Buckle Up

When blueberries are at their peak, this simple dessert is the treat to bake.

- ANDEE GOSNELL,VICTOR PROTASIO

DATING BACK TO 19TH-CENTURY NEW ENGLAND, blueberry buckle is a classic, old-school American dessert. Similar to a coffee cake but studded with fresh fruit, the buckle’s clever name is a clue of what’s to come: As the cake rises and bakes, the sweet, buttery streusel surface “buckles,” forming dips and ridges around pockets of juicy berries.

Don’t mistake the cake’s speed and simplicity for ordinariness; this buckle turns a handful of pantry staples into a peak-season blueberry dessert that you’ll want to put on repeat all summer long.

Blueberry Buckle

ACTIVE 30 MIN; TOTAL 1 HR 30 MIN MAKES 1 (9-INCH) SQUARE CAKE

Sweet-tart blueberries are nestled into a tender vanilla cake and topped with a crumbly spiced streusel. For the best buckle—one with craggy ridges—fold the majority of the berries into the batter, then scatter the rest over top so they burst into jammy sweetness as the cake bakes.

CAKE

Cooking spray