An easy and delicious way to use up extra rhubarb from the garden, this Rhubarb Coffee Cake is the perfect excuse to eat cake for breakfast.
Rhubarb Recipes
I love rhubarb season and each year look forward to baking with it. These Rhubarb Bars continue to be one of the most popular recipes on the site.
Those bars were one of the first recipes I ever published on this website and they’ve been a hit from the start.
Rhubarb Cake with Butter Sauce is another favorite, as is this old fashioned Rhubarb Crunch with its brown sugar oatmeal crumble.
The classic Rhubarb Pie is tangy and sweet with a custard base, it’s based on a family recipe from my great grandma.
Rhubarb Coffee Cake
This Rhubarb Coffee Cake is simple and is easily made in less than an hour.
First, you’ll stir together the crumb layer and spread about half of it in the pan. Mix up the rhubarb filling and pour that over the crumb layer that is already in the pan.
Top with the last of the brown sugar crumb topping and bake it. Easy as can be and perfect for a summer dessert.
Rhubarb Coffee Cake Recipe
- Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking pan and set aside.
- Cream together the butter and sugar in a large bowl until fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Stir in the Greek yogurt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda. Gently stir the flour into the wet ingredients, just until combined. Mix in 2/3 of the diced rhubarb.
- To make the crumb topping, stir together the brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Cut in the cold butter with a pastry blender.
- Spread half of the batter in the greased 9 x 13 pan. Sprinkle with half of the crumb mixture and the remaining rhubarb. Top with the other half of the batter and sprinkle on the second half of the crumb topping.
- Bake at 350 F for 30-32 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the batter just barely comes clean. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.
Double Crumb Rhubarb Coffee Cake
Ingredients
For the Coffee Cake
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 eggs room temperature
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 cups rhubarb finely diced
For the Crumb Topping
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar packed
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons cold butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking pan and set aside.
- Cream together the butter and sugar in a large bowl until fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Stir in the Greek yogurt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda. Gently stir the flour into the wet ingredients, just until combined. Mix in 2/3 of the diced rhubarb.
- To make the crumb topping, stir together the brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Cut in the cold butter with a pastry blender.
- Spread half of the batter in the greased 9 x 13 pan. Sprinkle with half of the crumb mixture and the remaining rhubarb. Top with the other half of the batter and sprinkle on the second half of the crumb topping.
- Bake at 350 F for 30-32 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the batter just barely comes clean. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.
Nutrition
{originally published 6/15/16 – recipe notes and photos updated 5/20/21}
Try a few more great rhubarb recipes:
Strawberry Rhubarb Jam from Self Proclaimed Foodie
Rhubarb Tart from Baking a Moment
Strawberry Rhubarb Ice Cream from A Cookie Named Desire
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
This cake looks so moist and delicious and double crumb? Sign me up!
Collette says
Just wanted to say …….I’ve made this several times, I even doubled the recieipe but had to cook it for ever…..so many compliments…..it was a huge hit..thanks
Paul Flahavan says
Great recipe. I use a greek yogurt. The batter pours more easily if the yorgurt is warmed to room temperature.
Jennifer Decker says
Looks amazing. Do you think it would be ok to use frozen rhubarb?
Mallory says
I think so, I haven’t tried it though. I would just be sure to strain off any excess liquid.
Jane says
We finally have a bumper crop of rhubarb again – so I have been scouring for new recipes to use some of it up and came across this. Made it this afternoon – still cooling at the moment – but if it tastes as good as it smells I may have found a new way to bake with it lol. I was going to just cut the recipe in half, empty nesters don’t need a big cake in the house (neither does my waistline for that matter lol) but I did the full batch and will take some to my mom who’s living in a senior retirement home now. She’s always loved anything with rhubarb so she will be smiling when she sees this! Thanks for a great recipe!
Jane says
Just a little update – this cake is delicious! I sent about 8 pieces with my hubby to work and he said that within an hour there was nothing left – and he had 3 pieces before sharing which is amazing because he’s not a lover of sweets as a rule lol. Then I brought mom about a half dozen pieces and she couldn’t stop moaning in pleasure with each bite so I would call this a HUGE success! The cake itself is very moist, not crumbly at all and holds up very well even after a couple days. Think I might even try this with other fresh fruit as the summer goes on….thinking peaches maybe from our own peach trees in the garden!
Barb says
I was taught to peel the rhubarb, this is never mentioned in recipes. Just curious, is this something you do? Maybe I am doing an unnecessary step?
Mallory says
I’ve never peeled it, or anyone in my family that I know of.
Linda Jardee says
Can you use more rhubarb than 2 cups?
