Blueberry Buckle

We’re just about at the mid-point of summer, which means there’s still a lot of summer left to be had, but I feel like it’s a freight train barreling out of control. It’s the middle of July, and it feels like just yesterday we signed the closing papers on our house (which happened the week before Memorial Day). I guess time flies when you’re having fun! I definitely feel like summer is slipping through my fingertips, so I’ve been trying to eat up as much of it as I can. The blueberries lately have looked especially amazing. They are all so big and plump, and taste just as good as they look. I picked up a huge container at Costco on Friday and didn’t last more than 24 hours before I was in the kitchen with them. I’ve been wanting to make a blueberry buckle for years, and finally got down to it.

In case you haven’t heard of blueberry buckle, it’s basically a single-layer blueberry coffee cake with a streusel topping. I don’t know about you, but I live and die for streusel topping.
As it turns out, there are recipes for blueberry buckle everywhere. I sifted through a lot of them before deciding on which one to try. The deciding factor? This recipe has a whopping 4 cups of fresh blueberries, which was by and far the most of any recipe I found. More blueberries could only mean more deliciousness, I decided. Plus, the streusel topping looked substantial, more like a crumb topping, which rocks my world.
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I couldn’t have been more excited about how this recipe turned out. There is just enough cake batter to hold the blueberries together, which means it’s basically like just eating fruit, which means you could totally have this for breakfast (don’t you love my logic?). It’s a perfect breakfast/brunch cake, as well as a great dessert for any time of day.
I’m riding the blueberry train as long as I can; if you’re hopping on, too, you definitely want to make this cake before summer’s end.

One year ago: Hot Corn and Cheese Dip
Two years ago: Peach Cobbler and Malted Milk Ice Cream
Three years ago: Cranberry Orange Scones
Four years ago: White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
Six years ago: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip

Blueberry Buckle
Ingredients
For the Topping:
- ½ cup (62.5 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (110 g) light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) ground cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
- ¼ cup (56.75 g) unsalted butter, softened, cut into 8 pieces
For the Cake:
- 1½ cups (187.5 g) all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons (1.5 teaspoons) baking powder
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- ⅔ cup (133.33 g) granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) salt
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) grated lemon zest
- 1½ teaspoons (1.5 teaspoons) vanilla extract
- 2 eggs, at room temperature
- 4 cups (592 g) fresh blueberries, (20 ounces)
Instructions
- Make the Topping: With an electric mixer, combine the flour, sugars, cinnamon, and salt on low speed until well combined, about 45 seconds. Add the butter and continue to mix on low speed until the mixture resembles wet sand and no large butter pieces remain, about 2½ minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside.
- Make the Cake: Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a round 9-inch cake pan, line the bottom of the pan with parchment, grease the parchment, then flour the inside of the pan.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder; set aside. Using an electric mixer, cream together the butter, sugar, salt and lemon zest at medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the vanilla and beat until combined, about 30 seconds. Reduce the mixer speed to medium, then add eggs one at a time; beat for 5 to 10 seconds, then scrape down bowl and continue to beat until fully incorporated (mixture will appear broken). Reduce the mixer speed to low, then gradually add the flour mixture and beat until the flour is almost fully incorporated, about 20 seconds. Use a rubber spatula to finish mixing until no flour pockets remain (the batter will be very heavy and thick). Using the rubber spatula, gently fold blueberries into the batter until evenly distributed.
- Transfer batter to prepared pan; use an offset spatula to gently spread the batter evenly to the pan edges and smooth the surface. Squeeze a handful of the streusel in your hand to form a large cohesive clump; break up the clump with your fingers and sprinkle evenly over batter. Repeat with remaining streusel.
- Bake until the top is deep golden brown and a thin knife inserted into center of the cake comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Place on a wire rack for 20 minutes (the cake will fall slightly as it cools).
- Run a thin knife around the sides of cake. Invert the cake, then peel off the parchment from the bottom of the cake and discard. Turn the cake right-side-up onto a cooling rack or serving dish. Allow to cool for at least 1 hour. Serve warm or at room temperature. Leftovers can be stored at room temperature, in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap, for up to 2 days.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!



