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    Home » Recipes » Cake Recipes

    Blueberry Buckle with Lemon Syrup

    Published: May 13, 2022 by Chef Dennis Littley

    3.2K shares
    • Facebook3.0K
    • Yummly
    4.95 from 54 votes
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Blueberry Buckle is a deliciously moist cake, packed with fresh blueberries and topped with a buttery streusel topping. Add a sweet-tart lemon syrup for a burst of lemony flavor that compliments this classic American dessert and you’ve got a crowd-pleaser!

    slice of blueberry buckle on a white plate with blueberries in the background

    Home Baked Buckle has been in the United States for centuries, which leads many to believe it was developed by the early colonists. You’ll still find Buckle is extremely popular in New England, where it is often made with blueberries, which is what I chose for delicious homemade buckle!

    While blueberry buckle is the classic version, the dessert can also be made with peaches, nectarines, raspberries, and any other fresh fruit available. You can even mix several types of fruit in your buckle.

    pan of blueberry buckle sliced with lemons and blueberries around it

    The base of the buckle consists of a rich cake batter, which is sprinkled with fresh fruit. Some cooks prefer to split their batter, layering half in the bottom of the pan and mixing the other half with the fruit before pouring it in. 

    The fruit batter is topped with a streusel mixture. During the baking process, the cake batter rises up around the fruit, encasing the fruit in batter and causing the streusel to buckle, creating a distinctive crinkly appearance.

    What Ingredients do I need to make a Blueberry Buckle?

    ingredients to make blueberry buckle with lemon sauce

    Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Blueberry Buckle. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”.

    Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

    How do I make a Streusel Topping?

    two images showing how to make a streusel topping.
    • Place the very cold butter, sugar, flour and oats into a mixing bowl.
    • Using your hands, mix until all the butter has been blended in making peas size crumbs. Set in Refrigerator until needed

    How do I make Blueberry Buckle?

    six images showing how to make a blueberry buckle.
    • Add the butter, sugar, and lemons zest to the bowl of your mixer.
    • Cream the ingredients together until light and creamy, about 3 minutes.
    • Add the eggs one at a time, fully incorporating.
    • Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl
    • Mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium-sized bowl.
    • Add half the flour mixture to the creamed butter mixture
    six images showing how to finish making blueberry buckle.
    • Mix just enough to incorporate the flour.
    • Add the Greek yogurt to the bowl.
    • Mix the yogurt in just enough to incorporate.
    • Add the remaining flour mixture, mixing just enough so it’s barely incorporated (there will still be dry bits of unincorporated flour)
    • Add the blueberries to the batter.
    • Using a flexible spatula, fold the blueberries into the mixture. Be careful not to overmix.
    four images showing the last steps in making a blueberry buckle
    • Scrape the batter into the prepared baking pan and smooth the top.
    • Add the topping over the batter and bake for 50-55 minutes at 350 degrees. Or until the buckle is lightly browned on top and feels just set in the center. It should spring back lightly when you touch the center.
    • When the buckle is almost finished baking, make the syrup by heating the lemon juice and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat, cooking it until it thickens. It should take about 5 minutes. Don’t allow the syrup to brown.
    whole pan of blueberry buckle with lemons and blueberries around it

    Remove the buckle from the oven and pour the warm lemon syrup over it, letting it soak in.

    slice of blueberry buckle with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top

    Serve the Blueberry Buckle warm from the oven and if you’re feeling decadent try a scoop of vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream with it.

    Recipe FAQ’s

    Why is it called Buckle?

    Blueberry Buckle is called “buckle” because the batter rises as it bakes and the weight of the berries and crumb topping weigh it down, causing the surface of the cake to have a buckled appearance.

    What is the difference between buckle and coffee cake?

    A buckle is a cake that has fruit mixed into the batter, while a coffee cake usually refers to a single layer cake without fruit and topped with the same streusel topping.

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    slice of blueberry buckle being taken out of the pan
    Print Recipe Save Saved!
    4.95 from 54 votes

    Blueberry Buckle with a Lemon Syrup

    Fresh blueberries make my Blueberry Buckle irresistibly delicious. Add Lemon Syrup and it's the perfect dessert, breakfast or snack cake.  Wouldn't you're friends and family love a slice of this deliciousness?
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time55 mins
    Total Time1 hr 5 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 9
    Calories: 442kcal
    Author: Chef Dennis Littley

    Ingredients

    Topping

    • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter cubed and chilled
    • ½ cup sugar
    • ½ cup flour
    • ½ cup oats

    Batter

    • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
    • 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 2 large eggs at room temperature
    • ½ cup Greek yogurt full-fat at room temperature
    • 2 cups blueberries fresh or frozen

    Lemon Syrup

    • ⅓ cup sugar
    • ½ cup lemon juice or lime juice
    US Customary – Metric
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    Instructions

    • Pre-heat oven to 350°
    • Butter a 9-inch (23cm) square cake pan.

