🫐 Blueberry Spoon Cake

A tender gluten-free cornmeal and almond cake topped with juicy, jammy blueberries and served warm by the spoonful. Original recipe by Clare de Boer for NYT Cooking

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Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
YieldOne 9-inch cake; 6–8 servings

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons (58 g) unsalted butter, softened, plus more for greasing
  • 14 ounces (397 g) fresh blueberries, about 2½ cups
  • ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar, divided, plus more for sprinkling
  • Zest and juice of ½ lemon, about 1 tablespoon juice
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ cup (113 g) sour cream, plus more for serving
  • ½ cup (76 g) yellow cornmeal, preferably finely ground
  • ¾ cup (63 g) almond meal
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or ½ teaspoon fine salt
  • Vanilla ice cream for serving, optional

Instructions

1
Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Butter a 9-inch glass pie dish.
2
Combine the blueberries, ¼ cup (50 g) sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a small saucepan. Simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 3–5 minutes, until the sugar dissolves and the berries look glossy. Remove from the heat and set aside.
3
In a medium bowl, cream the softened butter with the remaining ½ cup (100 g) sugar until pale and fluffy. Stir in the egg until fully incorporated, then mix in the sour cream.
4
In another bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, almond meal, baking powder, and salt. Make a well in the center, add the wet mixture, and whisk into a smooth batter.
5
Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pie dish. Spoon the blueberries and their juices over the batter, distributing them somewhat evenly while leaving a few areas uncovered. Sprinkle sugar over the surface.
6
Place the pie dish on a rimmed baking sheet to catch drips. Bake for 45–55 minutes, until the edge is deeply golden and a berry-free area of cake springs back when gently pressed.
7
Cool slightly, then serve warm with sour cream, vanilla ice cream, or both.

💡 Cook's Tips

  • Expect a spoonable texture: The berry-rich areas remain soft and jammy; that is intentional.
  • Use a baking sheet: The bubbling berries and batter may rise over the rim, so always place the dish on a tray.
  • Do not judge by the berries: Test doneness on an exposed section of cake rather than a jammy patch.
  • Fine cornmeal works best: It produces a more tender crumb than a coarse grind.
  • Serve warm: A cool, tangy spoonful of sour cream or melting vanilla ice cream balances the juicy cake.
Dessert
Gluten-Free
Blueberry