The Shrubarb Cocktail Recipes

RHUBARB & CUSTARD COCKTAIL

Steps:

• To make the rhubarb syrup, put the caster sugar in a saucepan with 75ml water. Heat very gently, so the sugar disappears but the water doesn't bubble. Tip in the chopped rhubarb, cover with a tight-fitting lid and increase the heat a little so it begins to boil. Simmer, covered, for about 5 mins until the rhubarb is very tender but not disintegrating.
• Turn off the heat, and tip the pan's contents into a fine sieve over a bowl. Use a wooden spoon to gently squeeze the rhubarb so that you get all the juices, but no pulp. Tip back into the pan and boil rapidly for a few mins until just syrupy. Pour into a jug - you should have about 125ml. Leave to cool completely. Any leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to 1 month.
• Chill 4 cocktail glasses with ice or in your freezer. Shake the vodka and 100ml of the rhubarb syrup together with ice until mixed and chilled down. Make small shreds of rhubarb using a vegetable peeler and place into iced water - this will make them curl up.
• In a separate jug, whisk together the advocaat and lemonade with more ice to lighten. Divide the vodka and rhubarb mixture between the glasses, straining through a small sieve to catch the ice.
• Carefully pour 25ml of your advocaat mixture into each glass over an upsidedown spoon (the mixture should float on the surface of the vodka syrup mixture). Drain the rhubarb shreds well and use to garnish your cocktails.

THE SHRUBARB COCKTAIL

Steps:

• For the ginger-rhubarb shrub:
• Combine rhubarb, ginger, vinegar, and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until rhubarb is completely broken down and strands are visible, 10-15 minutes.
• Using a fine-mesh sieve or a colander lined with cheesecloth, strain mixture into a glass container. Let cool to room temperature, then chill.
• For each cocktail:
• Combine gin, lime juice, and 1 1/2 ounces reserved ginger-rhubarb shrub in a cocktail shaker. Fill shaker with ice and shake until outside of shaker is frosty, about 30 seconds. Strain into an ice-filled Collins-style glass, filling three-quarters full. Top off with club soda.

RHUBARB BUNDT CAKE

Steps:

• Combine rhubarb, 1/2 cup sugar, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook until rhubarb has broken down and mixture has thickened, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice. Place mixture into a heat-safe bowl and place into the refrigerator to cool.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10-cup Bundt® pan.
• Whisk flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda together in a small bowl.
• Cream butter, oil, and sugar together with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add in eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition. Beat mixture for another 3 minutes on medium-high speed until batter has lightened in color. Mix in vanilla and almond extracts. Add in half of the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Pour in buttermilk and mix until just combined. Add in remaining flour mixture and mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
• Pour half of the batter into the prepared Bundt® pan and smooth into an even layer. Remove rhubarb jam from fridge, and carefully spoon over the batter. Place dollops of remaining batter over the jam, and gently smooth into an even layer; taking care to cover the jam completely.
• Place pan into preheated oven and bake until a bamboo skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out with just a few moist crumbs, 55 to 60 minutes. Cool cake in pan for 30 minutes before gently running a knife around the edges to loosen. Invert cake onto a wire rack and cool completely.