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Easy Sourdough Discard Blueberry Buckle Recipe

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A sweet and tender cake, sprinkled with a crunchy streusel topping and speckled with fresh blueberries, this Sourdough Blueberry Buckle is quick to make and sure to impress. Perfect to serve as breakfast, with afternoon tea, or as an after-dinner dessert. Make with fresh blueberries during the blueberry season or with frozen blueberries to enjoy all year long.

Sourdough Blueberry Buckle on a white plate with blueberries

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Sourdough Blueberry Buckle on a white plate with blueberries

Late spring and early summer, otherwise known as blueberry season, is a time for everything blueberry. It’s a time for snacking on handfuls of freshly picked blueberries and where the breakfast table and countertop are graced with all of the family’s favorite blueberry recipes- blueberry pancakes, muffins, cobblers, and more!

The one family favorite that my Michiganian dad still craves most often is my grandma’s, Blueberry Buckle. So as that time of year approaches once again, I’m pulling out her checkered recipe card and giving her original recipe a few little twists.

Still just as moist, sweet, and bursting with bites of blueberry, I’ve added my favorite, sourdough starter (otherwise known as sourdough discard). I just can’t help it! I love finding new ways to incorporate sourdough discard, like in my Sourdough Discard Pie Crust (another one of my grandma’s recipes made sourdough)or in my Cheddar and Chive Sourdough Irish Soda Bread.

In this recipe, the sourdough starter not only adds a wonderful sourdough tang to this cake but also reduces the gluten formation in the batter, creating a softer and more tender cake.

I’ve also incorporated some fresh lemon zest in the batter for an extra bit of zip and brightness. You just can’t go wrong with blueberry and lemon, you know?

Altogether, the lightness of the cake, the crunch of the streusel crumbles, and the sweetness of the blueberries just can’t be beaten and I hope my sourdough rendition would make my grandma proud.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

  • Quick and easy: This is a no-fuss recipe and can be whipped up in a pinch. I even learned that you can make the crumble ahead of time and freeze it in a ziplock bag to save even more time in the future!
  • No waste: If you’re like me, you’re always looking for new ways to use your leftover sourdough starter and this is a winner!
  • Leftover blueberries: In a season jam-packed with sourdough blueberry cobbler or sourdough muffins recipes, try this less familiar, but undoubtedly delicious, sourdough blueberry buckle. Another blueberry recipe in your repertoire.

Ingredients

Sourdough Blueberry Buckle:

All-purpose flour – My favorite brand to use isย King Arthur’s Flour.

Baking powder

Salt – Any unrefined salt will do, but my favorite is Redmondโ€™s unrefined salt for some extra minerals!

Butter – Softened

Sugar – Granulated white sugar

Sourdough Starter – I find sourdough discard that is about 24 โ€“ 48hrs old works best for this recipe, however, you can use even older discard for a more tangy taste.

Milk

Egg

Vanilla Extract

Lemon zest – Only peel the very outside of the lemon rind. If you zest too deep, the white part tends to be very bitter.

Blueberries – Fresh is best, but you can use frozen and make this treat any time of the year!

Crumble Topping:

White Sugar

Brown Sugar

Flour

Cinnamon

Butter – Be sure to use cold butter! Using room-temperature or melted butter will cause the topping to spread out and flatten when it bakes.

Supplies

Stand mixer or hand mixer

Mixing Bowls

Wooden Spoon

Measuring cups and spoons

Kitchen Scale

Round or 9×9 square baking pan

Parchment Paper

Wire rack

How to Make Crumble Topping

In a medium bowl, add white and brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and cold, cubed butter.

Crumble the larger pieces of butter with your fingers and mix by hand until the butter is well coated with the flour mixture. It’s best to work quickly in order to prevent the butter from getting too soft. Softened butter will melt during the baking and result in a flat crust, rather than a crunchy crumble.

Place the bowl of crumble topping in the fridge to chill until ready to top our sourdough blueberry buckle.

How to Make Sourdough Blueberry Buckle

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees f.

Grease the inside of a round cake pan or 9×9 square pan with butter or cooking spray.

In a large bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups flour, 2 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, cream 3/4 cup sugar and 1/2 stick of softened butter until it is light and fluffy.

Then add a large egg and mix until pale yellow color.

In a medium bowl, mix together 1/2 cup sourdough starter, 1/2 cup milk, 1 tablespoon of lemon zest, and 1/2 tsp of pure vanilla extract.

Add the wet ingredients to the stand mixer and mix on low speed for about a minute, stopping to occasionally scrape the bottom and the sides of the bowl so that everything is incorporated.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, half a cup at a time while mixing on low speed. Be sure not to over-mix the batter.

