Mom's Rhubarb Sauce - Grumpy's Honeybunch (2024)

Published: Last updated: by Shelby Law Ruttan · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Mom's rhubarb sauce is the best rhubarb sauce recipe and is delicious all on its own. This compote can be a delicious accompaniment to savory foods like fish, chicken, and venison and can also be enjoyed as part of dessert on top of cake, ice cream, and more.

Mom's Rhubarb Sauce Recipe is a simple recipe made with just 5 ingredients. The fruit sauce has a sweet and tangy flavor and is one of my favorite rhubarb recipes.

This recipe is the best rhubarb sauce recipe and the touch of vanilla added to it at the end is my favorite way of making it. It is a delicious addition to sweet desserts and makes a delicious topping for vanilla ice cream.

Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love it
  • 🥘 Ingredients
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 🥄Equipment
  • 🥫Storage
  • 📖 Variations
  • 💭 Tips
  • 🙋 FAQ's
  • 🍽 Serve with...
  • 🏫 The last word
  • Related Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love it

✔️

✔️ You can make some delicious recipes using rhubarb sauce like this Rhubarb cheese danish.

✔️ Rhubarb sauce has incredible flavor and it can be used to accompany sweet and savory dishes.

✔️ It has 0g total fat and only 43 calories per serving and can easily be made sugar free by using a natural sweetener in place of sugar.

🥘 Ingredients

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Raw rhubarb, cut into 1-inch pieces

Salt

Granulated sugar

Pure vanilla extract (optional)

Mom's Rhubarb Sauce - Grumpy's Honeybunch (2)

🔪 Instructions

  1. Place rhubarb chunks, water, salt, and granulated sugar, in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring the rhubarb mixture to a boil then turn the heat to medium-low and cook for 10 minutes, or until the rhubarb has broken down and become soft.
  2. Allow the sauce to cool completely before storing.

🥄Equipment

Large Saucepan

Potato masher or immersion blender

🥫Storage

Store rhubarb sauce in airtight container in refrigerator up to 1 week. Can freeze for up to 3 months in a freezer containers.

📖 Variations

  • Frozen rhubarb can be substituted for fresh rhubarb.
  • Make strawberry rhubarb sauce and substitute 1-½ cup strawberries for 1-½ cup rhubarb.
  • Scrape the seeds from a 1" piece of vanilla bean and use in place of the extract.
  • Eliminate vanilla and add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 1 teaspoon lemon zest.
  • Substitute brown sugar or maple syrup for the sugar.

💭 Tips

  • If harvesting your own rhubarb, be sure to pull the entire stalk out of the ground. Cutting the rhubarb will stop any new stalks from coming in. Rhubarb will continue to grow for a good length of time if it is being harvested properly.
  • For a less sweet rhubarb sauce, cut the sugar down to ½ cup.

🙋 FAQ's

What is a Rhubarb plant?

Rhubarb is a perennial plant that grows like crazy in the right element. It is a sturdy plant that is in the fruit family. However, it's flavor is very tart with no sweetness at all.

Is green rhubarb the same thing as red rhubarb?

Yes, some rhubarb is greener than others. I like to choose stalks that are mostly red so I can get that beautiful color to the sauce. However, both types have the same flavor.

What do you do with the rhubarb leaves?

Rhubarb leaves are toxic and should not be consumed. Rather in the compost or trash. The poisonous acid in the leaves is not absorbed into the ground and can be used as fertilizer

🍽 Serve with...

Homemade rhubarb sauce is a simple condiment that fancies up a slice of pound cake or adds some sweetness to plain greek yogurt sprinkled with granola.It is also great used as an ingredient in other recipes like this Rhubarb Cheese Danish!

🏫 The last word

  • Rhubarb season begins in spring, sometime in April and can go as far as July. Once it starts to get very warm out, the rhubarb tends to not produce firm tall stalks If you need to buy it, Rhubarb is a seasonal fruit that can be found on roadside stands and in the produce section grocery stores.
  • Rhubarb stalks can be bright red or light green with a touch of red. For the best results, choose 12-18" long crisp stalks that are about ¾" in diameter.
  • If harvesting your own rhubarb, stop doing so when the stalks become thin. This is a sign the plant is not getting enough food.
  • Classic Rhubarb Custard Pie
  • Butter Rum Glazed Applesauce Cake Recipe
  • Rhubarb Cheesecake
  • Rhubarb Ice Cream

Don't forget to check out my Amazon storefront for some of my favorite products!

When you make this recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch or #grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!

If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating

📖 Recipe

Mom's Rhubarb Sauce - Grumpy's Honeybunch (6)

Mom's Rhubarb Sauce

Shelby Law Ruttan

Mom's rhubarb sauce is the best rhubarb sauce recipe and is delicious all on its own. This compote can be a delicious accompaniment to savory foods like fish, chicken, and venison and can also be enjoyed as part of dessert on top of cake, ice cream, and more.

4.23 from 237 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save

Course Condiments

Cuisine American

Servings 16

Calories 43 kcal

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place rhubarb chunks, water, salt, and granulated sugar, in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.

  • Bring the rhubarb mixture to a boil then turn the heat to medium-low and cook for 10 minutes, or until the rhubarb has broken down and become soft.

  • Remove the sauce from the stove and stir in the vanilla. Allow the sauce to cool completely before storing in the refrigerator.

