We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Baking

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is the Dessert Called Buckle?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 33,861
Share

Buckle is a dessert which combines fresh seasonal fruit, a rich cake batter, and a streusel topping. The result is a rich, dense cake with a moist crumb which is sometimes compared to coffee cake. It is an excellent summer dessert, and can be served hot or cold, plain or dressed with drizzles of sauce. Making buckle at home is relatively easy, and a great way to use fresh fruit.

The origins of buckle are a bit mysterious. The dish has been in the United States for centuries, suggesting that it may have been developed by colonists. Buckle is extremely popular in New England, where it is often made with blueberries. While blueberry buckle is a classic version, the dessert can also be made with peaches, nectarines, raspberries, and any other fresh fruit that can be imagined. Many cooks mix several types of fruit in their buckle.

The base of buckle is 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 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.

To make buckle, start by selecting good seasonal fruit. While you can use frozen fruit, the dessert will not be quite the same. Always wash fruit before using it, and while the fruit is draining, start working on the other components of the buckle.

Sift one and ¼ cups flour together with ½ cup sugar, one and ½ teaspoons baking powder, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Set aside and beat ½ cup butter until soft before adding one egg, 1/3 cup milk, and ½ teaspoon vanilla. Mix the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients, and pour the batter into an oiled eight inch (20 centimeter) square baking dish. Top with the fresh fruit, and add a streusel topping of ½ cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, ¼ cup softened butter, and one teaspoon of cinnamon. The streusel will form a crisp sugar coating as the buckle bakes.

Bake the buckle at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius) for 45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the buckle comes out clean. Serve from the pan, plain or topped with whipped cream, ice cream, or sauces of choice.

Share
DelightedCooking is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a DelightedCooking researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Discussion Comments
By julies — On Jul 18, 2012

It really doesn't take long to mix up a buckle dessert. I am from the East coast and grew up eating this dessert as a girl. My mom often fixed it with rhubarb as it was one of the first fruits to come in season.

I don't think you can go wrong with the fruit you use when you make this. It really doesn't take very long to mix together and makes a perfect dessert to serve company.

When they walk in your house and smell the dessert baking in the oven, they know they really have something tasty to look forward to.

By LisaLou — On Jul 17, 2012

I have made a buckle dessert with many kinds of fresh fruit, but my favorite is a combination of raspberries and blueberries. We have black and red raspberry bushes and one of the first things I make when I pick these is a buckle dessert.

The combination of blueberries and any kind of raspberry is the just the right amount of sweetness for me.

My husband loves peaches, so when peaches are in season, I will use them for the fresh fruit. There is nothing more satisfying than a warm piece of buckle dessert served with homemade vanilla ice cream. This is one dessert my family would start asking for if I didn't make it throughout the spring and summer.

By anon278294 — On Jul 05, 2012

Thank you! This solved a huge argument over what the hell a buckle is.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.delightedcooking.com/what-is-the-dessert-called-buckle.htm
Copy this link
DelightedCooking, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

DelightedCooking, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.