Recipe

Easy Blueberry Cake

A tender, buttery blueberry cake with juicy bursts of fruit and a bright lemon finish, made with simple ingredients in about an hour.

By Matt Campbell

•

4.8

A golden blueberry cake on a white cake stand, sliced to show juicy blueberries inside, with a light lemon glaze dripping over the top on a sunlit kitchen counter

Jump to Recipe

If you have blueberries and a vague craving for something cozy, this cake is the answer. It bakes up soft and buttery in the middle, with those crisp, golden edges that make you pick at the corner pieces like a little kitchen goblin. The blueberries burst into jammy pockets, and a little lemon keeps the whole thing bright so it never feels heavy.

This is the kind of bake that looks like you tried harder than you did. It is basically mix, fold, bake. No frosting drama. No special equipment. Just a reliable cake you can serve at brunch, bring to a neighbor, or slice straight from the pan while it is still warm.

A neat arrangement of flour, sugar, butter, eggs, blueberries, lemon, and baking powder on a light stone kitchen counter with measuring cups nearby

Why It Works

Soft, plush crumb: Butter plus sour cream or Greek yogurt keeps the cake tender for days, not just the first hour.
Even blueberry distribution: Tossing the berries with a little flour helps prevent the classic sink-to-the-bottom situation.
Bright flavor without fuss: Lemon zest wakes up the blueberries and makes the cake taste bakery-fresh.
Low-drama method: A simple creaming step builds lift, then you alternate dry ingredients and dairy so the batter stays smooth and not overmixed.

Pairs Well With

Storage Tips

Room temperature: Store covered (cake dome or tightly wrapped) for up to 2 days. The crumb stays happiest if the cut side is pressed against the plate to reduce drying.

Refrigerator: Up to 5 days, tightly wrapped. Let slices come to room temp, or warm 10 to 15 seconds in the microwave for that just-baked vibe.

Freezer: Wrap individual slices in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temp, still wrapped, so condensation forms on the wrap and not on the cake.

A single slice of blueberry cake on a small plate with a fork, showing a tender crumb and several whole blueberries near the center

Common Questions

Can I use frozen blueberries?

Yes. Use them straight from the freezer and do not thaw. Toss with the flour as written, then fold in gently. Frozen berries may add a few extra minutes of bake time and can streak the batter purple, which is not a problem.

How do I keep blueberries from sinking?

Two things help a lot: use a thicker batter (this recipe does), and toss the berries with 1 tablespoon of the flour before folding them in. Also, save a small handful to sprinkle on top right before baking for a prettier finish.

What pan should I use if I do not have a 9-inch round?

A 9-inch square pan works great and bakes in a similar time. A 10-inch round will be a bit thinner and bake faster. For a loaf pan, expect a longer bake and tent with foil if the top browns early.

Can I make it dairy-free?

You can, with swaps: use a plant-based butter and a thick non-dairy yogurt. The cake will be slightly less rich but still tasty. Make sure your yogurt is unsweetened and fairly thick.

Do I need the glaze?

Nope. The cake is great plain. The glaze just adds a bright, bakery-style finish. If you skip it, a dusting of powdered sugar right before serving is a solid move.

Matt Campbell

I have always had a huge passion for the culinary arts, people, working as a team, and so on. I wanted to pursue my love for cooking initially at Virginia Commonwealth University with a culinary arts degree; however, I instead decided to apply myself and acquire more practical skills. My end goal is to eventually open my own restaurant or similar establishment.

Kitchen Essentials

9-inch round cake pan (or 9-inch square)
Parchment paper (recommended)
Mixing bowls
Hand mixer or stand mixer (a whisk works in a pinch)
Rubber spatula
Microplane or fine grater for lemon zest
Wire rack for cooling

I used to think blueberry cake had to be either muffin-ish or coffee cake-ish, like it had to pick a lane. Then I started making it the way I actually want to eat it: buttery like a simple birthday cake, not too sweet, with lemon doing the little DJ hype-man thing in the background. It is the cake I bake when I want something friendly and dependable, the kind you can slice while talking to someone in the kitchen without losing the plot.

Easy Blueberry Cake

(4.8 Reviews)

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Total Time 55 minutes

Servings 10 slices

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups (195 g) all-purpose flour, divided
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 tablespoon lemon zest (from about 1 large lemon)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup (120 g) sour cream or full-fat Greek yogurt
1/4 cup (60 ml) milk (any kind)
1 1/2 cups (225 g) blueberries (fresh or frozen)

Lemon glaze (optional)

3/4 cup (90 g) powdered sugar
1 to 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Pinch salt

Blueberries, flour, sugar, butter, eggs, lemon, and baking powder arranged on a kitchen counter ready for baking

Instructions

Heat the oven and prep the pan. Preheat to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan and line the bottom with parchment. Lightly grease the parchment too.
Mix dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk 1 1/2 cups flour, baking powder, and salt.
Cream butter and sugar. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. This is where some of the lift happens, so do not rush it.
Add eggs and flavor. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Mix in the lemon zest and vanilla.
Add sour cream and milk. Beat in the sour cream (or yogurt). Then mix in the milk just until combined.
Fold in dry ingredients. Add the dry ingredients and mix on low just until you stop seeing dry flour. Overmixing makes cake tough, and we are not doing that today.
Prep the blueberries. Toss the blueberries with 1 tablespoon of the flour mixture (just scoop a tablespoon out earlier or use a tablespoon of the measured flour before you whisk). Fold the berries into the batter gently. If using frozen berries, keep them frozen.
Bake. Scrape batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 38 to 45 minutes, until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs (not wet batter).
Cool. Cool in the pan 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edge and turn out onto a wire rack. Cool completely before glazing.
Glaze (optional). Whisk powdered sugar with 1 tablespoon lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Add more lemon juice a little at a time until it is thick but pourable. Drizzle over the cooled cake and let set 10 minutes before slicing.