Gluten-free Blueberry Buckle

This tender gluten-free blueberry buckle bakes with a plush vanilla cake base, juicy blueberries, and a cinnamon crumb topping. It is sturdy enough to slice cleanly but soft enough to serve warm with coffee or tea.
Prep: 20 min · Cook: 45 min · Total: 65 min · Serves: 8
Ingredients
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 0.33 cup light brown sugar (packed)
- 0.5 tsp fine sea salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 0.75 cup granulated sugar
- 0.25 cup whole milk (at room temperature)
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter for topping (cold and cubed)
- 0.5 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour for topping (with xanthan gum)
- 0.5 cup plain greek yogurt (at room temperature)
- 1.5 tsp baking powder
- 2 cups fresh blueberries (rinsed and dried)
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter for cake (softened, plus more for greasing)
- 1.5 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour for cake (with xanthan gum)
- 2 large eggs (at room temperature)
Instructions
- Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F (175°C) for at least 15 minutes so the temperature is fully stabilized.
- Grease an 8-inch square metal baking pan with a thin layer of softened butter, then line the pan with parchment paper so two sides overhang by about 2 inches for easy lifting.
- Make the crumb topping by combining 0.5 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour for topping, 0.33 cup packed light brown sugar, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, and 0.25 tsp of the fine sea salt in a medium bowl with a fork for about 30 seconds.
- Add 4 tbsp cold cubed unsalted butter for topping to the bowl and rub it into the dry ingredients with your fingertips or a pastry cutter for 2-3 minutes, until the mixture forms pea-size crumbs with a few larger clusters; refrigerate the topping while you make the batter.
- Whisk 1.5 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour for cake, 1.5 tsp baking powder, and the remaining 0.25 tsp fine sea salt in a separate medium bowl for 30 seconds, until the leavening is evenly distributed.
- Place 6 tbsp softened unsalted butter for cake and 0.75 cup granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl, then beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2-3 minutes, until the mixture looks pale, fluffy, and slightly increased in volume.
- Add the 2 large eggs one at a time to the butter mixture, beating on medium speed for about 30 seconds after each addition, then beat in 2 tsp vanilla extract until the batter looks smooth and creamy.
- Stir 0.5 cup plain Greek yogurt and 0.25 cup whole milk together in a liquid measuring cup with a spoon for about 15 seconds, until loosened and pourable.
- Add half of the dry flour mixture to the large bowl and mix on low speed for 20-30 seconds, then add the yogurt-milk mixture and mix for 20 seconds before adding the remaining dry mixture and mixing just until no dry streaks remain; the batter should be thick and spoonable.
- Fold 2 cups rinsed and dried fresh blueberries into the batter with a flexible spatula for 20-30 seconds, using gentle strokes so most berries stay whole and evenly distributed.
- Scrape the batter into the prepared 8-inch square pan and spread it into an even layer with an offset spatula, pushing the batter into the corners without compacting it.
- Scatter the chilled crumb topping evenly over the batter, leaving some larger clusters intact so the surface bakes into a craggy cinnamon crust.
- Bake the buckle in the 350°F (175°C) oven for 42-45 minutes, rotating the pan once after 25 minutes, until the topping is golden brown, the edges pull slightly from the pan, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs but no wet batter.
- Set the pan on a wire rack and cool the buckle in the pan for at least 30 minutes, until the crumb topping firms and the cake can be lifted without breaking.
- Use the parchment overhang to lift the buckle onto a cutting board, then slice it into 8 squares with a serrated knife and serve warm or at room temperature.
Nutrition (per serving)
- Calories: 344
- Protein: 5 g
- Fat: 15 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 246 mg
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