Strawberry Buckle is a delicious berry dessert for spring and summer! A soft and buttery cake that is just packed with seasonal berries, and topped with an easy to make cinnamon crumble.
You can make this simple to make cake for Mother's Day, a special brunch, or all summer long when the berries are the sweetest!
Summer is here. I know, it's not officially here. But school is out. We are enjoying lazier days. Calm days without homework and a list of activities.

Slower days full of intense heat and promises of a cold glass of iced tea on the back porch. Happy days watching my kids playing sometimes in synch, and sometimes not so in synch. Catching up with good books I've been meaning to finish and new ones I can't wait to begin.

What's with that strawberry? I'm not sure. I've never seen a Siamese strawberry before. My daughter was as fascinated as I was and took that photo.
I started blogging about baking and food last summer. It was something I had wanted to do for quite a few years. It was pretty simple to do, right? You bake or cook something. You photograph it and post it in your cute little blog. Then what?

Then what happened was I found Twitter. I said my first, "Hello!" to the world of Twitter and a few people responded. Those few people were also food lovers. Talented photographers, thoughtful writers, and travelers. Encouraged and inspired, I was smitten by my new friends.
We were scattered around the world, but connected almost every day to chat a little about our lives and our kitchens. We talked about what we were making and writing. We drooled over each other's travel photos and meals. We shared a common interest and bond: A love of good food. The list of friends has grown and I'm inspired even more by all the talent I've encountered.

One of the first recipes I posted was Deb's Blueberry Buckle. I have to giggle when I look at my photography and writing last summer.I'm tempted to click delete on my Blueberry Buckle post. But I can't! I have to leave it to remind me of where I started.
I feel I've grown a little since then and hope to keep learning even more as time goes on.My kids fell hard for this little cake and I've baked it too many times to remember since last summer. I've made it with every type of berry. My favorite way to make it is with strawberries.
As soon as the calendar page turns to June, all I want to bake is Buckles, Betties, Pan Dowdies, and Pies. I can't get enough of summer's berries and neither can my family. This buckle recipe is simple to make and you can change in whatever berry you'd like and it will still be just perfect!
Strawberry Buckle
slightly adapted from Smith Bites Blueberry Buckle
For the cake:
¼ cup of butter softened
¾ cup of sugar
1 egg
¾ cup of milk (*this time I used buttermilk instead and it was AMAZING)
zest of lemon
2 cups of flour
2 ½ teaspoons of baking powder
¾ teaspoon of salt
2 cups of strawberries (or blueberries, blackberries, a combo of them all even is great!)
Crumble Topping
⅓ cup of butter, softened
½ cup of sugar
⅓ cup of flour
½ teaspoon of cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 F. Butter and flour 9 inch square or round pan.
Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the milk and egg; mix well

Add the flour, lemon zest, baking powder, salt; mix well.
Fold the berries in by hand.
Mix topping ingredients until crumbly. (This is Gabriella's favorite part. She's the official crumble mixer).

Spread cake batter in cake pan, sprinkle topping over batter and bake for 45-50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
Some other cake recipes:
- Lemon Bundt Cake with Lemon Curd Filling
- Orange Bundt Cake with Orange Glaze
- Cranberry Bundt Cake
- Old-Fashioned Donut Bundt Cake
Strawberry Buckle
Ingredients
- For the cake:
- ¼ cup of butter softened
- ¾ cup of sugar
- 1 egg
- ¾ cup of milk *this time I used buttermilk instead and it was AMAZING
- zest of lemon
- 2 cups of flour
- 2 ½ teaspoons of baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon of salt
- 2 cups of strawberries or blueberries, blackberries, a combo of them all even is great!
- For the Crumble Topping:
- ⅓ cup of butter softened
- ½ cup of sugar
- ⅓ cup of flour
- ½ teaspoon of cinnamon
- pinch of nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 F. Butter and flour 9 inch square or round pan. In a small bowl, add the flour, zest, baking powder and salt and whisk the ingredients.
- Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the milk and egg; mix well. Add the flour, lemon zest, baking powder, salt; mix well.
- Fold the berries in by hand.
- Mix topping ingredients until crumbly.
- Spread cake batter in cake pan, sprinkle topping over batter and bake for 45-50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
Nutrition Disclaimer
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information presented below is an approximation and may vary depending on the exact ingredients used.






I consider myself the lucky one that our paths have crossed. You're as sweet if not sweeter than the creations made with love from your kitchen.
YOu're wonderful lora. Really. And so is this strawberry buckle! 🙂
I am SO HAPPY that you said 'hello' on twitter!!! i cannot think of any other group of friends i love more than you and the others you've listed above Lora - this post makes me teary in such a good way. my life is much, much richer these days and YOU are part of that landscape my friend. i love your blog and even though i don't leave you comments on each one, i've been here to see the work you're doing - and it never ceases to amaze me. you are special Lora, don't ever forget that!! (((hugs)))
fabulous instructions!
I'm honored to call you my friend, Lora. You always have the most delightful, drool-worthy desserts and this recipe is yet another example of your wonderful talent.
Hey girlie, so happy to have you as a friend and thank you for the sweet mention!! You are the best. Your desserts including the strawberry buckle seem so effortless and delicious!! Wonderful job as always!! Love, Shulie
Lovely and perfect for summertime!
Looks delicious!
(your recipe says to use blueberries, not strawberries. Thought you might want to know.)
Amy @ A Little Nosh
First of all, I need to say that I love crumbles, buckles, crisps and anything with an irregular butter-flour-sugar topping. I think someone should package it an sell the crumbs by the jar.
Second of all, love this recipe and even bookmarked it a while ago to make! Soon, soon! What inspired me? I'd been blogging (personal blog) for 5 years now and after a trip to Vegas, decided I needed to share all the amazing experience with the world!
So happy to have you in my Twitterverse! XOXO!
You are special to me too Lora and it's beyond Twitter and I know you know that.
And this post made me smile...I love all of those old fashioned fruit desserts even if I don't have a clue the real difference between a buckle and a pan dowdie. They do conjure up for me a vision of wagon wheels, stage coaches and cowboys though!
I love the recipe, adore you and know one day we'll meet in the middle (wait, vacay in Arkansas? Maybe not). 🙂
Strawberries are so great right now and this looks like the perfect recipe to make with them
I need to get out to the market for some strawberries. This buckle looks delicious. Great step by step photos-thanks for sharing.
This looks beautiful and perfect for summer! I consider it good luck when I come across one of those Siamese strawberries 🙂
Whenever I read your posts and scroll through the comments, I always realize how many food bloggers you inspire and befriend. We're so glad you're here.
I haven't made it to a farmer's market yet but this Saturday I don't have to work so I'm making a date with myself to go buy berries and make a mixed berry buckle. Thanks Lora for sharing your thoughts about food & life.
Looks delicious! I'm not sure how I feel about that strawberry... I'm torn between devour it and it's potential juiciness or toss it. Kind of scary lol
Yum! Congrats to a great year and how far you've come!
this looks very delicious! and perfect timing! I have bought LOADS of strawberries as no one was buying them here because of the Spanish Strawberry Scare so can't wait to try the recipe!
(Your post also totally inspired me, so thank you! My friend and I started blogging earlier this year and are still finding our rhythm and our way - thanks so much for sharing!)
Sarah x
Delightful with a cup of coffee. Strawberries are beautiful right now and perfect for baking.
Ha! I once found the most massive siamese strawberry at a U-pick farm. It was crazy and I ate it immediately! Which is also what I would do if a piece of this buckle were placed in front of me 🙂
looks delightful, love the siamese strawberry!