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+ servings

Easy Blueberry Cake Recipe: California-Style Breakfast Cake

A simple, buttery blueberry breakfast cake with a crunchy walnut streusel and optional lemon glaze. Perfect for brunch or a sweet morning treat.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 1
Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Desserts
Cuisine: American
Calories: 190

Ingredients
  

Cake Batter
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup whole milk or oat milk for dairy-free
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter cold, cut into small pieces
  • 1 teaspoon grated Meyer lemon zest or regular lemon zest
  • 2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries if frozen, do not thaw
Streusel Topping
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter cut into small cubes
Glaze (Optional)
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar sifted
  • 2 tablespoons milk or lemon juice for a tangy finish

Method
 

Prepare the Cake
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and baking powder. Add the cold butter pieces and cut them into the flour mixture using a pastry blender or your fingers until the butter is in pea-sized bits.
  3. Add the egg, milk, and lemon zest. Stir just until the dry ingredients are moistened. The batter will be very thick; use your hands to incorporate any remaining flour if needed.
  4. Gently fold in the blueberries. Because the batter is dense, take your time to distribute them evenly. Spread the batter into the prepared pan.
Make the Streusel
  1. In a small bowl, combine the sugar, flour, walnuts, and cinnamon. Add the cold butter cubes and work them into the mixture with your fingers or a fork until the topping is crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over the cake batter.
Bake and Finish
  1. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes.
  2. For the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar and milk until smooth. If the glaze is too thick, add a few drops of milk until it reaches a drizzling consistency. Drizzle over the warm cake and let set before slicing.

Nutrition

Calories: 190kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 3gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3.5gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 150mgFiber: 1gSugar: 16g

Notes

For the best texture, measure your flour using the scoop-and-sweep method: spoon flour into the measuring cup, then level off with a knife. If using frozen blueberries, add them straight from the freezer to prevent the batter from turning purple. To make this dairy-free, substitute the milk with oat milk and use a vegan butter stick. The cake keeps well at room temperature for up to 3 days, or you can freeze individual slices wrapped in plastic for up to 2 months. For a California twist, top with sliced almonds and a drizzle of honey before serving.

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