    Topping

    • Mix very cold butter, sugar, flour and oats with your hands until all is well mixed with peas size crumbs. Set in Refrigerator until needed

    Batter

    • Cream butter, sugar and lemon zest together until light and creamy, about 3 minutes. (by hand with a wooden spoon or using an electric mixer)
    • Add the eggs one at a time, fully incorporating. Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl
    • Mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in medium-sized bowl.
    • Add half the flour mixture to the creamed, mixing just enough to incorporate
    • Add Greek yogurt, mixing in just enough to incorporate
    • Add the remaining flour mixture, mixing just enough so it’s barely incorporated (there will still be dry bits of unincorporated flour)
    • Using a flexible spatula, fold the blueberries into the mixture. Being careful not to overmix.
    • Scrape the batter into the prepared baking pan and smooth the top.
    • Add the topping over the batter and bake for 50-55 minutes at 350 degrees. Or until the buckle is lightly browned on top and feels just set in the center. It should spring back lightly when you touch the center.
    • When the buckle is almost finished baking, make the syrup by heating the lemon juice and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat, cooking it until it thickens. It should take about 5 minutes. Don't allow the syrup to brown.
    • Remove the buckle from the oven and pour the warm lemon syrup over it, letting it soak in.
    • Serve buckle slightly warm or at room temperature with vanilla ice cream or home made whipped cream.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 442kcal | Carbohydrates: 71g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 181mg | Potassium: 159mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 45g | Vitamin A: 498IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askChefDennis or tag #askChefDennis!

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    About Chef Dennis

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    Chef Dennis is a semi-retired Chef, writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of A Culinary Journey with Chef Dennis aka Ask Chef Dennis®. Chef Dennis worked professionally in White Table Cloth Restaurants for 40 years and has been developing easy to make, restaurant-style recipes since 2009. The second phase of his reinvention from chef to blogger has earned him a place at the Worlds Dinner Table. Join him on his Culinary Journey enjoying his easy to make Restaurant Style recipes and travel adventures. For more details, check out his About page.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mo

      May 23, 2022 at 12:49 pm

      5 stars
      Outstanding! This was my husband’s reply when I asked him “How was it?”… and I agree. I couldn’t stop eating it! Since I cook dinner for another family, I used two 9×5 loaf pans so we could easily share. I ran out of time so didn’t make the lemon syrup … and it’s hard to think that anything could make this dessert more delicious, but I’ll give it a try next time.

      Thank you Chef Dennis for another wonderful recipe!

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        May 23, 2022 at 6:16 pm

        you are very welcome and I’m happy to hear you enjoyed the buckle.

        Reply
    2. Sara

      April 26, 2020 at 12:45 pm

      5 stars
      This buckle looks absolutely divine!! I absolutely love blueberry desserts, and this is so perfect for the season! I cannot wait to make this and enjoy it throughout the week!

      Reply
    3. Michele Peterson

      April 24, 2020 at 8:37 am

      5 stars
      I love the addition of the key lime syrup to this classic dessert. Topped with whipping cream as you suggest it would be especially delicious!

      Reply
    4. Jess

      April 24, 2020 at 1:20 am

      5 stars
      I just bought a basket of blueberries and was wondering what to do with them…this is the perfect recipe for them!

      Reply
    5. Christie Gagnon

      April 23, 2020 at 9:17 pm

      5 stars
      Blueberries, lime, and yogurt all in this buckle -sounds heavenly. Can’t wait to give it a try!

      Reply
    6. Rosemary

      April 23, 2020 at 8:08 pm

      5 stars
      Oh wow…divine! Blueberries are some of my favorite fruits, so this is an easy yes to make. Looks like you are using fresh blueberries, do you think frozen would work? Can’t wait to make this soon!

      Reply
    7. Amy Chung

      April 23, 2020 at 7:49 pm

      5 stars
      Blueberries and key lime?? Yum!

      Reply
    8. Amanda

      April 23, 2020 at 6:57 pm

      5 stars
      Everything about this buckle sounds amazing! I love the idea of pairing blueberries and key lime together — talk about the perfect spring dessert!

      Reply
      • Gloria Fleck

        May 21, 2022 at 1:58 pm

        In the oven now.
        9

        Reply
    9. Sula

      April 23, 2020 at 8:49 am

      5 stars
      Blueberry Buckle is definitely a classic but the addition of key lime sauce is new to me. Love it!

      Reply
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