☆☆ Berry Boy Bait ☆☆☆☆

Now we all know that berries are an excellent bait for boys....

So it is not surprising that in 1954, a 15 year old made a buttery blueberry coffee cake and seeing the effect it had on boys, named it Blueberry Boy Bait. The cake recipe that Renny Powell from Chicago had submitted a  recipe to the Pillsbury $100,000 Recipe and Baking Contest, only won her second place in the youth division that year, but it has stood the test of time and has been in circulation ever since.

With bowls of strawberries staring at me, last week, I tried an egg free variation of the Blueberry Boy Bait. I had decided to call it Berry coffee cake in case it failed to charm my boys enough. But guess what , this variation too passed the test :D

Even my husband who is a "strictly chocolate cake man" asked for a second piece. Elated by his response I made the same cake the following day for our friends and they too loved it. So yes. This recipe is definitely a keeper and with all the berries,  it will fit right into your July 4th-tablescape.

☆☆ Berry Boy Bait ★★★☆☆★ 

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Recipe adapted from Smitten Kitchen

Prep time: 25 minutes                      Cook time: 32-37 minutes                       Yield: 8×8 " cake

Ingredients

• 1 cup + ½ tsp all-purpose flour, measured separately
• 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 150 ml whole milk
• 6 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup applesauce
• ¼ cup + 2 tbsps light brown sugar
• ¼ cup sugar
• ⅓ cup blueberries

For the topping

• 1½ tsp candied citrus peel, ground
• 1½ tbsp granulated sugar
• ½ ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp all-purpose flour
• 8 strawberries, hulled
• 1½ tbsp blueberries

Cooking Directions

1. Center the rack and heat the oven to 350°F.
2. Line the base of a 8×8 inch baking pan with a parchment paper, then grease the parchment paper and the walls of the pan.
3. Sift the 1 cup of flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a bowl and keep aside.
4. Bring the milk to a boil. When the milk begins to overflow, switch off the heat and set aside.
5. Put the butter, applesauce and sugars in a mixing bowl. Using a hand-mixer beat the butter along with the applesauce and sugar until the mixture is creamy. Add 2 tablespoons of hot milk to the mixture and beat for a couple of minutes. At this point the mixture will look somewhat curdled and that is okay. 
6. Using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, stir half of the flour into the butter-sugar mixture until it is just incorporated. Do not over-mix. 
7. Now add half of the remaining hot milk, followed by the remaining flour-mixture and then the the remaining milk. Mix all the ingredients with a light hand.
8. Pour half of the batter into the prepared baking pan.
9. Toss the blueberries in ½ teaspoon of flour and scatter it over the batter. Then pour in the remaining batter over the layer of blueberries.
10. Mix the ground candied citrus peel, 1½ tablespoon of granulated sugar, ground cinnamon and ½ of all-purpose flour in a small bowl. Toss the strawberries and blueberries in the mixture, half the strawberries and arrange the blueberries and strawberries (cut side up) on top of the batter. Sprinkle the remaining sugar-flour mixture over the open halves of the strawberries.
11. Bake the cake for 32-37 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
12. Cool the cake in the pan for 25-30 minutes, then turn out and place on the serving platter.
13. Serve at room temperature.

Sunday
Sweet & Savory Sunday Link Party @ Baking in Pyjamas

Monday 
 Mix it up Monday, 
Made with love Monday, 
Marvelous Mondays @ This Gal Cooks, 
Recipe Sharing @ Jam Hands
Melt in your Mouth Monday, 
Inspiration Monday Party 
Recipe Sharing Monday,
Inspire Me Monday, 
Clever Chicks Blog Hop,
Maniac Monday Linky Party

Meatless Monday :  Meatless Monday My Sweet and Savory

Tuesday 
Totally Tasty Tuesday @ Mandy's Recipe Box,
 Show Me What You Got @ Our Delightful Home ,  
Hand Made Tuesday @ Ladybug Blessings
Share it Link Party @ Winthrop Chronicles,  
Tasty Tuesday @ Anyonita Nibbles,  
Hearth and Soul blog Hop @ Zesty South Indian Kitchen,
In & Out of the Kitchen @ Feeding Big & More, 
Tuesday's Table @ Love in the Kitchen, 
Tickle My Tastebuds@Mini Van Dreams
The Southern Special @Spatulas on Parade
 Time to Sparkle Tuesday, 
Create Link Inspire, Tuesday Talent Show, 
Two Cup Tuesday, The Scoop, Simple Supper Tuesday, 
Brag About it Tuesday, Social Media 2-for-Tuesday, Take a Look Tuesday, 
Treasure Box Tuesday, Take a Bow. 

Wednesday 
What's Cooking Wednesday @ Buns in my Oven, 
Cast Party Wednesday @ Lady Behind the Curtain, 
Show and Share @ Semi Homemade Mom, 
Wine'd Down Wednesday, 
Wonderful Food Wednesdays at @ All She Cooks
Wonderful Food Wednesdays at @ Mom's Test Kitchen 
Wednesday, Whatsit@White Lights on Wednesday,
Wednesday Extravaganza @ Hunger Little Girl, 
Create & Share @ The Trendy Tree House,
What I Whipped Up Wednesday @ Sugar & Dots Look, 
Hump Day Happenings @A Savory Feast

Thursday
Link it Up Thursday @ Seven Alive,
Fantastic Thursday @ Three Little Chiefs, 
Thriving on Thursdays @ Domesblissity,  
Full Plate Thursday @ Miz Helen's Country Cottage , 
 Freedom Friday @ My Turn,  
Thursday's Treasures @ Food Done Light,
Pin it Thursday @ Sweet Bella Roos

Friday 
Foodie Friday @ Simple Living and Eating,  
Friday Linky Party @ The Pin Junkie, 
Get Him Feed @ Anyonita Nibbles
 Friday Favorite (DYI too) @ Simple Sweet Home,  
Foodie Friday @ Not Your Ordinary Recipes,
 Foodie Friday @ Rattlebridge Farm, 
Weekend Wonders @ The Thriftiness Miss, 
Friday Food Frenzy @ Mostly Food and Crafts, 
Weekend Potluck @ Sunflower Supper Club, 
The Weekend re-Treat @The Best Blog Recipes

Saturday
Saturday Show Stopper @Will Cook for smilles