I’m getting 20 pounds of blueberries this week so this will have to be something to try!! I’ve been making blueberry crisp for years with a recipe similar to yours. Just wondering…. have you ever used frozen blueberries in this buckle recipe? I might be freezing some of my 20 lbs.to use later,so I’m curious if they would work :-)
Hi Cindy, The headnote of the recipe by Cook’s Illustrated states that fresh blueberries are best, and that frozen ones can be too moist for this recipe. Hope that helps!
I live and die for crumble toppings too! Love this!
I just love how that cake actually looks like it’s buckling under the topping! And that’s a good thing in my book. :) Love the look and density of this cake! Thanks for sharing!
Going to have to go to the store today to pick up some blueberries. Where is your cake stand from? I’ve been looking for one like that for a long time.
Hi Tiffany, I actually picked it up at either Marshall’s or TJMaxx (I can’t remember which one).
I have made this version of Blueberry Buckle for years (as soon as Cook’s Illustrated printed this recipe). It’s the best one yet! This recipe gets rave reviews every time I bring it to a potluck!
I love buckles!! The topping is the best part :)
Wow! That’s a lot of blueberry goodness!
I love this recipe from CI. The addition cardamom recipe is wonderful too.
I’ve been eyeballing a similar recipe (with 5 cups of blueberries).. haven’t made it yet.
http://megduerksen.typepad.com/photos/recipes/sc00a5d9e7.html
Somehow you must know I went blueberry picking yesterday! I made your blueberry muffins and they are delicious! I am definitely making this. With three little helpers picking berries I have TONS.
I can’t stand how quickly summer is flying by! I have bookmarked this buckle to make for a coffee cake at the lake cabin when I have a bunch of guests to serve! Great recipe!
Coffee cake with blueberries and crumble topping? My perfect afternoon snack cake! I love it
Love this! I have never heard of a “buckle” before today, and believe it or not, I’m a pastry chef.
Going to make this with the crumb made with brown butter, and coarse salt.
Thank you! Happy summer!
Just curious – do you have access to locally grown fruit where you live? Farmer’s markets?
Planning on blueberry picking this week. So perfect recipe to try. I’ve been looking to experiment with my goods. Thanks!
The more blueberries the better! Love the thick streusel topping!
Hi, I have a question, what if I wanted to use frozen blueberries, I would thaw them out first, and coat with a little flour, but would that work in this recipe? Another thing, my streusel topping as I was baking it, liquefied…is that normal for that to happen? Thanks it’s baking as we blog, and I can’t wait to taste it! The bowl scrapings were delish!
Thanks!
Hi JoAnn, Per the recipe headnote that recommends using fresh blueberries and not frozen, I would stick with fresh if you can. You can always give it a go as you described, but I can’t guarantee the outcome. As for the streusel topping liquifying… I think your butter may have been too warm and just melted. It shouldn’t liquify.
Thanks! It turned out delish! My family loved it, even with the streusel alittle hard on top…and the blueberries being frozen didn’t change the flavor one bit, but I am going to try it with fresh ones next time, which I’m making this again tomorrow! Thanks for sharing the recipe ♥
Gorgeous Blueberry Buckle, Michelle! I have made this CI recipe before and it is delish! And, guess what I’m baking today? A buckle! Thanks for sharing!
This is one of my absolute favorite blueberry recipes! LIke you said, there’s SO much fruit in it, and when you combine that with the topping, it’s just heavenly :)
This cake looks delicious and I think it is great it calls for so much fruit! Definitely will make it very flavorful!
Yum!
4 cups of blueberries and a C.I. recipe – cannot go wrong! Michelle it looks so good! I’ve recently been on a massive baking-with-blueberries kick and have 2 pre-written posts and would love to bake more with them. I am just in love with blueberry things lately. Your buckle looks perfect. Love the crumbly top, too!
I _love_ this recipe. It is really amazing how many blueberries they cram into this cake, and, as long as you use fresh ones, they don’t burst all over the inside of the cake and ruin the crumb. The only thing I don’t like about this cake is that it goes off quickly, so be prepared to eat a lot of it in a few days. Even then, it’s totally worth it.
I love the struessel topping too. Seriously. It’s the best part. YUM!
I love blueberries, this looks like perfection!
I love the excuse to have this for breakfast!
Whoaaaaa, stay on that blueberry train, I’m a fan! I’ll be in the streusel caboose:)
I feel like the bottom has fallen out of summer and it will be over as fast as it started. This buckle loooks so perfect, bursting with all those fresh blueberries. I love streusel toppings too. I’m dying for A slice! Your photos are amazing. I need some of this soon!
This is beyond tasty looking.. I’m all kinds of jealous that I don’t have this in my life right now. It will change soon, this is now on the to make list!
I Love that I get to See all your beautiful summer food in the middle of winter; this is book marked fo sho!
Summer is going by way to fast!! Must make more pies. This buckle looks so good. I love all the blueberries. yum!