What Is a Fruit Buckle?

Fruit is folded into batter to create a "buckle"

Buckle is a simple, old-fashioned combination of fruit and dough from the cobbler family. Buckles call for ripe, fresh fruit, usually blueberries. Fruit is added to batter, topped with streusel and baked. The crusty cake top looks "buckled" when baked.

History

Buckle, and other cobblers, were created in the kitchens of America's first settlers. Buckle is particularly popular in the New England region. Similar to English steamed puddings and other complicated desserts, the simple fruit buckle took advantage of a few basic ingredients and fresh fruit.

Identification

Buckles are similar to other cobblers called slump, crisp, pandowdy, and crumble. They are all made with fresh berries or fruit, and batter similar to a coffee cake.

Serving

Fruit buckle is most often served as a dessert. Buckles are also appropriate for breakfast or a summery first course. Buckle can be served warm, cold or hot, and is often accompanied by ice cream or custard sauce.

Simple Recipe

Buckle is made by folding fresh fruit into cake batter. The batter is made with flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, egg, milk and vanilla. A topping of flour, spices and butter is crumbled over the top. The cake batter "buckles" as it bakes and rises around the heavy layer of streusel topping.

Expert Insight

Fruit buckle can be made with frozen fruit, but the result is not the same as fresh fruit or berries. Drain frozen fruit well before using in fruit buckle.

References

• Gourmet Baking, Cobblers, Crisps, Crumbles, Bettys, Buckles
• Food Network
• Baking Bites: Whole Grain Blueberry Buckle

Resources

• Fruit Buckle Recipes