In honor of Mother’s Day, we’re making a delicious rhubarb buttermilk cake that’s perfect for sharing with the special moms in your life.
This recipe is a nostalgic family favorite, and we’ll walk you through every step to help you create this springtime treat with confidence.
🍰 Rhubarb Prep
Preparing rhubarb for a delectable cake requires a few essential steps to ensure the perfect texture and flavor. Below, you’ll find a detailed guide on how to prep rhubarb for the Mary Berry rhubarb cake recipe.
INGREDIENTS
- 1/2 cup room temperature unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt, separated
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 cups chopped rhubarb
For the topping
- 1/4 cup white granulated sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Rhubarb Selection and Cutting
When selecting rhubarb, opt for fresh, vibrant stalks. To prepare the rhubarb, slice it into quarter-inch thick pieces, ensuring uniformity in thickness for even cooking.
Macerating the Rhubarb
After cutting the rhubarb, sprinkle it with salt and let it sit in a colander for approximately 30 minutes to an hour. This process allows the salt to draw out excess moisture from the rhubarb, preventing the cake from becoming overly wet and dense.
🍰 Cake Batter
Creating the cake batter for a Mary Berry rhubarb cake is a simple yet crucial step in making this delightful springtime dessert.
The batter comes together quickly and effortlessly, resulting in a light and fluffy texture that perfectly complements the tartness of the rhubarb.
Mixing the Wet Ingredients
To start, combine softened butter, white granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Whether using a mixer or mixing by hand, the goal is to achieve a light and fluffy consistency. Adding eggs one at a time and incorporating vanilla extract ensures a smooth and well-balanced mixture.
Incorporating the Dry Ingredients
Once the wet ingredients are well combined, it’s time to add the dry ingredients – flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Slowly fold in the buttermilk to create a smooth and creamy batter that serves as the perfect base for the rhubarb.
Adding the Buttermilk
The addition of buttermilk not only contributes to the cake’s rise but also imparts a delightful tangy flavor. The buttermilk works in harmony with the leaveners to create a light and airy texture, enhancing the overall flavor profile of the cake.
🍰 Baking Traditions
Traditions play a significant role in family bonding, and baking often becomes an integral part of these traditions. In many households, like the Wyse family, baking was a weekly occurrence, bringing joy and comfort to their home.
Whether it was a break from working outside or a simple family gathering, there was always a delicious treat to enjoy. These baking traditions create lasting memories and a sense of nostalgia that is cherished for generations to come.
Freezing and Portioning
Freezing baked goods has been a common practice in many homes, allowing families to enjoy homemade treats at any time. The Wyse family often froze their baked goods, ensuring there was always something delightful to savor. Portioning the cakes into loaves not only made them convenient for freezing but also enhanced the overall experience of enjoying the delicious treats.
Making Memories in the Kitchen
From portioning the batter to preparing the topping, every step in the baking process holds sentimental value. The act of creating and sharing these delectable treats becomes a cherished family tradition, fostering love and togetherness. The Wyse family’s baking traditions exemplify the joy and warmth that comes from creating and sharing homemade delights.
🍰 Topping the Cakes
Adding a delightful topping to the rhubarb buttermilk cake is the perfect finishing touch, enhancing both the flavor and visual appeal. The Wyse family’s choice of a simple yet delectable cinnamon sugar topping adds a delightful crunch and sweetness to the cakes, elevating their overall appeal. For an extra touch of sweetness and to enhance its visual appeal, dusting the finished cake with icing sugar is highly recommended. This not only adds a layer of sweetness but also makes the cake visually more enticing, mimicking the Mary Berry-inspired Rhubarb Cake’s rich and buttery base.
Creating the Cinnamon Sugar Topping
Preparing the topping involves a quick and simple process, combining sugar and cinnamon to create a crystally, cinnamony layer that adds an irresistible texture and flavor to the cakes. The addition of this topping not only enhances the visual appeal but also provides a delightful contrast to the tartness of the rhubarb, creating a harmonious flavor profile.
Personalizing the Topping
While the Wyse family opts for a classic cinnamon sugar topping, the versatility of the recipe allows for personalization. Nuts can be added to the topping for an extra layer of flavor and texture, providing an opportunity to tailor the cakes to individual preferences.
