Mrs. Proctors Rhubarb Bread

There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about a loaf of homemade rhubarb bread, and Mrs. Proctor’s recipe is as comforting as it gets. With its tender crumb, just the right touch of sweetness, and pops of tart rhubarb in every bite, this quick bread is a delicious way to celebrate the season. Whether you’re slicing it up for breakfast, an afternoon snack, or a cozy dessert, this tried-and-true favorite is sure to become a go-to recipe in your kitchen.

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Rhubarb Bread with Buttermilk

This recipe is another one from the archives of my grandmother and is a great way to prepare rhubarb. Rhubarb bread recipes make delicious treats for the whole family. If you’ve never baked with rhubarb, you’ll love how moist this bread is. It’s also very quick and easy to prepare, once you have the rhubarb diced.

This rhubarb bread recipe creates bread with beautiful flecks of pink rhubarb throughout. You will enjoy the richness created by the addition of an egg and some buttermilk. A touch of vanilla gives this bread added flavor, and a few nuts add some texture. Although this bread is delicious without the topping, the slightly crunchy buttery/cinnamon topping takes it up a notch.

Rhubarb Bread Ingredients

Here’s what you need to make the bread:

• Brown sugar
• Vegetable oil
• Egg
• Buttermilk
• Salt
• Baking Soda
• Vanilla
• All-purpose flour
• Rhubarb
• Nuts
• Sugar
• Cinnamon
• Butter

How to Find the Freshest Rhubarb

Look for the freshest possible in-season rhubarb. Some rhubarb varieties stay green or white when they ripen; however, most rhubarb found in grocery stores will be a deep red when at peak ripeness.

When preparing rhubarb, pay attention to the ends of the stalks where they have been cut. If a stalk appears to be dry, simply trim it until the middle of the stalk looks moist and tender.

How to Make Rhubarb Bread

1. Stir together brown sugar and vegetable oil.
2. Add egg, buttermilk, and vanilla. Stir to combine.
3. Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt.
4. Add sifted dry ingredients to the brown sugar mixture. Stir until combined.
5. Add rhubarb and nuts. Stir to combine.

6. Pour batter into two well-greased loaf pans.
7. Combine sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter. Sprinkle on top of the batter.

8. Bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 minutes.
9. Remove bread from the pans after 2 or 3 minutes.
10. Cool bread on a wire rack before slicing.

Tips for Making the Best Rhubarb Bread

• Be sure to fold in the flour and rhubarb to prevent over stirring, which will lead to tougher bread.
• Because this recipe produces dense, moist bread, it helps to coat the pan with shortening and flour.
• When pouring the batter into the pan, do it gently – lightly tap the pan on the kitchen counter to help spread the mix evenly and guide it into the corners.
• Give your bread a few minutes to rest after baking. Then, using a small offset spatula, gently loosen the edges of the bread from the pan without tearing or damaging the sides.

Can I Use This Recipe to Make Rhubarb Muffins?

Absolutely. Just pour the mix into well-greased muffin pans.

How to Store Rhubarb Bread

This bread will keep at a cool room temperature (e.g., in a pantry) for two to three days. It will keep in your refrigerator for three to four days. I especially like this bread recipe because it freezes well for up to two months. Wrap it in plastic wrap, then wrap it again in foil

Serve rhubarb bread with butter or cream cheese and honey spread.

Love homemade bread? Try these easy recipes

• Pumpkin Bread Better Than Starbucks
• Best Banana Nut Bread Recipe
• Homemade Zucchini Bread
• Prune Bread
• Spiced Apple Bread
• Brown Raisin Bread Recipe
• Gingerbread
• Bountiful Beer Bread Recipe

Be sure to look at more of my easy bread recipes and the best family recipes.

Mrs. Proctor’s Rhubarb Bread recipe is from the archives of my grandmother, Ethel Eynard. Jefferson City, MO. 1971.

About Rhubarb

Rhubarb is one of the wonderful gifts of spring. Long, hard winters do not deter this hardy plant, which just bursts from the ground like an unfurled flag, heralding the summer to come.

If you plant a rhubarb patch in your garden, you won’t be disappointed. All that patience waiting for your rhubarb to grow will be generously rewarded. This pie plant is the gift that keeps on giving, producing more fat stalks every year.

Rhubarb is one of those rare foods that is next to impossible to find fresh in the off-season. I actually find it kind of reassuring that there are still some things in this world that you can only get your hands on in their actual growing seasons.

Nowadays, our food system lets us eat pretty much anything we want whenever we please. But it can be really satisfying when nature calls the shots.