Summer Fruit Buckle

This very special breakfast treat was more clafoutis or bread pudding-like than coffee cake-like. It was eggy, moist, and loaded with fruit. Practically any combination of summer fruit could be used. I used blueberries, strawberries, and a yellow nectarine. Great.

The recipe was adapted from The New York Times, contributed by Melissa Clark. I incorporated whole wheat pastry flour. I also reduced the baking time for a convection oven. The original recipe notes that the sugar can be adjusted by one or two tablespoons, reduced or added, depending upon the sweetness and tartness of the fruit used.

Yield: one 9-inch cake

• 1/2 cup/114 grams (1 stick) butter, at room temperature, plus more for greasing pan
• 1/2 cup/100 grams granulated sugar, more for sprinkling
• 1/4 cup/55 grams light brown sugar
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature
• finely grated lemon zest from 1 large lemon
• 1 teaspoon/5 milliliters vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups/156 grams all-purpose flour (I used 100g all-purpose flour + 56g whole wheat pastry flour)
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 4 1/2 cups summer berries and/or chopped fruit (a mix of blueberries, raspberries, blackberries or use any one kind)(peaches, nectarines, figs, or plums can also be incorporated)(I used 2 cups blueberries + 2 cups strawberries + 1 chopped yellow nectarine)
•  cinnamon, for dusting, optional
•  Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees, preferably on convection.
2. Butter a 9-inch round cake pan. (or coat with cooking oil spray)
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, add butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar and beat until light and fluffy.
4. Add eggs one at a time, then add lemon zest and vanilla and mix until combined.
5. In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt, nutmeg and baking powder, and whisk to combine.
6. Add dry ingredients to egg mixture and mix until just combined.
7. Gently fold fruit into the batter, then spread batter in pan and sprinkle lightly with more granulated sugar.
8. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in a convection oven, or up to 50 minutes in a standard oven, or until top is golden and cake is cooked through.
9. Allow cake to cool, then sprinkle with cinnamon, if using, and confectioners’ sugar.

Blueberry & White Peach Graham Galette

This fabulous galette was oozing with delicious juices. I loved that the crust incorporated crushed graham crackers. It was fabulous with and without vanilla ice cream.

This summer galette recipe was adapted from Bon Appétit, contributed by Samantha Seneviratne. I modified the method, used white peaches, and sprinkled the dough with turbinado sugar. I weighed the dry ingredients as well.

Yield: Serves 8

For the Dough:

• 4 graham crackers (about 2 oz)
• 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 T granulated sugar
• 3/4 tsp Diamond Crystal or 1/2 tsp Morton kosher salt
• 10 T chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces

For the Filling & to Finish:

• 2 large peaches (about 12 oz), halved, pitted, & thinly sliced (I used white peaches)
• 2 cups fresh blueberries
• 1 T cornstarch
• pinch of coarse salt
• 3/4 tsp finely grated lemon zest (I used the zest of 1/2 of a large lemon)
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/3 cup (67 g) granulated sugar
• all-purpose flour (for rolling dough)
• 1 large egg, beaten to blend
• 2 T chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• turbinado sugar, for sprinkling
• vanilla ice cream, for serving, optional

To Make the Dough:

1. Process graham crackers, flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor until crackers become crumbs and mixture is combined.
2. Add butter; pulse until mixture resembles coarse sand with some larger pieces remaining.
3. Add ice water by the tablespoonful, pulsing after each addition, until evenly moistened and dough holds together when squeezed (2–4 tablespoons).
4. Pat into a 1-inch thick disk and wrap tightly in parchment paper or plastic wrap. Chill at least 1 hour.

Do ahead: Dough can be made 3 days ahead. Keep chilled. (I made the dough 2 days in advance.)

To Make the Filling & to Finish:

1. Preheat oven to 400°, preferably on convection.
2. Toss peach slices, blueberries, cornstarch, salt, lemon zest, cinnamon, and 1/3 cup (67 g) granulated sugar in a large bowl.
3. Unwrap dough and roll out between lightly floured sheets of plastic wrap or parchment to a 12″ round. The round will be approximately 1/8-inch thick.
4. Transfer dough to a piece of parchment paper the size of a rimmed baking sheet.
5. Arrange fruit on top, leaving a 1 1/4-inch border.
6. Lift dough edges up and over fruit, pleating as needed.
7. Using parchment paper, slide galette onto the rimmed baking sheet; chill 10 to 15 minutes.
8. Brush top of pastry with egg and sprinkle with turbinado sugar.
9. Dot filling with butter.
10. Bake galette until fruit is softened and crust is deep golden brown, 40–50 minutes (some juice may leak out). (Tons of juice leaked out of mine!)
11. Serve galette warm or at room temperature with scoops of ice cream, if desired.

Skillet Graham Cake with Peaches & Blueberries

I have been looking for an excuse to make this skillet cake since last summer. Graham crackers… peaches and blueberries… streusel topping… and baked in a cast iron skillet? Irresistible. I finally had to make it after having too many ripe peaches on the counter. 😉 What an excuse!

This recipe was adapted from Food and Wine, contributed by Chicago chef Stephanie Izard. (I have loved her since she won Top Chef.) The cake is baked on the grill in the original recipe. Delicious!

Yield: Serves 10 to 12

For the Streusel:

• 3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs (from 7 whole crackers)
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

For the Fruit:

• 3 large peaches, each cut into 1-inch wedges (I used 4 medium white peaches)
• 3/4 cup blueberries
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

For the Cake:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
• 1/2 cup fine graham cracker crumbs (from 4 whole crackers)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 stick plus 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/4 cups light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• Vanilla ice cream, for serving

Make the Streusel:

1. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle, beat all of the ingredients together at medium speed until crumbs form.
2. Press together to form a large mass.
3. Transfer to 
a bowl and break into clumps.
4. Refrigerate until chilled, about 15 minutes.

Prepare the Fruit:

1. Preheat an oven to  300° F, preferably on convection.
2. In a medium bowl, toss the peaches with the blueberries, sugar, lemon juice and cornstarch.
3. In a 12-inch cast-iron skillet, melt the butter over low heat. Remove from the heat.
4. Scrape the fruit and any juices into the skillet.

Make the Cake:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk both flours with the graham cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt.
2. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle, beat the butter with both sugars and the honey at medium speed until fluffy.
3. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then beat in the buttermilk, oil and vanilla.
4. Scrape down the side of the bowl and beat in the dry ingredients until just smooth.
5. Spread the batter in the skillet in an even layer.
6. Scatter the streusel evenly on top.
7. Place the skillet on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. Bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes, until 
a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean. (The cake is cooked off of the heat in a grill for the same amount of time in the original recipe.)
8. Let the cake cool for 1 hour. Cut into wedges and serve with vanilla ice cream.

I’m bringing my special skillet cake to share at Angie’s Fiesta Friday #184, co-hosted by Jhuls @The Not so Creative Cook and Petra @ Food Eat Love. Enjoy!

One Year Ago:

• Blueberry & Corn Crisp

Two Years Ago:

• Old-Fashioned Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp
• Fourth of July S’mores Bars with Marshmallow Meringue

Three Years Ago:

• Fourth of July Blueberry Pie
• Blackberry-Raspberry Hand Pies

Four Years Ago:

• Peach & Pecan Sandy Crumble
• White Peach & Raspberry Cobbler with Butter Biscuits