Our 10 Best Rhubarb Recipes — Because It Isn’t Spring Without It

Without a doubt, rhubarb is the thing that makes me most giddy every spring. I don’t even like the color pink, and yet rhubarb’s rosey hue truly brings me joy. Once I bring home a handful of stalks, though, I tend to feel overwhelmed by the prospect of what to do with them. I want to bake a pie, crisp, and cake all at the same time and struggle to pick just one.

While some say rhubarb is best with strawberries, I love it the most when it has a chance to shine all on its own. It’s tart, almost floral notes tend to wake up my palate after a long winter. I am not picky, though: I bake and cook with it any which way until the last bunches leave the farmers market. If you, like me, get a bit weak in the knees over rhubarb, here are 10 of the very best recipes to try this spring. They range from sweet to savory, strawberry-inclusive and strawberry-exclusive — but most importantly, they are all vibrant pink celebrations of the season.

There’s really nothing more classic than a rhubarb pie. This step-by-step recipe sets you up for one that’s equal parts sweet and tart, complete with the most buttery, flaky crust.

Get the recipe: Easy, Foolproof Rhubarb Pie

Add rhubarb to your usual strawberry shortcake and the result is something that’s even prettier and more springlike — especially when finished off with cardamom-spiced whipped cream.

Get the recipe: Easy Roasted Strawberry Rhubarb Shortcakes with Cardamom Whipped Cream

If you’re worried about baking with lavender, know that this crisp doesn’t taste like perfume. Just a pinch of the dried buds lends the perfect amount of delicate floral notes, which wildly complements the rhubarb.

Get the recipe: Rhubarb Lavender Crisp

Although it’s most common to feature rhubarb in sweets, this recipe proves it deserves the spotlight at the dinner table, too. Here it’s combined with ginger, onions, and soy sauce to become a flavor-packed sauce to braise pork chops in.

Get the recipe: Rhubarb and Brown Sugar Skillet Pork Chops

These handheld bars are the ideal anytime treat. Enjoy a square for breakfast with a dollop of Greek yogurt, as is with your afternoon cup of tea or coffee, or garnished with whipped cream for dessert.

Get the recipe: Strawberry-Rhubarb Streusel Bars

The rhubarb purée that’s used as the base for this cocktail has so much potential in your kitchen: Drizzle it over vanilla ice cream, stir it into sparkling water, pour it over pancakes, or make a fool.

Get the recipe: Rhubarb Basil Cocktail

Be sure to use almond paste for this moist cake and not marzipan. Marzipan is sweeter and smoother than almond paste and will yield a much different result.

Get the recipe: Rhubarb-Almond Snack Cake

What’s the best way to serve this oat-topped strawberry-rhubarb crisp? Straight from the skillet. Just top it with a few big scoops of vanilla ice cream and grab spoons.

Get the recipe: Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp

These marbled cheesecake bars may look difficult, but they’re surprisingly simple. You’ll simply blend rhubarb into half of the cream cheese filling and then swirl the two together with a toothpick or butter knife.

Get the recipe: Rhubarb Cheesecake Bars

Go ahead and make a double batch of the salsa for these tacos. It’s tart, sweet, and crunchy, and is the perfect spring snack when paired with tortilla chips.

Get the recipe: Fish Tacos with Rhubarb-Pineapple Salsa