Top 8 rhubarb tarts to pick up ahead of Father's Day

We did a straw poll of favourite sweet treats to be served to men at any time of day on Sunday.

Fri, 13 Jun, 2025 - 01:00

Roz Crowley

It's Father’s Day on Sunday, an opportunity for children to show their appreciation for the hero of the family.

We did a straw poll of favourite sweet treats to be served to men at any time of day on Sunday.

Apple pie was closely followed by rhubarb, and, as apples are not at their best now, we opted to test a seasonal option. Rhubarb fitted the bill.

Some supermarkets already have fresh rhubarb, and there is plenty available at farmers’ markets.

Check online for tart recipes or try my tried-and-tested crumble, which is easier – no rolling out required.

Rhubarb and Ginger Crumble

In a blender, pulse (or rub by hand) 200g plain flour (substitute 50g flour with fine oatmeal or nibbed almonds), 1 teaspoon baking powder, and 100g butter until it forms crumbs. Mix in 100g demerara sugar.
Cut 1kg rhubarb into 1cm pieces and place in a baking dish dotted with 25g butter, 50g sugar, and 1 teaspoon ground ginger (or vanilla essence). Top with the crumble without patting down – to keep it light.
Bake at 190 °C for 40 minutes, or until bubbling. Serve with ice cream or custard.

All today’s Top 8 tarts are best heated in the oven or air fryer.

The Grumpy Baker rhubarb turnover 185g €3.50

This is sold as a single serving, but it is plenty for two.

The attractive lattice flaky pastry is topped with an interesting lemon and oat crumble.

Underneath is a decent layer of fresh rhubarb grown in Carrigaline, Co Cork.

The layer underneath is flaky too, making it feel like a delicious millefeuille.

Score: 9

The Cinnamon Cottage rhubarb and almond tart 700g €14.95

The most attractive of samples, this delicious base is quite dry and crunchy, like shortbread biscuits, and is topped with a layer of rich frangipane almond custard.

While the rhubarb is scant, it’s full of flavour, with a natural texture. One found the pastry a bit dry, commenting that he would have liked more almond.

Score: 8.75

Brackens Bakery rhubarb tart 800g €8

This tart gets the prize for the most fruit.

It’s quite syrupy, but not too sweet, and still keeps the sharpness of the rhubarb.

The pastry is quite heavy when cold, but comes into its own when heated. The favourite of two tasters.

Score: 8.75

Murphy’s Home Bakery rhubarb tart 800g €5.95

Plenty of fresh-tasting and naturally textured rhubarb here.

The shortcrust pastry is unremarkable, but holds the filling well and lightens up when heated.

Made in Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick, we bought at Carrigrohane filling station, Cork.

Score: 8.5

Centra The Bakery rhubarb crumble 850g €6.50

Quite a lot of pastry and crumble here, but it’s tasty, and the good, fresh rhubarb has plenty of flavour to carry it.

Not too sweet. Best heated, but good enough cold.

Score: 8.25

O’Driscolls apple and rhubarb tart 902g €6.99

A pretty lattice shortcrust pastry pattern dusted with caster sugar is appetising, and without long-shelf life additives, tastes natural.

Inside the apple is quite syrupy and sweet. While the texture of the rhubarb is natural, it’s still a bit too sweet for some tasters.

The pastry is crisp and delicious enough to eat on its own. A hearty pie, produced by Northside Community Enterprises in Farranferris, Cork.

Score: 8.25

Dunnes Stores Market Deli rhubarb tart 400g €3.50

The sweet, syrupy coating of the fruit obscures the sharpness of rhubarb, making it bland.

Pastry is a little heavy. Tasters liked it, though, especially the younger ones.

Score: 7.5

Aldi Gráinne’s rhubarb tart 600g €3.19

The addition of maize starch to the sugar and fruit helps soak up the rhubarb juices as they cook, giving the rhubarb a slightly syrupy texture - common in many we tasted - while still retaining the rhubarb flavour.

The pastry is a bit heavy. Best warmed up.