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You are here: Home / rhubarb / Rhubarb Dream Bars… Trifle: #CreativeCookieExchange

Rhubarb Dream Bars… Trifle: #CreativeCookieExchange

May 17, 2016 By Laura 13 Comments

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These Rhubarb Dream Bars made an amazing trifle, with a crispy meringue top, a delicious custard filling, with a lemony shortbread crust, and layered with whipped cream. Keep reading to see what other seasonal spring treats the Creative Cookie Exchange came up with this month! Affiliate links have been used to link to items I am discussing.

Rhubarb Dream Bars--delicious but difficult to slice, so better served as a trifle!

This is clearly an unconventional Creative Cookie Exchange post, but bear with me. Because while these might have been the ugliest and most un-pick-up-able bars I have ever made, they were also some of the most delicious.

Rhubarb Dream Bars

I made these Rhubarb Dream Bars twice, attempting to correct the problem. The first night I made them, I was leaving for a potluck picnic and panicking because my cookies were a mess. So I dumped them in two layers into a plastic container and layered them with whipped cream. They were horribly ugly–and one of the first dishes to disappear! I got loads of compliments and people did not even seem to realize they were supposed to be anything other than what they appeared to be.

So I tried again. The picture above was the result of that try. I am not sure what I am doing wrong–I am going to link to the recipe at King Arthur Flour–I found it in The King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion: The Essential Cookie Cookbook. The bars pretty much came out as described–except slicing them was a joke. It was hard not to be frustrated since they had been planned for a picnic, but having said that Alex was actually rooting for them to fail because she found them so delicious in trifle form. John and Sammy were not disappointed either. The food blogger in me was, but not the food lover. They are seriously delicious–the crispy meringue crust provides a great textural counterpoint to the sweet and sour smooth custard rhubarb filling. And the lemon in the shortbread crust brings it all together.

But of course I was horrified that they would not slice.

After a few bites however, I got over my horror. You will too–and if you succeed at slicing them, please let me know what your trick was!

Rhubarb Dream Bars--delicious but difficult to slice, so better served as a trifle!

Spring is here! And with it loads of great flavors for baking!

You can also use us as a great resource for cookie recipes. Be sure to check out our Pinterest Board and our monthly posts (you can find all of them here at The Spiced Life). You will be able to find them the first Tuesday after the 15th of each month! Also, if you are looking for inspiration to get in the kitchen and start baking, check out what all of the hosting bloggers have made:

  • Chocolate Chocolate Cherry Cookies from 2 Cookin’ Mamas
  • Jam Thumbprint Cookies from A Baker’s House
  • Lychee Melting Moments from Flours and Frostings
  • Rhubarb Dream Bars… Trifle from The Spiced Life
  • Rhubarb Lemon Drop Cookies from A Shaggy Dough Story
  • Sticky Mango Shortbread Bars from All That’s Left Are The Crumbs
  • Strawberry Cheesecake Bars from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
  • Tart Cherry Oatmeal Cookies from Magnolia Days

Rhubarb Dream Bars--delicious but difficult to slice, so better served as a trifle!

Filed Under: bar cookies, cookies, eggs, lemon baked goods, meringue, rhubarb, shortbread, trifle Tagged With: #CreativeCookieExchange, baking disasters, bar cookies, bars, cookies, Creative Cookie Exchange, eggs, meringue, rhubarb, trifle

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Comments

  1. Renee says

    May 17, 2016 at 7:04 am

    What matters in the end is how people enjoy it. So the bars don’t cut – it’s all good.

    Reply
  2. Karen says

    May 17, 2016 at 12:44 pm

    Oh Laura, nice save!!! They do look pretty crumbly on the KAF site too. Maybe a circular power saw? Lol!! So glad you did not give up!!!

    Reply
  3. akshatha says

    May 17, 2016 at 2:05 pm

    Looks like you upgraded your bars well ! The trifle looks and sounds absolutely yum!

    Reply
  4. Holly says

    May 17, 2016 at 7:14 pm

    I love that you switched modes and saved these with a trifle. They look like a crowd-pleaser!

    Reply
  5. Linda @ 2 Cookin' Mamas says

    May 19, 2016 at 12:50 pm

    I love when a mistake turns out to be even better than the original. Your trifle looks delicious and love that you turned it into a win!

    Reply
  6. Joanie B (CLBB) says

    May 21, 2016 at 12:11 pm

    Genius thinking on the fly, Laura!! And what doesn’t whipped cream just make better??!! Not a rhubarb fan but the bars do look delicious!

    Reply
  7. Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

    May 23, 2016 at 6:45 am

    Haha, nice idea! You’ve created on perfect treat!

    Reply
  8. Ashley - Forking Up says

    May 23, 2016 at 9:31 am

    I totally forgot that it’s rhubarb time! These look delicious!

    Reply
  9. Marye says

    May 23, 2016 at 9:43 am

    Oh my goodness this looks absolutely delicious!

    Reply
  10. Dee Dee (My Midlife Kitchen) says

    May 23, 2016 at 10:14 am

    First of all, anything with rhubarb is a winner in my book. Yum. And second, I think we’ve all gone the “Chopped” route when something doesn’t quite work out. Amazing how many times those “mistakes” can become favorites all on their own!

    Reply
  11. Patricia @ Grab a Plate says

    May 23, 2016 at 8:27 pm

    A wonderful accident! Sounds fabulous, and just goes to show that not everything must be “Pinterest-worthy” to be delicious 🙂

    Reply
  12. Citra Kale @Citra's Home Diary says

    May 24, 2016 at 6:15 am

    what a mouthwatering dessert Laura.. love your creative idea 🙂

    Reply
  13. Laura@ Baking in Pyjamas says

    May 25, 2016 at 5:30 am

    All the matters is that they tasted good and everyone thought so too. Baking success!

    Reply

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Hi! I’m Laura and I am a recovering history major who has re-channeled all of my passion for learning about the history of different countries to learning about their food culture. That doesn’t mean every dish on here is strictly authentic, but it does mean that even my adaptations are not undertaken lightly. My goal is to show you–by doing–that these dishes are possible in your kitchen. Including desserts because I have quite the sweet tooth! Read More…

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