Mallory says
Probably, three cups would probably work, maybe 4.
Linda Jardee says
I did have another coffee cake (Oma’s) that I have made twice. First time added soley 4 cups even though recipe called for 3 cups–people reviewed say they did 4 cups. It was moist, but not soggy. I made it again, possibly having only about 1/4 cup more of rhubarb, and it ending up being overly moist. So how moist is your cake with the 2 cups rhubarb. If I added 3 cups instead, I don’t want it to be a soggy mess. Thanks.
Kay Ross says
Made this yesterday. Was very yummy when hot, yes I couldn’t wait for it to cool to try it. But today the topping is very moist snd not crunchy. How do you store it so the topping stays crunchy?
Mary says
It depends on the climate where you live, Kay. If you store it uncovered in most places, it will stay crunchy. If it is tightly covered, the topping will soften.
Kristin Barron says
Would vanilla Greek yogurt work as well as plain?
Mary says
It will be a touch sweeter, but will work fine, Kristin.
Marlene Wilkins says
Rhubarb is almost ready to be picked and I am ready… Thankyou… M
Mary says
Happy baking, Marlene!
Peg says
This cake is amazing! Very moist. I used sour cream not yogurt. Total baking time in my oven was 35 minutes. I prepared a little rhubarb sauce to serve on top. Excellent!! I will be making this every rhubarb season.
Mary says
I’m so glad you liked the cake, Peg!
Ponderosa Light says
This is a delicious coffee cake! We are high-altitude bakers, so I add a quarter cup of flour and a few minutes baking time to all cake recipes. It turned out perfect!
Mary says
I’m so glad you like the cake!
Valerie says
I used sour cream, and 1/2 cup less sugar, and everyone loved them. Will definitely make this again! Thanks!
Mary says
Valerie – Thank you for sharing your version. I always appreciate knowing how people customize the recipes.
Barbara says
This cake is awesome! I was tired when I made this after supper and I was whining to myself about all the steps. I finally poured the batter, then the crumb topping, then repeated, wondering why the batter was so thin. Popped it into the oven, then saw the bowl of flour on the counter! Took the cake out, mixed the flour into the batter and topping and back into the oven. No crumb topping, but it sure tastes good mixed into the cake! Tomorrow I’ll make it without my senior moment.
Margaret Coleman says
Oh NO! I have so done that before. Fingers crossed it worked the second time.
Kim says
Don’t feel bad I forgot the sour cream so I went back took everything out of my pan. Luckily I had only done the first layer of the cake and I mixed the sour cream so hopefully it’s not too tough LOL
Mary says
Oh no! We have all had those moments when cooking haven’t we? Especially if you have kids around. More than once I have lost my place or forgotten an ingredient when I get interrupted. Fingers crossed you could salvage it!
Jackie says
I doubled this recipe due to the huge amount of rhubarb I recently harvested. The coffee cake is excellent. The tartness of the rhubarb just matches perfect with the sweetness of the cake and crumble. I cooked my cakes a bit longer because I didn’t finely chop my rhubarb.
Mary says
I’m so glad you like the coffee cake, Jackie!
Paula. Day says
This looks so good I’ve just got to try it.
Mary says
I hope you love the coffee cake, Paula.
Shelly says
Delicious!!
Just the right amount of everything.
Thanks for sharing.
Mary says
You are welcome, Shelly! I’m glad you liked the coffee cake. Happy baking!
Jen J says
I made this and used black cherry Greek yogurt. It didn’t seem like there was near enough batter to do 2 layers so I just did one. It probably would have been better in a 9×9 as well. It was delicious nonetheless!
Mary says
Happy to hear that you managed to make the recipe work for you, Jen. Happy baking!
Zaza says
Where’s the coffee in the ingredients list & method please? There is no mention of coffee other than in the title of the recipe. Thanks
Mary says
Hi there! The term coffee cake usually refers to cakes frequently served with coffee. Sorry if there was some confusion.
Charlotte says
Great dessert! It goes together easy and quick. It is the best rhubarb coffee cake ever! I made more of the topping (X 1.5). I will be making this a lot!
Mary says
Glad to hear that the coffee cake turned out so well for you, Charlotte!
Deb B says
Is this coffee cake freezable?
Sounds terrific, I’m making it this afternoon.
Mary says
Yes, this will freeze nicely, Deb.
Annie says
Delish! Very easy to make. I would have given it 5 stars but I felt the cake was a little too sweet. I also increased the rhubarb to 3 cups and next time I make this recipe I’ll swap out the 1/4 c. flour in the strudel for oatmeal and add 1/4 tsp. nutmeg.
Mary says
I’m glad to hear that the cake was a hit, Annie.