Rhubarb Crumb Bars

Rhubarb and strawberries are a great match. You can substitute half the rhubarb with an equal weight of quartered berries.

Everyday Food, May 2009 http://www.marthastewart.com/312987/rhubarb-crumb-bars

Rated

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Ingredients

For the Streusel
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus room-temperature butter for pan
- 1 cup all-purpose flour, (spooned and leveled), plus more for pan
- 1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Cake
- 1/2 pound rhubarb, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon light-brown sugar
- 1 cup all-purpose flour, (spooned and leveled)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan. Line with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides. Butter and flour parchment and pan, tapping out excess flour.
Make streusel: Whisk together butter, brown sugar, and salt. Add flour and mix with a fork until large crumbs form. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Make cake: In a medium bowl, combine rhubarb, brown sugar, and 1/4 cup flour. In another medium bowl, whisk 3/4 cup flour, baking powder, and salt. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy; beat in eggs, one at a time. With mixer on low, beat in vanilla, then flour mixture. Spread batter in prepared pan. Sprinkle with rhubarb and top with streusel.
Bake cake until golden and a toothpick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs attached, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool completely in pan. Using paper overhang, lift cake from pan. Cut into 16 bars.