Baking the Cakes
Creating the perfect rhubarb buttermilk cakes involves a few essential steps to ensure a delightful texture and flavor. The first crucial step is selecting the right baking equipment, specifically a round cake tin. It’s important to line your round cake tin with baking paper and prepare the tin properly. This preparation involves greasing the cake tin with butter and lining the base with baking paper to create a prepared tin.
This ensures that the cake does not stick to the tin during baking, making it easier to remove once done. Additionally, it’s essential to preheat your oven before placing the prepared cake tin inside.
This step ensures that your cake bakes evenly and achieves the perfect texture and flavor. From adding a touch of personalization to the batter to the final baking process, here’s a detailed guide on crafting these delectable springtime treats.
Adding Nuts to the Batter
- Consider incorporating walnuts or pecans for a delightful nutty flavor.
- These nuts complement the tartness of the rhubarb, adding a delightful crunch to the cakes.
Layering with Streusel
For a unique twist, consider layering the batter with streusel in the middle and on top, adding an extra layer of flavor and texture to the cakes.
Choosing Loaf Pans
- Opt for loaf pans for a convenient portioning and freezing process, allowing for easy storage and enjoyment of the cakes.
- Freezing individual loaves ensures there’s always a delightful treat ready to savor at any time.
Tasting the Cakes
Now that the rhubarb buttermilk cakes have cooled, it’s time to savor the delightful flavors and textures, including the moist cake that is a testament to the perfect baking process. From the visual appeal to the nostalgic flavors, here’s a glimpse into the delightful experience of tasting these homemade springtime treats.
Examining the Cake Texture
- Notice the beautiful crumb and dark color that envelops the cakes, indicative of a perfectly baked treat.
- The cake boasts a light and airy texture, a testament to the well-balanced batter and baking process.
Savoring the Flavor Profile
- Experience the delightful buttermilk cake flavor, perfectly complemented by the tartness of the rhubarb.
- The slight sour tanginess of the rhubarb adds a unique and nostalgic touch to the overall flavor profile of the cakes.
🌿 Enjoying Rhubarb
Exploring new flavors and ingredients like rhubarb can add an exciting twist to your culinary adventures. Whether fresh from the market or conveniently available in frozen form, rhubarb offers a unique tartness that can elevate the taste of various dishes, including delightful desserts like the Mary Berry rhubarb cake.
Embracing rhubarb opens up a world of culinary possibilities, allowing you to infuse your creations with a distinct and memorable flavor profile. For those who enjoy a tangy contrast to the sweet and tart flavors of the rhubarb, serving the cake with crème fraîche offers a delightful option.
📜 Passing Down Recipes
Sharing cherished recipes and culinary traditions with loved ones creates a beautiful bond that transcends generations. The act of passing down recipes, such as the beloved Mary Berry rhubarb cake, not only preserves family heritage but also fosters a sense of connection and nostalgia. Embracing and continuing these culinary legacies allows for the preservation of treasured traditions, ensuring that the essence of homemade delights endures through time.
Preserving Family Heritage
By passing down recipes, families uphold the legacy of beloved dishes, cultivating a sense of continuity and belonging. Each time a cherished recipe is recreated, it serves as a tribute to the traditions and memories that have been woven into the fabric of family life, creating a legacy that resonates with warmth and affection.
Celebrating Shared Memories
Recreating and sharing recipes like the Mary Berry rhubarb cake provides an opportunity to celebrate cherished memories and moments spent in the kitchen. These shared experiences become ingrained in family lore, evoking a sense of joy and togetherness that transcends time and space, creating a tapestry of culinary traditions that are cherished and revered.
🤔 FAQ
Can I use frozen rhubarb for this recipe?
Yes, frozen rhubarb can be used as a convenient alternative to fresh rhubarb. Ensure proper thawing and draining before incorporating it into the cake batter.
What can I serve with the rhubarb buttermilk cake?
The rhubarb buttermilk cake pairs wonderfully with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream, adding a delightful contrast to the tartness of the rhubarb.
