Buttermilk Blueberry Buckle

A buckle is a kind of coffeecake made with fruit -- usually blueberries -- and a sugar/spice topping. Tradition has it that the name comes from the way the cake "buckles" as it bakes, rising around its fruit topping (which is also sinking), so that the cake finishes with a very uneven top surface.

We present here a traditional blueberry buckle. A very moist cake, it's best served hot out of the oven (with whipped cream/ice cream if desired), or warm. If allowed to sit longer than 12 hours or so, the buckle tends to become mushy. Although blueberry is the usual fruit found in a buckle, try it with other berries or with summer fruits, which have been diced and well-drained.