Name: Blueberry Boy Bait
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 2 cups all purpose flour; 1 1/4 cup sugar; 3/4 cup butter; 2 tsp. baking powder; 1 tsp. salt; 2 eggs; 1/2 cup milk; 1 tsp. vanilla; 1 1/4 cup fresh blueberries

Blueberry Boy Bait is a pan of buttery cake studded with sweet, juicy blueberries. Some folks call it Blueberry Coffee Cake.

Let me tell you a little story as to how this boy bait thing all came about!

For many summers, our family attended Cambodian Heritage Camp in Fraser, Colorado. We joined dozens of families from across the US to immerse ourselves in Khmer cultural workshops, activities, and amazing food.

Three slices of Blueberry Boy Bait on a white plate with graphic overlay.

We treasured the fellowship with families “like ours”, who share the joys and fears raising brown-skinned children in these uncertain times. These people “get me”. More important, they feed my soul.

So what does a camp for children adopted from Cambodia have to do with the recipe? It was here that I discovered this tasty little blueberry coffee cake.

One of the dads offered to make Blueberry Boy Bait (you gotta love a man who packs a recipe for a weekend trip!). Soon the enticing aroma drew all of us to the cabin kitchen.

Slices of blueberry coffee cake on a white plate with baking dish in the background and graphic overlay.

Blueberry coffee cake fresh from the oven was one of the yummiest treats I’ve ever tasted. I knew I just HAD to have the recipe!

My friend shared his version with me (from a newspaper clipping of unknown origin), which is somewhat different than others I’ve found. Some have crumb toppings like this one, while others have a cinnamon glaze. I took the liberty to reduce the sugar in my version.

Where the heck did the name Blueberry Boy Bait come from?

I have to admit the recipe name intrigued me. My detective friend (aka Google) revealed a Chicago teenager created the dish. She hoped the buttery, berry-filled treat would help her attract a boyfriend.

After submitting the recipe to a Pillsbury baking contest in the 1950s, she earned a 2nd place award in the Junior division. I couldn’t locate any reports on her success in landing a boyfriend.

Ingredients Needed For Blueberry Coffee Cake

Flour – all purpose works best
Sugar
Butter – softened
Baking powder
Salt
Eggs – room temperature for best results
Milk
Vanilla
Fresh blueberries – I like to use smaller berries

Can I use frozen Blueberries?

You can substitute frozen blueberries if berries are out of season. If your budget allows, spring for frozen Maine blueberries. The smaller Maine berries taste amazing in this recipe. You will need to thaw out your blueberries and pat dry before using.

How To Store

Warm from the oven is marvelous, but this baked treat is also a tasty leftover. If you do have leftovers, wrap them up and store them at room temperature for a day or two.

Tools Needed to Make Blueberry Coffee Cake

Sometimes the right tools can make or break your cooking experience. These are the tools I used to make quick work of this recipe (affiliate links provided):
Batter bowl
Pastry cutter
Baking dish

More Easy Tasty Dessert and Treats:

Want to make Blueberry Boy Bait? Pin the recipe for later

Slice of Blueberry Boy Bait on spatula with cake pan in the background.

Originally published 10/15/17 and updated 9/4/20.

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I’ve shared this recipe at the following online parties: Weekend Potluck.