Old-fashioned Blueberry Buckle (Moist Cake with Crumb Topping)

This old-fashioned Blueberry Buckle is the perfect mix of tender vanilla cake, fresh berries, and buttery streusel topping. It's a vintage recipe that's part cobbler, part coffee cake, and completely delicious.

Jump to:

• What is a Buckle? (And Why You Will Love It!)
• Ingredients You'll Need
• How to Make this Blueberry Buckle Recipe
• Tips for Making the Best Blueberry Buckle
• Variations & Substitutions
• How to Store & Freeze a Buckle
• Coffee Cake Serving Ideas
• More Berry Desserts You'll Love
• Old-fashioned Blueberry Buckle

What is a Buckle? (And Why You Will Love It!)

If a fruit cobbler and a coffee cake had a baby, it’d be a buckle. A buckle is an old-school American dessert that layers juicy fruit, soft vanilla cake, and a buttery crumb topping all in one cozy pan.

Buckles date back to colonial New England and became especially popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Blueberry buckle is the best-known version, thanks to the abundance of wild blueberries in the Northeast US.

Unlike a cobbler, which is usually some variation of biscuity dough baked over fruit, a buckle starts with the cake batter on the bottom. As it bakes, the fruit sinks in and the cake rises up around it—creating a slightly sunken, “buckled” look. And while buckles do share the crunchy streusel topping of a coffee cake, they are more of an anytime of day cake–just as welcome at an early brunch as served late night, warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients You'll Need

A buckle is made with fresh berries – in this case blueberries – and a short list of simple pantry staples.

• All-purpose flour – Used in both the cake and crumb topping for structure and texture.
• Baking powder – Helps the cake rise. Make sure it’s fresh for a fluffy buckle.
• Salt – Balances sweetness and enhances flavor.
• Butter – Softened for the cake, cold for the topping. Unsalted is best, but salted works—just reduce added salt slightly.
• Granulated sugar – Sweetens the cake and helps create a tender crumb.
• Egg – Adds structure and richness. Use a large, room-temp egg if possible.
• Milk – Whole milk makes the cake extra moist; 2% is fine too.
• Vanilla extract – Adds warm, classic flavor.
• Lemon zest – Brightens everything and pairs beautifully with blueberries.
• Blueberries – Fresh or frozen. If frozen, toss in flour—no need to thaw.
• Cinnamon – Adds cozy, coffee cake flavor to the topping.
• Light brown sugar – Brings caramel notes and crunch to the crumb topping.

See recipe card for quantities.

How to Make this Blueberry Buckle Recipe

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x9-inch baking dish or a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate and set aside.

Make the streusel topping: In a small bowl, combine the flour, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry blender, fork, or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, like oatmeal. Cover and place the topping in the freezer while you prepare the cake.

Make the cake batter: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter on high speed until pale and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes. Add the sugar and continue beating until well creamed.

Beat in the egg until fully incorporated. Add the vanilla and lemon zest, mixing until just combined.

With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture and milk in alternating additions—starting and ending with the flour—mixing just until smooth. Do not overmix. The batter should be about the consistency of creamy peanut butter; thick, smooth, and spreadable.

Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.

Prepare the berries: Toss the blueberries with 1 tablespoon of flour to coat. Scatter them evenly over the batter, then gently press them down just a bit with your palms so they’re slightly nestled in.

Remove the streusel from the freezer and sprinkle it evenly over the berries.

Bake: Place the pan in the oven and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 5 minutes. Without opening the oven, reduce the temperature to 350°F (175°C) and continue baking for 35–40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Cool and serve: Let the buckle cool for at least 15–20 minutes before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature. It’s lovely on its own—but even better with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Tips for Making the Best Blueberry Buckle

Room temp ingredients make a difference! Make sure your butter, egg, and milk are at room temperature before mixing. This helps the batter come together smoothly and bake evenly.

Don’t overmix the batter. Once you add the dry ingredients, mix just until combined. Overmixing can make the cake tough instead of tender.

Using frozen berries? No problem—just don’t thaw them first. Toss them with flour as usual, then add 2–5 minutes to the baking time to account for the extra chill. Keep an eye on the top; it should be golden and a toothpick should come out clean when it’s done.

Cool before slicing. Letting the buckle rest for 15–20 minutes helps it set up and makes for cleaner slices.

Variations & Substitutions

Swap the berries: Blueberries are classic, but this recipe works beautifully with raspberries, blackberries, or a mix of your favorite berries. If using frozen fruit, don’t thaw it—just toss with flour and use straight from the freezer to prevent excess moisture.

Add some crunch: Chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts can be stirred into the streusel topping for extra texture and a toasty flavor. (For a real treat, swap out the streusel topping here for our sweet, crunchy Nut Streusel Topping!)

Spice it up: Add a pinch of nutmeg, cardamom, or ginger to the cake batter or topping for a subtle twist. Warm spices pair especially well with berries and brown sugar.

Brighten it up: Try orange or lime zest in place of lemon for a different citrus note.

Make it extra: Drizzle the cooled buckle with a simple vanilla glaze (powdered sugar + milk + a splash of vanilla) for a sweet finishing touch.

How to Store & Freeze a Buckle

Room Temperature: Once completely cooled, cover the buckle loosely with plastic wrap. It will stay fresh at room temp for up to 3 days.

Refrigerator: For longer storage, keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. The streusel may soften slightly but the flavor stays delicious.

Freezer: You can freeze the baked buckle! Wrap individual slices or the whole (cooled) buckle tightly in plastic wrap and foil, then freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge or warm slices in the microwave or oven.

Coffee Cake Serving Ideas

One of my favorite ways to serve blueberry buckle (or any kind of brunch or coffee cake) is to serve it in rounds.

To do this, first bake your cake (buckle, coffee cake, what-have-you) in a square or rectangular pan. You can either a 9x9-inch pan for a standard batch or a 9x13-inch pan if you’re doubling the recipe.

When it’s time to serve, skip the knife and reach for a sharp biscuit cutter instead. If you press it straight down and lift it out with just a slight twist, the round cake piece should lift out with it. Then simply push your finger down gently on the top of the cut piece to guide it onto a plate or serving platter. This method gives you perfectly round, brunch-ready portions with clean edges. Just remember to wipe the cutter between each cut for neat results. Want to offer different portion sizes? Use a mix of cutter sizes to suit different appetites.

But doesn’t cutting the cake this way create waste, Renée? Well, that depends on how you define “waste.” Are there little scraps that aren’t exactly presentation-worthy? Absolutely. Or, if you’re an optimist (or hungry), you’ll see them for what they really are: a dozen tiny snack bites just waiting to be enjoyed by you or your kiddos. Win-win.

Here's a few more serving ideas:

• Breakfast or Brunch: Serve with a dollop of vanilla or lemon yogurt and a handful of fresh blueberries.
• Dessert: Warm a serving up in the microwave for 8, and serve with vanilla ice cream on the side.

More Berry Desserts You'll Love

Looking for more fresh berry recipes? Keep the summer fruit vibes going with these delicious favorites: spoon this Simple Berry Compote over yogurt or pancakes, or bake up a batch of tender Blueberry Banana Muffins for breakfast. Craving something cool? Try homemade Fresh Strawberry Ice Cream, or treat yourself to Fresh Strawberry Cream Pie. For something classic, don’t miss our Classic Blueberry Pie, and if you’re feeling a little fancy, Strawberry Cream Crêpes make a lovely weekend brunch.

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