Notes

One serving equals 2 tablespoons.

Nutrition

Calories: 43kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 74mgPotassium: 88mgFiber: 1gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 31IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 27mgIron: 1mg

Keyword Rhubarb Recipe, rhubarb sauce, Rhubarb Sauce Recipe

Tried this recipe?Mention @grumpyshoneybunch or tag #grumpyshoneybunch!

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About Shelby Law Ruttan

Shelby is the author/owner of Grumpy's Honeybunch. Established in 2007, she shares and preserves family recipes as well as recipes for cooking light and keto. She has authored the One-Pot Paleo Cookbook and The Pescatarian Keto Cookbook. She is an experienced, self-taught home cook who loves to share recipes with others. She also authors the websites Honeybunch Hunts and The Best Vegetarian Recipes. You can see her work on websites such as Veal Made Easy, Parade, Community Table, SoFab Food, Yummly, and FoodGawker.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ken

    I made this today and am pleased with the results. I topped some vanilla ice cream with it. I plan on covering pancakes with it as well. I added vanilla extract and some cinnamon. Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply

  2. Annette

    I'm getting ready to make this. It sounds so delicious. How long will it keep in the refrigerator? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Shelby Law Ruttan

      Hi Annette, I did address this in the post but you may have missed it. The sauce can be stored up to 1 week in the fridge and 3 months in the freezer (in freezer safe containers). Enjoy!

      Reply

  3. Donna

    Can you add sugar free strawberry jello to this. Was wondering to make a turnover, without using strawberries

    Reply

    • Shelby Law Ruttan

      I say you can try, I have not done so, but leave out any sugar if you add the jello. It might be thicker than you like, but you can thin it out with water if that is the case.

      Reply

  4. Marcy Ottoson

    Trying this recipe today, can you double it or triple it and can it?

    Reply

    • Shelby Law Ruttan

      Yes, you could do that. Because Rhubarb is high acid like tomatoes, you can just do a hot pack. Pack the hot sauce into sterilized hot jars and cover with lids (that also have been sterilized and are hot), then tighten the screw cap. As the jars cool down, you will hear them pop. This will be the seal forming on the jar. If you have any other questions, please feel free to send me an email. Thanks! Shelby

      Reply

      • Stacey

        How many 8 ounce jars would this make? And how long would you water bath it for? I am just over 1,000 feet. Thank you.

      • Shelby Law Ruttan

        This recipe makes only about 2 cups worth of rhubarb sauce and is not meant for canning purposes as it is a small batch. It can be frozen in an airtight freezer safe container up to 3 months.

  5. Zach

    Mom's Rhubarb Sauce - Grumpy's Honeybunch (11)
    I have made this recipe several times now and it is always a winner and a big hit. I let it cool until it is warm and then spoon it over vanilla bean ice cream. such a refreshing Summer dessert.

    Thanks for the recipe!!!

    Reply

  6. Elaine

    I was looking for the recipe from an old Better Homes and Gardens cook book that I had and that came apart. Thought I saved it. This looks like it. I will try it. I like vanilla in rhubarb sauce. It takes away some the tartness

    Reply

  7. Chris Talley

    Looking at recipe on line on my phone, there are no amounts given for the ingredients. Could they be emailed to me? Sooner the better since I have fresh rhubarb

    Reply

    • Shelby Law Ruttan

      Hi Chris, at the very top of the page there is a jump to recipe button. If you click that button, it will take you to the content that includes the recipe card. I hope you enjoy the recipe! Shelby

      Reply

  8. Tey

    I I made this recipe with Splenda after it cooled I put in the freezer and it made a fantastic sugar-free sorbet

    Reply

    • Kay Nicholas

      I was wondering if Splenda would work in this recipe. Thanks for posting!!!!

      Reply

      • Shelby Law Ruttan

        Hi Kay, yes, Splenda will work in this recipe. Enjoy!

  9. Cherise

    Mom's Rhubarb Sauce - Grumpy's Honeybunch (12)
    Great recipe, simple and delicious. My only drawback is the rather unpleasant color...a greenish brown.

    Reply

    • Shelby Law Ruttan

      Hi Cherise, often times you will get a greenish brown color from rhubarb if it is mostly a green stalk. For that reason I always try to buy stalks that are bright red. Glad you enjoyed the recipe! Shelby

      Reply

    • Suzanne Scriven

      I typically add enough drops of red food coloring to achieve a pale pink color (after taking the rhubarb mixture off the heat).

      Reply

  10. Amy

    I’m trying out your recipe today can the sauce be canned?

    Reply

    • Shelby Law Ruttan

      Hi Amy, yes, it can be canned. I would use pint sized jars and process the cooked sauce in a hot water bath for 15 minutes. Thanks! Shelby

      Reply

  11. Laurel

    Mom's Rhubarb Sauce - Grumpy's Honeybunch (13)
    I have tried several rhubarb sauce recipes and this is the best one so far! Others have had lemon juice or cinnamon, but the vanilla and touch of salt in this one was perfect!

    Reply

  12. W. Richter

    tried this for the first time, family and neighbors love it. I make a rhubarb/strawberry jam and I freeze it. Can this sauce be frozen?

    Reply

    • Shelby Law Ruttan

      Hello, thank you for trying the recipe and am so glad you love it. Yes, this sauce can be frozen up to 1 year in an airtight container. Thank you!

      Reply

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