Blueberry Buckle Coffee Cake {Paleo Friendly}

This Blueberry Buckle Coffee Cake recipe makes a delicious low sugar, gluten free, and paleo-friendly treat! This lighter take on a classic dessert features fluffy almond flour cake studded with fresh blueberries and a cinnamon sugar crumb topping! Serve this cake at your next brunch; nobody will notice that it’s a healthier dessert because it tastes like the real deal!

Egg free and dairy free option included! 

Ya’ll, we’re half way through the year and I’ve already made 10 gluten free dessert recipes! Most with some sort of fruit topping and cake-like texture. And yet, here I am again making another. Naming this berry dessert was probably the hardest part. That’s a good thing, right? Because really, naming fruit desserts boggles my mind, ya’ll; there are just too many names for the same thing! I have memories of a similar problem naming my recipe for vegan hot fruit bake. To be honest, I’m indecisive about this one and I need your help.

The recipe is probably for a blueberry buckle, almost definitely for crumb cake, which also means it’s coffee cake! Oh, and technically, I think it may even fall into the category of a fruit crumble!

INFORMATION. OVERLOAD.

Allow me to explain and then you can decide for yourself what this dessert really is, mmmk? Actually, allow the Farmer’s Almanac to explain, because their article on the topic is very helpful.

What’s the difference between buckle, crumb cake, and coffee cake?

Blueberry Buckle

By definition, a buckle dessert is fluffy cake with fresh fruit throughout (almost always blueberries) and a streusel topping. The name, blueberry buckle, is appropriate because as it bakes, the cake buckles under the weight of the fruit.

Fluffy cake – CHECK. We have almond flour cake, with a tiny bit of coconut flour to help add structure and moisture.

Fresh blueberries – CHECK. If you don’t have fresh berries, you can use frozen.

Streusel topping – CHECK. Streusel is a crumbly topping made with fat (butter), flour, sugar, and cinnamon.

Crumb Cake / Coffee Cake

Crumb cake is simply one type of coffee cake. So, this one is easy. It’s not one name or the other; it’s both.

Here’s where it can be a little confusing. The definition of a coffee cake is almost exactly what a buckle is, with one difference. Coffee cakes usually (but not always) have a ribbon of cinnamon running through them.

Fruit Crumble

Crumbles are baked fruit desserts covered with streusel topping. It’s important to note that crumble topping does not have oats in it, and neither does the topping of my blueberry buckle.

For the record, a fruit dessert that has streusel topping made with oats is known as a crisp. They’re usually gluten free as well; like this coconut summer berry crisp.

7 simple ingredients you need to make this grain free blueberry cake-like dessert!

1. Blueberries (fresh or frozen)
2. Grain Free Flours (Almond flour and coconut flour)
3. Baking Powder
4. Unrefined sugar
5. Butter or coconut oil
6. Egg (or Flax egg)
7. Non Dairy milk

Cinnamon is optional, but oh so heavenly!

P.S. this blueberry cake pairs quite nicely with whipped coconut frosting/cream or yogurt. Just sayin…

 

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Now do you understand why I can’t decide on a name? I think I’ll stick with Blueberry Buckle Coffee Cake and call it a delicious day. If you think it should be called something else, please leave me a comment. I need help! #bakingnerd 

Favorite summer dessert?

Cheers,

LC