In a large bowl, pour flour over the fresh or frozen blueberries. You shouldn’t need much flour, just enough to coat the blueberries, about a couple of tablespoons. Mix with a wooden spoon until they are evenly coated.

Scoop half of the batter into the prepared pan and spread smoothly. Pour 1 cup of blueberries on top of the batter. Place the remaining batter on top and spread evenly. Add the remaining blueberries on top of the cake.

The finishing touch is to sprinkle an even layer of the crumb topping – don’t miss the edges!

Place your pan into the preheated oven and bake until the 45-50 minute mark or until golden brown. Double-check that it is fully baked with the toothpick test. If the toothpick comes out clean, it is done baking.

Remove the sourdough blueberry buckle from the oven and cool it on a wire rack.

Once it is just warm to the touch, slice it up in wedges or squares and display them on your favorite serving plate!

Good luck saving them til the next day – they are that scrumptious!

How to Serve Sourdough Blueberry Buckle:

Whether you call it a buckle, coffee cake, or sourdough blueberry crumb cake, this blueberry goodness should be served accompanied by a steaming cup of coffee or tea.

It can surely impress your guests with no extra frills but we all know that an extra dollop of sweetness is always invited to the party. Serve this sourdough blueberry buckle warm or at room temperature with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, custard, or homemade whipped cream.

How to Store Sourdough Blueberry Buckle:

Cover the sourdough blueberry buckle with plastic wrap once completely cooled or store it in an air-tight container. It will keep for 2-3 days.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is a Buckle?

A buckle, also cheekily known as “boy bait”, is a coffee-cake-like dessert with a sweet crumble topping, but packed filled with fresh fruit. While the cake rises, the weight of the blueberries causes the cake to “buckle”, or crack, around the fruit.

Can I Make a Sourdough Blueberry Buckle with Different Fruits?

Though blueberry is the family favorite for this buckle recipe, you can swap them out for strawberries, blackberries, rhubarb, or even cherries! Feel free to omit the lemon zest and add extra cinnamon, if desired.

Can you Freeze Sourdough Blueberry Buckle?

Most certainly! Once the sourdough blueberry buckle has cooled completely, cover it with a layer of plastic wrap, then a layer of aluminum foil, and store it in a plastic gallon-sized bag. It will keep for up to 3 months. Thaw on the countertop before serving.

Can I use Frozen Blueberries?

Absolutely! With the help of frozen blueberries, this sweet treat can be enjoyed all year long. No need to thaw your frozen blueberries before folding them into the batter. If you do, the blueberry juices may turn the batter purple. A fun presentation, but not a traditional, serving style.

Sprinkle the frozen blueberries with flour until lightly coated. This helps them to stick to the batter so they don’t sink to the bottom while baking.

Happy baking!

More Sourdough Discard Recipes:

Sourdough Discard Banana Bars

Sourdough Pie Crust – for Sweet or Savory Pies!

Cheddar and Chive Sourdough Irish Soda Bread

Sourdough Blueberry Buckle on a white plate with blueberries

Sourdough Blueberry Buckle Recipe

Yield: 16
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

A sweet and tender cake, sprinkled with a crunchy streusel topping and speckled with fresh blueberries, this Sourdough Blueberry Buckle is quick to make and sure to impress. Perfect to serve as breakfast, with afternoon tea, or after-dinner dessert. Make with fresh blueberries during the blueberry season or with frozen blueberries to enjoy all year long.

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Enter your email below, and weโ€™ll send it straight to your inbox! Plus, youโ€™ll get my newest sourdough recipes and best tips every week!

Ingredients

Crumble Topping

  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar (53g)
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed (55g)
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour (47g)
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (1g)
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 1/4 cup butter, cold (57g)

Sourdough Blueberry Buckle

  • 1 1/2 cup All-purpose flour (210)
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder (8g)
  • 1/2 teaspoons salt (4g)
  • 3/4 cup white sugar (158g)
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened (57g)
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup sourdough discard (140g)
  • 1/2 cup milk (155g)
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon zest (3g)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (4g)
  • 2 cups blueberries (300g)

Instructions

Crumble Topping:

  1. In a medium bowl, add 1/4c white (53g) and 1/4 c brown sugar (55g), 1/3 c flour (47g), 1/2 tsp cinnamon (1g), pinch of salt, and 1/4 c cold, cubed butter (57g).
  2. Crumble the larger pieces of butter with your fingers and mix by hand until the butter is well coated with the flour mixture.
  3. Place in the fridge to chill until ready to top the sourdough blueberry buckle.

