Blueberry Betty

What is a Betty?

A Betty consist of a fruit, most commonly apples, baked between layers of buttered crumbs. Betties are an English pudding dessert closely related to the French apple charlotte. Betty was a popular baked pudding made during colonial times in America.

Desserts like this are called by various names such as cobbler, tart, pie, torte, pandowdy, grunt, slump, buckles, crisp, croustade, bird's nest pudding or crow's nest pudding. They are all simple variations of cobblers, and they are all based on seasonal fruits and berries, in other words, whatever fresh ingredients are readily at hand. They are all homemade and simple to make and rely more on taste than fancy pastry preparation.


Early settlers of America were very good at improvising. When they first arrived, they bought their favorite recipes with them, such as English steamed puddings). Not finding their favorite ingredients, they used whatever was available. That's how all these traditional American dishes came about with such unusual names. Early colonist were so fond of these juicy dishes that they often served them as the main course, for breakfast, or even as a first course. It was not until the late 19th century that they became primarily desserts.

Blueberry Brown Betty
2 pints blueberries, washed
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
4 cups french bread  ( I used day old homemade honey white bread)
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat 8 inch baking dish with cooking spray.

In large bowl, combine blueberries, sugar and cornstarch. Toss to coat.

Add bread and melted butter. Mix well then spoon into prepared baking dish.

Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until bubbly and the bread is golden. Serve warm

It's not very pretty but oh boy......it is GOOD!!

*Try the recipe with other kinds of fruit too!

*Linking to Homestead Revival Barn Hop