cm) baking pan and line with parchment paper.
02 - In a bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add flour and salt; mix until a soft dough forms.
03 - Press dough evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until lightly golden at the edges.
04 - While crust bakes, toss chopped rhubarb with sugar and set aside.
05 - In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs and sugar until well combined. Add flour, cream, vanilla extract, and salt; whisk until smooth.
06 - Remove the crust from oven. Evenly spread the sugared rhubarb over the hot crust. Pour custard filling over the rhubarb.
07 - Return pan to the oven and bake for 35–40 minutes, or until custard is set and lightly golden.
08 - Cool completely in the pan. Dust with powdered sugar if desired. Cut into bars and serve.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • When you bite in, you get three textures at once: crisp, gooey, and creamy—it’s not something you find every day.
  • They’re secretly simple, yet look so impressive that everyone thinks you spent all day fussing over them.
02 -
  • If you try to slice before the bars are completely cooled, you’ll end up with a delicious but impossible-to-plate mess.
  • I once swapped in light cream during a shortage, but the custard refused to set—the richness really is non-negotiable.
03 -
  • I learned that slightly underbaking is better than overbaking—carryover heat finishes the custard perfectly as it cools.
  • If you want a blushing pink tone in your bars, seek out rhubarb with deeper red stalks for naturally vibrant results.
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