Go Back
+ servings
A slice cut off of a rhubarb upside down cake and a spatula pulling it out.
Print Recipe
5 from 3 votes

Rhubarb Upside Down Cake

This Rhubarb Upside Down Cake recipe is beautifully sweet and tart! Layer each component and the oven will bake the cake to perfection for you to enjoy it.
Prep Time50 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Cool Time10 minutes
Total Time2 hours
Servings: 8
Calories: 602kcal

Ingredients

Streusel

  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup sliced almonds
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • ¼ teaspoon table salt

Rhubarb

  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
  • 1 ½ pound rhubarb trimmed and cut into ½-inch pieces
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter melted

Cake

Instructions

  • Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Grease baking pan, line bottom with parchment paper, and grease parchment and sides of pan.

Streusel

  • Stir all-purpose flour, sliced almonds, sugar, melted butter, salt in medium bowl until well combined. Set aside.

Rhubarb

  • Whisk sugar, cornstarch, and lemon zest together in large bowl. Add rhubarb and stir well to coat. Drizzle with melted butter and stir to incorporate.
  • Transfer rhubarb mixture to prepared pan and press rhubarb pieces into bottom of pan, making sure there are no large gaps (pieces may not fit in single layer).

Cake

  • Whisk flour, cardamom, baking powder, and salt together in medium bowl; set aside.
  • Whisk sugar and eggs in large bowl until thick and homogeneous, about 45 seconds. Whisk in melted butter until combined. Add sour cream, lemon zest, lemon juice and vanilla; whisk until combined. Add flour mixture and whisk until just combined.
  • Pour batter into pan and spread evenly over rhubarb mixture. Break up streusel with your hands and sprinkle in even layer over batter.
  • Bake until cake is golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 55-60 minutes.
  • Transfer pan to wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes (if left to cool upside down for too long the rhubarb layer gets mushy, its best to flip it and let it cool right side up). Run knife around edges of pan to loosen cake, then invert onto serving platter.
  • Let cool for about 10 minutes. Microwave jelly in small bowl until fluid about 20 seconds. Using pastry brush, gently dab jelly over rhubarb topping. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Video

Notes

  • Store leftovers of this rhubarb cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • Flip the cake after a few minutes of cooling so the rhubarb doesn’t become mushy from sitting in the bottom of the pan.
  • Be careful not to overbake your cake. This can make it dry and it will fall apart when you remove it from the pan or slice it.

Nutrition

Calories: 602kcal | Carbohydrates: 88g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 124mg | Sodium: 338mg | Potassium: 381mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 57g | Vitamin A: 817IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 168mg | Iron: 2mg