Sourdough Blueberry Buckle

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. Grease the inside of a round 9-inch cake pan or 9x9 square pan with butter or cooking spray.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 c flour (210g), 2 1/2 tsp baking powder (8g), and 1/2 tsp salt (4g). Set aside.
  4. In the bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, cream 3/4 c sugar (158g) and 1/4 c softened butter (57g) until it is light and fluffy.
  5. Then add a large egg and mix until pale yellow color.
  6. In a medium bowl, mix together 1/2 c sourdough starter (140g) , 1/2 c milk (155g), 1 T lemon zest (3g), and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (4g)
  7. Add the wet ingredients to the stand mixer and mix on low speed for about a minute, stopping to occasionally scrape the bottom and the sides of the bowl so that everything is incorporated.
  8. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, half a cup at a time while mixing on low speed. Be sure not to over-mix the batter.
  9. In a large bowl, pour 1-2 T flour over the 2 c fresh or frozen blueberries (300g). You shouldn't need much flour, just enough to coat the blueberries. Mix with a wooden spoon until they are evenly coated.
  10. Scoop half of the batter into the prepared pan and spread smoothly. Pour 1 cup of blueberries on top of the batter. Place the remaining batter on top and spread evenly. Add the remaining blueberries on top of the cake.
  11. The finishing touch is to sprinkle an even layer of the crumb topping - don't miss the corners!
  12. Place your pan into the preheated oven and bake until the 45-50 minute mark or until golden brown. Double-check that it is fully baked with the toothpick test. If the toothpick comes out clean, it is done baking.
  13. Remove the sourdough blueberry buckle from the baking dish and cool on a wire rack.
  14. Once it is just warm to the touch, slice it up in wedges or squares and display them on your favorite serving plate!

Notes

    • Cover the sourdough blueberry buckle with plastic wrap once completely cooled or store it in an air-tight container. It will keep for 2-3 days.
    • No need to thaw your frozen blueberries before folding them into the batter. If you do, the blueberry juices may turn the batter purple. A fun presentation, but not a traditional, serving style. Flour and add just like fresh.
    • This buckle recipe can be made with an array of different fruits. Swap blueberries out for strawberries, blackberries, rhubarb, or even cherries!
    • To freeze, cover the buckle with a layer of plastic wrap, then a layer of aluminum foil once it is completely cooled, and store it in a plastic gallon-sized bag. It will keep for up to 3 months. Thaw on the countertop before serving.

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30 Comments

    1. I followed the recipe except used 1 1/2 tsp lemon oil instead of the lemon zest. Mixed it up and put it right into the oven.

  1. I tried an experiment using half low carb flour ( a mix of almond, oat fiber, coconut and vital wheat gluten) and the other half was all purpose flour. Used monk fruit white and brown sugars and left everything else the same and it came out fabulous! Great recipe thank you!

  2. This was SO good!! Iโ€™ll make this regularly. Thank you for the recipe!
    How do you think this would bake up in a loaf pan? Iโ€™m thinking a one pound one.
    Thanks again!

  3. Should this be with bread or all-purpose flour? The recipe say AP, but your post says you like to use “Bread” flour.

  4. I’ve made the Blueberry Buckle cake 4 times and each time I’ve baked it, it has turned out excellent!!! A new family favourite and you are correct, no need to worry about left overs as it’s usually gone the same day. Thank you for creating a wonderful recipe that I can use my discard with!!!

  5. I made this tonight and couldnโ€™t wait to leave a comment. So, so good! Simple ingredients. It baked up perfectly. I can hardly wait until tomorrow morning when I can have another piece. Thanks for this great recipe!

  6. I made this in a 9 inch glass deep dish pie pan and it turned out wonderfully. Great recipe! Served with whipped cream while warm.

  7. I used fresh picked Idaho huckleberries! It was delicious! Thank you for this wonderful recipe. Itโ€™s going to be saved.!

  8. I’ve made this recipe several times and it’s always good. I have a question about the amount of flour in grams. If 1 cup of flour is 120 grams, then 1 1/2 cups should be 180 grams, not 210.

    1. Hi Kimberly! Thank you for your detailed observation! You’re absolutely right, flour measurements can vary depending on how it’s scooped. For this recipe, I weighed the flour at 210g, which I personally found to be about 1 1/2 cups when using my usual scoop and level method. I understand how this may vary, especially since standard conversions can place 1 cup closer to 120-125g, rather than the 140g I referenced.

      Baking by weight is certainly the best way to ensure consistency, so I recommend sticking to the 210g for the most accurate results. Happy baking, and I hope you continue to enjoy this recipe!