How Many Calories Are In a Slice of Rhubarb Bread?

November 3, 2025 •

4 min read

With a calorie range that can vary from approximately 129 to over 300 per slice, the answer to how many calories are in a slice of rhubarb bread is highly dependent on the recipe. This difference is largely due to the type and amount of sugar, fat, and additional ingredients used during preparation.

Quick Summary

A slice of rhubarb bread's calorie count varies widely depending on the recipe's fat and sugar content, ranging significantly between standard and healthier versions. Additions like nuts or glaze increase the calorie total.

Key Points

Calorie Range: A single slice of rhubarb bread can contain anywhere from 129 to over 300 calories, depending on the recipe.
Sugar Content is Key: The amount and type of sugar used to balance rhubarb's tartness is a primary factor in the final calorie count.
Fats Add Up: Ingredients like butter, oil, and shortening significantly increase calories, so using less or swapping for alternatives helps.
Toppings Matter: Add-ins like nuts, glazes, and crumb toppings can substantially raise the calorie total of each slice.
Healthy Swaps: Replacing fats with unsweetened applesauce or yogurt and reducing sugar can lower the overall calorie count of a homemade loaf.
Portion Control: The size of your slice directly impacts the calories consumed, so being mindful of serving size is essential.

The question of how many calories are in a slice of rhubarb bread doesn't have a single, universal answer. Instead, the final number is a sum of its parts, heavily influenced by the recipe's specific ingredients and serving size. A basic, no-frills slice from a simple recipe might be surprisingly low in calories, while a decadent version packed with sugar, butter, and extra toppings can rival a rich dessert.

Factors That Influence Rhubarb Bread Calories

Several components of a rhubarb bread recipe contribute to its overall caloric density. Understanding these factors allows you to better estimate the nutritional impact of your slice or adjust a recipe to your preferences.

Sugar and Sweeteners

Sugar is one of the primary drivers of calories in rhubarb bread. Rhubarb itself is quite tart, necessitating a significant amount of sweetener to balance the flavor. The specific type and quantity of sugar used directly affects the calorie count. For example, a recipe using a generous amount of brown and white sugar will naturally be higher in calories than one that uses a sugar substitute or less sweetener overall. Some recipes found online use as much as 1.5 cups of sugar, driving up the energy density.

Fats and Oils

The fat content from ingredients like vegetable oil, butter, or shortening plays a crucial role. A recipe calling for two-thirds of a cup of oil, for instance, adds a substantial amount of calories, as fats are the most calorie-dense macronutrient. Healthier versions often reduce the amount of oil or substitute it with lower-calorie alternatives like applesauce or Greek yogurt, a strategy employed by some recipes to produce a lighter result.

Add-ins and Toppings

What you mix into or put on top of your rhubarb bread can increase the calories significantly. Common additions include:

Nuts: Walnuts and pecans add healthy fats but also add a considerable amount of calories. One recipe with nuts clocks in at around 251 calories per slice.
Glazes and Frostings: A simple glaze made from powdered sugar and lemon juice, or a richer cream cheese frosting, can add 50-100+ calories per slice.
Crumb Toppings: A streusel or cinnamon-sugar topping adds both fat (from butter) and sugar.

Serving Size

Serving size is critical for accurate calorie counting. Most recipes will list nutrition facts based on dividing the loaf into a specific number of slices, often 10 or 12. However, a generous 'homemade' slice can be much larger than the suggested serving, so the total calorie intake can be far higher.

Calorie Comparison: Various Rhubarb Bread Recipes

To illustrate the wide range of possibilities, here is a comparison of different rhubarb bread recipes based on information from various sources. This table shows how different preparation methods and ingredients lead to varying calorie counts.


Recipe Type	Approx. Calories per Slice	Key Calorie Factors	Source
Healthy Rhubarb Bread	129 kcal	Reduced fat (e.g., less oil), lower sugar	[Food Meanderings]
Standard Rhubarb Bread	185-234 kcal	Moderate oil and sugar content, no frosting	[Lemon Tree Dwelling, That Skinny Chick Can Bake]
Rhubarb Nut Bread	251 kcal	Adds calorie-dense walnuts	[Canadian Cancer Society]
Rich Rhubarb Bread	292 kcal	Uses a standard amount of butter and sugar	[The View from Great Island]
Frosted Rhubarb Bread	330+ kcal	Includes rich, high-sugar glaze or icing	[The Baked Collective]

How to Reduce Calories in Your Homemade Rhubarb Bread

If you love rhubarb bread but are conscious of your calorie intake, there are several simple swaps and adjustments you can make to create a healthier version without sacrificing flavor.

Calorie-Reducing Ingredient Swaps

Swap fats: Replace some or all of the oil or butter with unsweetened applesauce, mashed banana, or Greek yogurt. This adds moisture while significantly cutting calories.
Lower the sugar: Experiment with reducing the amount of sugar called for in the recipe. The natural tartness of rhubarb can be a great flavor component rather than something to completely mask. You can also use a sugar substitute like stevia or erythritol.
Use whole wheat flour: Substituting a portion of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour adds fiber, which can help with satiety and has a slightly lower caloric density by volume.
Mind your mix-ins: Use fewer nuts or omit them entirely. For an extra pop of flavor without the added calories, consider spices like cinnamon or nutmeg instead.
Skip the glaze: Enjoy the bread plain or with a light sprinkle of coarse sugar before baking for texture, rather than adding a high-calorie glaze afterward.

The Importance of Portions

One of the most effective ways to manage the calories in any baked good is to control the serving size. Slicing the loaf into smaller, more reasonable portions can make a big difference. For instance, if you usually cut a loaf into 10 slices, cutting it into 12 or 15 instead will lower the calorie count per piece.

Conclusion

While a single, definitive answer to the calorie count in rhubarb bread doesn't exist, understanding the factors at play is key. A standard, moderately sweetened slice might land somewhere in the 180-230 calorie range, but this number is subject to change based on the specific recipe, added ingredients, and portion size. By making thoughtful ingredient swaps and being mindful of your serving, you can enjoy a delicious slice of homemade rhubarb bread that fits your nutritional goals.

For a basic, traditional rhubarb bread recipe, consider a classic option from Taste of Home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Rhubarb bread is not typically considered a 'healthy' food due to its high sugar and fat content, similar to other quick breads. However, a healthier version can be made by reducing sugar and substituting oil with alternatives like applesauce.

A healthy or low-calorie rhubarb bread recipe will typically use less sugar, less fat, and possibly whole wheat flour. Recipes using a fat substitute like unsweetened applesauce or Greek yogurt will have a lower calorie count.

Yes, adding a cream cheese frosting or other glaze significantly increases the calorie count of rhubarb bread. Depending on the amount and richness, it can add 50 to over 100 calories per slice.

To make a low-sugar rhubarb bread, reduce the amount of granulated sugar by 1/4 to 1/2 cup or substitute it with a calorie-free sugar alternative. The natural tartness of the rhubarb will be more pronounced.

Homemade rhubarb bread can vary widely in calories depending on the recipe. Store-bought versions have standardized nutrition facts, but often contain high amounts of sugar and fat for flavor and preservation. You have more control over ingredients with a homemade version.

No, butter and oil are both high in calories and swapping one for the other won't save a significant amount. A more effective strategy is to reduce the overall fat content or use a lower-calorie alternative like applesauce or yogurt.

The main ingredients affecting the calorie count are sugar, oil or butter, flour, and any add-ins like nuts or a sugary glaze. The more of these high-calorie ingredients a recipe uses, the higher the total calorie count will be.