May 18, 2019 By Janice Pattie 49 Comments

Rhubarb and Pecan Muffins Recipe

Name: Rhubarb and Pecan Muffins
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Ingredients: 180 g brown sugar; 50 ml oil; 2 eggs; 250 ml buttermilk; 180 g rhubarb (finely diced ); 50 g pecans (chopped ); 350 g plain flour; 1 tsp baking powder; 1 tsp baking soda; 1/2 tsp salt; 70 g granulated sugar; 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon; 15 g butter (melted); 18 whole pecan nuts

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Rhubarb and Pecan Muffins are probably the nicest rhubarb muffins I’ve tasted. Soft sweet muffin filled with sharp rhubarb, crunchy pecans and topped with cinnamon sugar, so delicious, so easy to make.

What is rhubarb?

Rhubarb is a hardy perennial plant with pink, red or pale green stems that are most often used in desserts like crumbles and pies.

It has a tart flavour and is too sharp to eat raw, but combined with sugar and other ingredients it has a delicious tangy taste.

When is rhubarb in season?

The best rhubarb is available in Spring. The earliest rhubarb you can buy is forced, this means it has been grown in the dark

Forced rhubarb has pale pink stems and is tender and sweet.

Rhubarb continues to grow throughout the summer but as the season progresses the stems become tougher.

How do you grow rhubarb?

Rhubarb is grown from a crown. This is a thick rhizome that is planted just below the surface of the soil.

Rhubarb plants like lots of moisture and you need to mulch the plant to keep it from getting too dry.

We have a rhubarb crown growing in our back garden. It has been there for at least fifty years and has provided me with rhubarb every year for the last 35 years.

Rhubarb is not a demanding plant, it’s very easy to grow, particularly in the cool damp climate of Scotland. it just needs a bit of feeding in the autumn and it will reward you with the crisp sharp stems of rhubarb all summer.

How to Make Rhubarb and Pecan Muffins

Rhubarb and Pecan Muffins are ideal for the start of the rhubarb season as they only use a small amount of rhubarb. I used three fairly short stems and produced 18 full-sized muffins.

Chop the Rhubarb

It’s really important to chop the rhubarb into small pieces. I quartered the rhubarb stems lengthways before slicing across, smaller pieces. This makes sure that the rhubarb is well distributed through the muffin mixture.

Chop the Pecans

Roughly chop 50g of pecan nuts. Keep them fairly roughly chopped so that you get little chunks of pecan nut in the muffin.

If they are too small they will disappear into the mixture and it’s all about the textures for these muffins. You will also need another 18 whole pecans to top the muffins.

Mix the Wet Ingredients

Then simply beat the brown sugar, oil, and eggs together. Add the rhubarb and pecan nuts and buttermilk.

Combine the Dry Ingredients

Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in another bowl and mix well. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently fold the two together. Prepare the melted butter, cinnamon and sugar mixture.

Mixing Tip

With all muffin mixtures, you will have a bowl of wet ingredients and a bowl of dry ingredients and then very gently combine the two. Too much mixing will make your muffins come out rather tough, don’t worry if there are some lumps, that is normal.

Muffin Tins

You will need two muffin tin as the recipe makes 18 full-sized muffins, either grease the muffin cups or line with paper cases.

Spoon the mixture or use an ice cream scoop, and three quarters fill the muffin cups or cases. Spoon over the cinnamon sugar topping and place a whole pecan nut on to of each muffin. Bake for about 20 minutes, keeping a close eye on the rise.

Baking Tip

Every oven is different, so you may find your muffins take a little less time or a little more. When they are ready they should be springy to the touch.

What really makes these Rhubarb and Pecan Muffins special is the contrasts of taste and texture. There is just enough sharpness from the rhubarb to counteract the sweet cake and the crunch of pecans and the cinnamon, sugar and butter topping makes them a real favourite with all of my family.

More Rhubarb Recipes from Farmersgirl Kitchen

There are so many different recipes you can make with rhubarb. Star with a Classic Rhubarb Crumble,

Try a sweet and creamy Rhubarb and Orange Fool.

Make these Rhubarb Cheesecake Bars for a special occasion, they are so good.

Later in the season when the rhubarb is producing its maximum output, make Rhubarb and Ginger Jam. It’s always popular and very easy to make.

More Fruity Muffin Recipes

Vegan Mini Oat and Apple Breakfast Muffins Simply Food

Blueberry Banana and White Chocolate Chip Muffins Fab Food 4 All

Strawberry Banana Muffins Little Sunny Kitchen

Airfryer Raspberry Muffins Recipes from a Pantry

Easy Blueberry Weetabix Muffins Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary

Blueberry and Chocolate Muffins Tin & Thyme

These are some of the best muffins I have made, they have a lovely crunchy top and the combination of rhubarb and pecans through the muffins makes them both moist and delicious.

I’m adding this post to Baking Crumbs Linky, the home of all things baked, sweet or savoury and hosted by Jo’s Kitchen Larder and Apply to Face Blog

Also linking to Bake of the Week at Casa Costello with Mummy Mishaps

#CookBlogShare is a recipe linky where you will find lots of delicious recipes usually hosted by Eb at Easy Peasy Foodie, Jacqui at Recipes Made Easy and Monika at Everyday Healthy Recipes and this month hosted by guest host, Louise at A Strong Coffee