Pioneer Woman Blueberry Buckle

This blueberry buckle is made with a buttery cake batter loaded with fresh blueberries and topped with a cinnamon streusel. It’s cakier than a cobbler and fruitier than coffee cake. Good for breakfast or dessert. It takes about 55 minutes and serves 10 to 12.

A buckle folds most of the berries into the batter, then scatters more on top before the streusel. As it bakes, the fruit sinks and the surface buckles, which is where the name comes from. Fold the batter berries in gently so they don’t break and streak it.

Fresh berries work best here. Frozen ones, even thawed and patted dry, release more moisture that throws off the bake time and rise. Keep 1 cup of berries aside for the top so the buckle bakes evenly.

Pioneer Woman Blueberry Buckle

Author: Hamdi Saidani Cooking Method:Baking Cuisine:American Courses:Blueberry Desserts Dessert

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 10 minutesCook time: 45 minutesRest time: minutesTotal time: 55 minutesServings:10 servingsCalories:340 kcal Best Season:Summer

Description

This blueberry buckle folds fresh berries into a buttery cake, then tops it with cinnamon streusel. Cakier than a cobbler, it bakes up tender and works for breakfast or dessert.

Ingredients

For the Streusel:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  
• 1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
  
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon or cardamom
  
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  
• Pinch of salt

For the Buckle:

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
  
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  
• 2 large eggs
  
• 1/2 cup whole milk
  
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest
  
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  
  
• 3 cups fresh blueberries, divided
• Nonstick cooking spray

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
   
2. For the streusel: Stir the melted butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon together in a medium bowl. Add the flour and salt, stirring until combined. Set aside while you make the cake.
   
3. For the buckle: Stir the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. Beat the butter and sugar at medium speed until creamy with a mixer. Add the eggs one at a time, beating until just combined after each.
4. Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, alternating with the milk, beating until just combined after each. Stir in the lemon zest and vanilla, then gently fold in 2 cups of the blueberries.
   
5. Spray a 9×9-inch baking dish with nonstick spray. Spread the batter evenly in the pan and sprinkle the top with the remaining 1 cup of blueberries. Crumble the streusel with your fingers and sprinkle it evenly over the berries and batter.
   
6. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool 20 minutes before slicing.

FAQs

What is a buckle?

It’s a streusel-topped cake with a lot of fresh fruit stirred into the batter. It’s cakier than a cobbler or crisp and fruitier than most coffee cakes. The name comes from the way the surface buckles as the fruit sinks and the cake bakes around it.

Can I use frozen blueberries?

Fresh are best here. Frozen berries, even thawed and patted dry, release extra moisture that changes the bake time and keeps the cake from rising properly. Save frozen fruit for cobblers and crisps, which handle the moisture better.

What other fruit can I use?

Any fruit in equal amounts. Blackberries, strawberries, diced peaches, plums, or nectarines all work, or a mix. Keep the total at 3 cups so the batter to fruit ratio stays the same.

What spice goes in a buckle?

Cinnamon is classic, but cardamom is worth trying. Its citrus notes play off the blueberries and lemon zest. Start with half cinnamon and half cardamom if you want to test the combination before committing to one.

What’s the difference between this and a cobbler?

A buckle is a cake with fruit folded through the batter and streusel on top. A cobbler is fruit on the bottom with a biscuit topping and no batter underneath. For the cobbler version, see my Blueberry Cobbler, or the skillet spin on my Blueberry Pancake Cobbler.