Blueberry Buckle

This Blueberry Buckle is a flavorful cake that has a delicious buttery flavor, with juicy berries and a tasty crumble on top! Enjoy as a breakfast with a cup of coffee, or a sweet treat later in the day with a glass of cold milk!

 

Classic Blueberry Buckle

Years ago, when my family lived in Seattle, we would take the kids blueberry picking. My kids would eat their way through the fields as my hubby and I quickly filled buckets up of juicy berries.

Once home, we would make breads, cobblers, cakes, and more! The best part about hand-picked berries were the size and juiciness. I always scoped out the largest, most vibrant looking berries and added them to the bucket. Sometimes, the berries were the size of quarters. YES, blueberries that big! Crazy, right? Grocery store berries just haven’t looked the same to me since those days!

Not only would we use the berries in lots of parfaits, smoothies, baked goods, and sweet treats; but we also would freeze the rest for a later date and pull them out when needed.

The most frequent way we used up our blueberries was by making this Classic Buckle. So moist, fluffy, and flavor packed!

What is a buckle?

A buckle is a single-layer cake with berries or cut-up fruit in the batter. As the cake bakes, it rises around the fruit giving it a “buckled” appearance. It has more batter than fruit and tastes like a coffee cake.

Typically, dense in texture and topped with a crumble or streusel. Buckles can be served for breakfast, brunch, dessert, or an anytime snack.

Ingredients needed for Blueberry Buckle

Using a few pantry staples, this buckle comes together in no time and is perfect for any occasion. For complete ingredient amounts and directions, check the recipe card out at the bottom of this post.

Cake

• Sugar- adds just the right amount of sweetness
• Shortening- adds moisture and gives this a nice, rich flavor
• Egg- binds everything together
• Flour– I use all-purpose flour as it gives this buckle a nice and fluffy texture! If you want a finer crumb, you can use cake flour instead.
• Baking Powder- gives it that nice, fluffy texture
• Salt- enhances flavor
• Milk- helps add moisture
• Blueberries- adds juicy goodness to each bite

Topping

• Sugar- adds the sweetness, you can also use brown sugar or 1/2 of each
• Cinnamon- a warm spice that boosts the overall topping flavor
• Butter- I use unsalted butter

How to make a Blueberry Buckle

With just a few simple steps, this cake is ready to serve in no time! Enjoy fresh from the oven or reheat in the microwave!

Blueberry Buckle Tips and Tricks

• Fresh blueberries are best. They are the juiciest versus frozen.  Toss them with a spoonful of flour to keep them evenly distributed throughout the cake.
• Frozen berries work, just be sure to add a few minutes to the baking time.
• Don’t overmix as this can cause the cake to be too dense and rubbery tasting.
• You can easily swap out blueberries for other berries like blackberries, strawberries, or raspberries. It also tastes great with peaches or cherries!
• Carefully fold in the blueberries as they can turn the batter purple if not careful.
• If you prefer muffins, use a muffin tin and bake for about 18-20 minutes.

Storage Tips

This buckle is best enjoyed fresh from the oven as that is when its warm and melts in your mouth. However, you can also store this in an airtight container for up to 4 days at room temperature. To reheat, place piece in microwave for about 30 seconds. You can even spread some butter on top once warmed!

How to Serve Blueberry Buckle

This can be served whenever and however you prefer, but my go-to preference is breakfast/brunch. Nothing tastes better than a piece of this buckle with a cup of coffee in the morning!

You can serve this warm, or at room temperature. If being served as a sweet treat, you can add a scoop of vanilla ice-cream on top of a dollop of whipped cream. Perhaps even some additional fruit.

More Blueberry Recipes you’ll love

Blueberry Quick Bread– moist quick bread loaded with fresh blueberries and topped with a sprinkle of sugar for some crunch

Incredible Blueberry Streusel Muffins– soft, fluffy, and full of juicy blueberry goodness

Cast Iron Blueberry Cobbler– a Southern favorite that is delicious and quick to make

Banana Blueberry Crumb Cake– loaded with blueberries and overripe bananas. No mixer needed for this quick, easy recipe.

Blueberry and Banana Baked Oatmeal– easy to make and perfect for a quick, healthy breakfast or snack throughout the week