Name: Rhubarb Sauce for Ice Cream
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 cups finely chopped rhubarb; 1/4 cup maple syrup; 1 tsp lemon zest; 1 tbsp water; Vanilla ice cream (for serving)

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Learn how to make an easy rhubarb sauce with only three ingredients, including a touch of maple syrup in place of refined sugar. This delicious recipe is a wonderful addition to vanilla ice cream for a seasonal and pretty dessert that’s perfect for summer entertaining.

small bowl of vanilla ice cream with rhubarb sauce on a counter

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It’s not news to anyone that rhubarb pairs very well with sweets and desserts. There’s tons of recipes for rhubarb crisps, cakes, bars, and crumbles that prove this point.

This rhubarb season, I wanted to come up with some sweet recipes that were a little different than your classic rhubarb crisp. That’s when I started to think about ice cream! Surely rhubarb could be turned into some type of ice cream topping, right? And right I was!

So here it is…my sweet rhubarb sauce! Most recipes for this sauce call for a ton of sugar, but I found that only a little sweetness from maple syrup was necessary. Using less sugar also allows the true flavor of rhubarb to shine. To round out the recipe, I added some lemon zest. YUM.

While I highly recommend that you pair this rhubarb sauce with vanilla ice cream, you can also use it in many other ways. Read on to learn more.

stalks of rhubarb next to a maple syrup container and a lemon on a counter

How to Make Rhubarb Sauce

Combine chopped rhubarb, maple syrup, lemon zest, and a small amount of water in a saucepan.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let the sauce cook down. The end!

Seriously, it doesn’t get much easier than that. For the full recipe instructions and ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card towards the end of this post.

PS: you can use fresh or frozen rhubarb for this recipe. Check out my tutorial on freezing rhubarb if you have a lot on hand.

diced rhubarb, maple syrup, and lemon zest cooking in a saucepan

Do you peel rhubarb for sauce?

There’s no need to peel off the outer layer of skin from rhubarb before making this recipe. The rhubarb breaks down during the cooking process.

How long does rhubarb sauce last in the fridge?

Store rhubarb sauce in a sealed glass jar or airtight container in the fridge for 7 to 10 days. Be sure to inspect it for any signs of spoiling before using.

Can rhubarb sauce be frozen?

Yes, it freezes very well. Store in a freezer-safe container for at least 3 months. You can also freeze it in an ice cube tray, then transfer the frozen cubes to a bag or container to have small portions of the sauce for future use.

rhubarb sauce in a glass jar next to diced rhubarb and a napkin

What to Do with Rhubarb Sauce

Use it as an ice cream topping.
Stir it into Greek yogurt.
Spoon it into your morning oatmeal.
Serve it over pancakes.
Spread it on a grilled cheese sandwich.
Add it to a charcuterie board.

If you’re looking for more ways to use rhubarb, check out the Double Chocolate Rhubarb Brownies, Sweet Strawberry Rhubarb Salsa, Blueberry Rhubarb Jam, and Strawberry Rhubarb Baked Oatmeal Muffins.

I’d love to hear how you like this recipe! Rate/review using the stars on the recipe card or in the comments, and follow the Veg World on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Looking for something totally different? Browse the recipe library.