Apple Buckle
on Jul 18, 2020, Updated Apr 29, 2021
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Apple buckle is a heavenly treat you’ll want to try this fall. Like many apple desserts, you can use your favorite variety for this forgiving recipe and it will only leave you wanting more. Read on and learn how to make this amazing buckle cake!
Try this old-fashioned buckle cake for this year’s apple harvest!
Table of Contents
🥮 What is this?
Buckle desserts are old-fashioned deep-dish cakes made with fruit or berries. As the batter bakes, it rises and surrounds the fruit (or berries). Buckle cakes are baked as a single layer and usually served warm with a variety of toppings.
They have a sweet and moist signature taste and a buckled (indented) appearance which is where the name comes from. Finally, buckle recipes are crowned with a streusel topping making them even more irresistible!
Our blueberry buckle recipe is one of the first ones we made and it was love at first bite. Now, let me show you how to make an apple buckle!
📋 What’s in it?
This easy apple recipe is made with a simple cake batter, apples, and a sweet crumb topping for a streusel.
We like Granny Smith apples for this dessert but you can use your favorite variety.
🔪 How to make it
Start the recipe by taking a quick inventory of your pantry.
Kitchen Equipment You Need for this Recipe
- A couple of mixing bowls
- A hand electric held mixer
- A rubber spatula spatula
- Food processor
- 10-inch springform pan
Preheat the oven to 350° and throw on your kitchen apron!
I always start this buckle recipe by making the crumb topping first (complete instructions in the recipe card below.) This is where you get to use your food processor and pulse the streusel ingredients until they are crumby. Set the mixture aside and get started with the apple buckle batter.
- Use a whisk to combine the flour, baking powder, ginger, and salt.
- In another mixing bowl, cream the butter with an electric hand mixer.
- and 4. Add the sugar and honey to the butter.
- Beat in the lemon zest, eggs, and vanilla, until smooth.
- Fold in the dry ingredients, and half and half, alternating in two batches.
- ane 4. Fold in the apples, using a spatula to make sure you scrape the bowl for everything stuck to the inside.
- Scrape the batter into a the prepared springform pan and smooth it off with anoffset spatula.
- Pro Baking Tip: Scott does a great job of showing you how to grease and flour a cake pan. This is a game-changer for baking cakes and bread!
- Sprinkle the crumb topping on top of the batter.
- Note: I may or may not taste the crumble at this point, for quality control purposes, of course. (At least that’s my story!)
You’ll bake the apple buckle for about an hour and 15 minutes until you get a clean toothpick test. The top should be a sweet, golden brown. Allow it to rest in the springform pan for an hour, before releasing it. This is the hardest part of the recipe for me!
💭 Common questions
What can I use for a topping?
This apple buckle doesn’t need a topping, but we would never judge you for adding any of the following!
- A scoop of ice cream
- Whipped cream
- Sweetened sour cream
What can I use to make a buckle dessert?
The sky is pretty much the limit when deciding what to add to a buckle recipe. Think of what you would put into a crisp, and the main ingredient is virtually interchangeable. Things like:
- Blueberries
- Peaches
- Nectarines
- Raspberries
- Rhubarb
- Blackberries
Can I make this ahead of time?
You can make this apple buckle up to two days before you want to serve it. Be sure to wrap it air-tight in plastic kitchen wrap and allow it to come back to room temperature before eating.
Can I freeze this?
You can freeze this apple buckle for up to three months, before serving. Use your favorite kitchen wrap and be sure to get all the air out before freezing. Double wrap it for better preservation. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving. You can reheat it in the oven at 300° for 15 minutes and you’ll be good to go!
Similar recipes
- Open-Face Apple Pie
- Apple Turnovers using Crescent Rolls
- Oatmeal Bars with Apple Butter Filling
- Cinnamon Apple Pear Bread Pudding Recipe by Platter Talk
I hope you try this old-fashioned apple buckle. It’s sure to put a smile on your face and will make your kitchen smell amazing. Please be sure to drop us a comment below and let us know how you like this recipe. That’s how we know you’re loving what we’re cooking!
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Apple Buckle Recipe
Equipment
- Offset spatula
- 10-inch springform pan
- Zester
Ingredients
For the Crumb Streusel
- 1.5 cups All purpose flour
- 3/4 cups Dark brown sugar
- 1 tsp Gound cinnamon
- 1 tsp Fresh lemon zest
- 4 tbsp Unsalted butter, Softened to room temperature
- 1 pinch Salt
- 1/4 cup Walnuts, Coarse chop (Optional)
For the Buckle Batter
- 2 cups All-purpose flour
- 2 tsp Baking powder
- 1/2 tsp Ground ginger
- 1 pinch Salt
- 6 oz Unsalted butter, (1.5 sticks)
- 1/2 cup Sugar
- 1/4 cup Honey
- 1 tsp Fresh lemon zest, finely grated
- 1 tsp Pure vanilla extract
- 2 Eggs, large
- 1/2 cup Half and half
- 2 lbs Apples, Peeled, cored, and 1/2-inch dice
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350° F. Grease and flour a 10-inch springform pan.
For the Crumb Streusel
- Use a food processor to pulse the dry streusel ingredients along with the lemon zest. Add the butter and process until the streusel has a moist, sandy consistency. Add the walnuts if desired and pulse one or two more times. Set the mixture aside for later.
For the Buckle Batter
- Use a medium-size mixing bowl and add the flour, baking powder, ginger, and salt. Stir it all together. In a separate large mixing bowl, cream the butter with an electric mixer. Then, add the sugar and beat it with the butter until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Mix in the honey, lemon zest, vanilla and eggs and beat until smooth. Fold in the dry flour mixture in alternating batches, while gradually adding the half and half. Fold in the apple chunks.
- Pour the batter into the greased and floured pan, and smooth out the top with an offset spatula or tablespoon. Sprinkle the crumb streusel on top of the batter evenly. Place the pan on the center rack of your oven and bake for about 75 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the buckle to cool for an hour before releasing it from the pan. Serve warm if possible, with our without your favorite topping.
Notes
- When the sides start to pull away from the pan.
- When the buckle is spring to the touch.
- When the internal temperature reaches 210° F.
- When the buckle stops sizzling.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Easy Apple Recipes
What a delicious apple cake with a beautiful, thick crumble on top- it’s perfect! Great recipe Scott and Dan!
This apple buckle recipe is exactly what I’ve been looking for! It’s not cloyingly sweet nor does it contain too much fat (which allows for guilt free whipped cream or my husbands favorite, maple walnut ice cream topping).
Since it’s peach season, I’m going to try using this recipe with peaches!
Thank you Platter Talk!