Triple Berry Skillet Cake
by Sep 1st, 2010 // Breakfast, Desserts, Recipes
Triple Berry Skillet Cake
When I was 16 I spent a summer as mother’s helper on Drake’s Island in Maine. Drake’s Island is just over the bridge from Kennebunkport – famed summer home of George H. W. Bush. It is the definition of picturesque and at the time I probably didn’t appreciate it as much as I should have. (In case you’re not familiar with the term “mother’s helper” it is when a stay-at-home mom hires a young person to assist her in caring for the kids. In this case, I spent a summer helping my aunt’s friend.) The family I lived with had so many fascinating interests including being Friends of the Shakers. I loved when they went on excursions because they often brought back a triple berry coffee cake from a local farm. This cake was amazing and it took an awful lot of self control not to eat it all after the kids went to bed. I’ve dreamed of that cake a million times but never attempted it until now. My kid and I made it a tad bit healthier by using whole wheat pastry flour but it tasted just as amazing.
It turns out when I’m not trying to be polite I will devour an entire triple berry cake in one weekend. I had a little help from my little one and the big one as well. (Have I ever mentioned my husband is 6 foot 4?) I would say that we’ll be making this again soon, but I think I’d better not for fear that I will super-size myself! Now for the recipe…
Triple Berry Skillet Cake
adapted from this Cherry Skillet Bread Recipe
Prep Time: 20 mins Cooking Time: 30 mins
Ingredients:
4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup sugar
1 large egg
½ cup low-fat buttermilk
1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 cup strawberries (sliced)
1/2 cup raspberries
Topping:
½ cup brown sugar
½ teaspoon cinnamon
3 Tablespoons all purpose flour
1 Tablespoon butter, softened
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a small bowl. Set aside. Use your electric mixer to beat the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the egg and combine. Slowly add the flour, then some buttermilk then more flour. Scrape the batter into a skillet that has been sprayed with baking spray. (This is the kind of spray that has flour in it.) Spread the batter to the edges and then dot the top with berries.
In another bowl mix together the topping ingredients using a fork. Sprinkle the topping over the cherries Place the skillet in the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until it begins to brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Remember to use an oven mitt when removing from your oven. Serve warm or room temp. Serves 8 or one very hungry mommy!
Love this modification and love that you cook with your kid too! Great blog!
i have a version of this recipe, one that makes about triple this one. I take it to all the potlucks and it NEVER lasts, it is seriously good! My kids beg for it. This one is lower fat so i will be making it instead.
This looks A-MAZ-ING. Can't wait to put my cast iron skillet to work making something other than eggs and pancakes.
I'm so thrilled to read about your experience with us and that it was positive for you. I'm also pleased to have a recipe for the yummy coffee cake. Now I eat it at home too. I hope all is great for you and your family. Our kids who you helped with are now 22 and 26 and will be happy to have more coffee cake too!
Holy moly, that looks delicious!!!
PS, with hurricane Earl in the news, I'm reminded that we evacuated from Drakes Island with you due to hurricane Bob. You were a great help to us that summer and we enjoyed your company.
this one is definitely next on my list.
I really, really love your blog and have made a bunch of things from it. If I may be so bold, I have a request and challenge for you: I live in New York City and due to a mysterious gas leak in our building, our gas (and thus oven and stove) have been turned off for a month with no end in sight. I would LOVE a post about no-cook dinner favorites!
Do you have electricity? Would some crockpot or rice cooker ideas do the trick? Will think on it and see what I can come up with!
[...] Next she mentioned a skillet cake made with biscuit dough. Hmmm, this got me thinking about my favorite skillet cake so I decided to create my own version. I had no idea how it would turn out, kind of scary with [...]
[...] she mentioned a skillet cake made with biscuit dough. Hmmm, this got me thinking about my favorite skillet cake so I decided to create my own version. I had no idea how it would turn out, kind of scary with [...]