Rhubarb Cookies

These Rhubarb Cookies are the perfect afternoon snack or dessert on-the-go. They're soft, sweet, studded with rhubarb and topped with a smooth cream cheese frosting! Move over rhubarb crisp, there's a new kid in town!

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April showers bring May….rhubarb?  Well, if you’re in Iowa, that’s certainly the case! 

Happy May y’all!  April flew by and I’m sure May will be the same way.  May always seems to be a busy time of the year – with graduation parties and corn/soybean planting on the farm, life just gets crazy busy.  However, it’s also an exciting month. 

With the grass turning green (we really need to mow the lawn!), tulips blooming, temps getting warmer and the days getting longer, May just feels good!  Do you wanna know why else May is a good month?  RHUBARB is finally ready!  Can I get a whoop whoop?!

Growing up, Mom always had a garden full of vegetables.  When I was little, I hated that garden.  Garden = awesome produce, but garden also = weeding!  There are few chores that I disliked as much as picking weeds (although picking up rocks in the field definitely tops that list!).  

As I grew older, I learned to appreciate the produce, and looked forward to the vegetables turning ripe.  Rhubarb was always the first thing ready to be picked and it most certainly didn’t go to waste!  From rhubarb crisp, rhubarb jam (try this easy recipe!), and rhubarb muffins, we loved them all! 

Last year my sister in law Krista introduced me to Rhubarb Cookies.  Rhubarb in a cookie?  That was a new concept for me, but after one bite, I was sold.  I loved the soft texture, the balance of sweetness and tart rhubarb pieces, and the creamy frosting spread on top.  It’s become a “go-to” rhubarb recipe for our family and I couldn’t wait any longer to share it with you!

How do you make Rhubarb Cookies?

I’d recommend prepping the rhubarb first.  If you’re picking the rhubarb fresh from the garden, you’ll cut off the leaf and the bottom couple inches of the stem that detached from the root.  Next, put the rhubarb in a bowl of cold water and run your hands up and down each stalk to remove any dirt.  Then rinse off, cut into small pieces (¼ inch-ish) and set aside. 

To make the dough, you’ll start off by creaming the butter, shortening and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This will take a couple minutes.  Then you’ll mix in the eggs and vanilla and finally the dry ingredients.  Lastly you’ll fold the rhubarb and coconut (or oats) and drop onto cookie sheets. 

They will bake until the cookies are a light golden brown around the edges of the cookies.  Once the cookies are completely cool, you’ll top them with a simple cream cheese frosting.  Get the full recipe below!

How should I store the cookies?

I recommend keeping these in an airtight container with waxed paper between the cookies (so the frosting doesn’t make them messy).  Due to the addition of the cream cheese frosting, you do need to keep these refrigerated. 

Because the rhubarb holds so much moisture, these are the best if eaten within 2-3 days.  You can also freeze them for up to a month.  However, if you’ve got a serious sweet tooth and the lack of self control, these cookies won’t even last long enough to make it to the Tupperware 😉

What makes these cookies so soft?

As you can see in the recipe, there is no white sugar, only brown sugar.  Brown sugar contains molasses, which keeps the cookies soft and pliable.  The rhubarb brings great moisture to the cookies which also helps keep them soft.

Should I use a grease or parchment paper on the baking sheets when baking the Rhubarb Cookies?

You can use either.  A greased sheet would be good and parchment paper would be even better.  However, the best option would be using Silpat silicone baking mats.  They’re one of my favorite kitchen tools – I’ve literally never had anything stick to them.  In fact, if the cookies are cool, you don’t even need a spatula to get them off the pan!  I could go on and on….but you get the point 😊

Recipe added to the Weekend Potluck and Meal Plan Monday.