12 Ways to Sweeten Those Stalks of Rhubarb

Mouth-puckering stalks of red rhubarb are best when baked into the perfect pie, topped with a rustic crisp or infused into a sweet-tart drink.

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Photo By: Tara Donne ©Food Network

Photo By: Philip Ficks ©Philip Ficks 2011

Mostly Rhubarb Crisp

Rhubarb and strawberries are recognized as the first fruits of spring and are therefore frequently baked together –– sometimes at rhubarb's expense. Not here! Rhubarb is front and center in these pretty pink crisps, sweetened with just a bit of strawberry jam. Add a pinch of cinnamon to spice up the filling and topping.

Get the Recipe: Mostly Rhubarb Crisp

Rhubarb Pie

Sweet, ruby-red cherries balance the tangy tartness of rhubarb in this warm-weather pie. Top it off with a homemade lattice crust for a remarkably beautiful summer pie.

Get the Recipe: Rhubarb Pie

Rhubarb Parfait

Look forward to late-spring rhubarb: Its tart stalks cook down into a thick compote that begs to be covered in sweet whipped cream.

Get the Recipe: Rhubarb Parfait

Strawberry-Rhubarb Slump

This slump — stewed fruit topped with dumpling dough — is made with seasonal strawberries and rhubarb for a sweet celebration of early summer.

Get the Recipe: Strawberry Rhubarb Slump

Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp

Zoe's strawberry-rhubarb crisp, brightened with hints of lemon zest and fresh ginger, is adorned with a crispy oat topping that's surprisingly nutty.

Get the Recipe: Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp

Honey-Rhubarb Ice Cream

Combining the mouth-puckering sour flavor of rhubarb with a base of creamy honey ice cream may create the perfect marriage. If you just can't get enough of it, spoon extra ruby-red rhubarb sauce over the top.

Get the Recipe: Honey-Rhubarb Ice Cream

Laura's Rhubarb Water

This simple drink tastes like early summer. Infuse water with fresh rhubarb overnight and flavor it with sugar and lemon juice.

Get the Recipe: Rhubarb Water

Rhubarb and Strawberry Pie

Baking (or at least eating) this classic pie is practically a quintessential rite of spring. Make yours special with a crisp almond-crumb topping.

Spiced Rhubarb-Blackberry Crumble with Pistachio

Ginger and cardamom add an extra layer of warmth to Hedy Goldsmith's outside-the-box crumble, which takes advantage of early summer fruits, rhubarb and blackberries. With pistachios in the topping and spices in the filling, this dessert shows its Indian influence.

Get the Recipe: Spiced Rhubarb and Blackberry Crumble with Pistachio and Orange

Rhubarb Crumble Bars

Tart rhubarb is balanced by all the sweetness of this bar's dough and its nutty caramel almond-oat topping.

Get the Recipe: Rhubarb Crumble Bars

Strawberry-Rhubarb Calzone

In lieu of the usual summer pie or crumble, surprise your guests by making Michael Chiarello's dessert calzone. A sprinkling of anise seeds and a fresh vanilla bean coax out the flavor of the strawberry-and-rhubarb filling.

Get the Recipe: Strawberry Rhubarb Calzone

Rhubarb and Muscat Jelly

Nigella takes Jell-O to new, gourmet heights by infusing it with two out-of-the-ordinary ingredients: a concentrated rhubarb "juice" and Muscat, a sweet dessert wine.