Unlike classic blueberry cakes, this one has a light, moist crumb (thanks to whipped egg whites), a crackly sugar crust, and the charm of an old-world recipe passed down through generations.

A slice of the Pyrenees in your kitchen

If you’ve been around this blog for a while, you already know how much I love rustic, regional French desserts. These lesser-known recipes are often simple, cozy, and full of character—made with everyday ingredients and rooted in local tradition.

Today’s recipe is just that: a comforting blueberry cake from the Pyrenees mountains, where wild blueberries grow in abundance each summer, and food is all about warmth and simplicity. This one is called Tourte aux Myrtilles, and it’s as charming as it sounds.

Whether you’re curious about the name or just here for a new take on blueberry cake, this rustic French dessert brings a taste of the French mountains to your table. It’s light, moist, and deeply satisfying—perfect with coffee or tea, and even better the next day.

If you love old-world baking with a European soul, this one’s for you. Enjoy! 

What Is Tourte aux Myrtilles?

Tourte aux Myrtilles is a lesser-known French cake from the Pyrenees mountains, in the southwest of France. This cake is a summer staple—served at inns, mountain cabins and family tables during blueberry season. Tourte aux Myrtilles literally means “blueberry cake,” but it’s much more than that.

It’s:

• Light but rich (thanks to whipped egg whites and a bit of rum)
• Not overly sweet, allowing the blueberries to shine
• Topped with pearl sugar, for that classic French crunchy top

A Traditional Tourte Aux Myrtilles is usually baked in a scalloped brioche pan in France. These pans are hard to find in the US/Canada so I adapted the recipe to be made in a classic Bundt Pan. The result is just as authentic: light, airy and with a delicious sugar crust on top.

This is the kind of cake that feels rustic and refined at the same time—the perfect summer dessert.

Ingredients for a French-Style Blueberry Bundt Cake

This cake is easy to make, and most ingredients are pantry staples. Here’s what you need to make it:

1. Sugar: we’re using ¾ cup (150g) for this cake recipe. I lowered the amount of sugar found in most Tourte Aux Myrtilles recipes I saw online and in books, and I think this is definitely sweet enough.
2. Eggs: you’ll need three large eggs for this recipe. The three egg yolks bring moisture while the three eggs whites, whipped separately, create an airy, sponge-like texture. 
3. Vanilla extract: a hint of vanilla extract brings depth of flavor.
4. Butter: the butter creates a rich, flavorful cake crumb. It is to be soft when added to the batter, so take the butter out of your fridge at least 2 hours before starting.
5. Milk: the milk helps creates a moist, bouncy cake texture. Choose whole milk or 2% mf – avoid skim or lactose free milk.
6. Flour: all-purpose flour is the way to go for this cake. I don’t recommend any other flours and have only tested this recipe as is.
7. Baking staples: you’ll need salt, baking soda and baking powder.
8. Rum : we’re using ¼ cup (60ml) of dark rum here. This provides the cake such a distinctive flavor.
9. Fresh blueberries: this cake recipe includes 200g of fresh blueberries, which burst in every bite.
10. Sugar: just before baking, the cake gets topped with both white sugar and pearl sugar. This is what creates its signature crunchy, sugary top.

How to Make Rustic French Blueberry Cake

This cake comes together in a few easy steps. Here is an overview. You can then head to the recipe card at the bottom of the article for the full ingredient list and instructions.

1. Whisk the wet ingredients first. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, egg yolks, and vanilla. You then mix in the softened butter, followed by the milk.
2. Combine dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. You then add the dry mix to the wet ingredients, stirring just until combined. You finally fold in the rum and blueberries.
3. Whip egg whites. In a clean bowl, whip the egg whites to firm peaks and gently fold them into the batter.
4. Pour and bake. Pour the batter into a greased bundt pan. Scatter the remaining blueberries on top and sprinkle with white sugar and pearl sugar. Bake for about 1 hour and 10 minutes.

FAQs about this French Blueberry Cake

Can I use frozen blueberries?

Yes! Just make sure they are well thawed and drained. When using thawed blueberries, I also like to toss them in a little flour beforehand to prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cake.

What’s the difference between this and a regular blueberry cake?

This one is lighter, less sweet, and uniquely French—with whipped egg whites, a touch of rum, and pearl sugar on top.

What if I don’t have rum?

You can substitute with cognac. As an alcohol-free option, you substitute with milk – so you’ll use just a little more than  1/2 cup (140ml) of milk total. The flavor will be different (and less robust) but still delicious.

Can I bake this in a loaf or round pan?

Yes. A bundt pan is best for visual appeal, but a 9-inch round cake pan works just as well. Adjust baking time slightly – you may need about 10 more minutes.

Love rustic French Desserts? Try these next:

• Alsatian Blueberry Tart 
• French Plum Tart
• Classic Cherry Clafoutis 
• Walnut Coffee Cake from Grenoble
• French-style Cherry Cake
• Apricot Frangipane Tart
• Gâteau Basque (Basque Cake with pastry cream)
• Apple Breton Pound Cake (Quatre-Quarts aux Pommes)
• Plum Moelleux Cake

Blueberry Bundt Cake (Tourte aux Myrtilles)

Print Recipe

Serves: 8-10 Prep Time: 20 Minutes Cooking Time: 1 Hour 10 Minutes 1 Hour 10 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Rating: 3.1/5

( 9 voted )

Ingredients

¾ cup (150g) white sugar
3 large eggs at room temperature, yolks and whites separated
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup (75g) butter, at room temperature
1/3 cup (80ml) milk (whole or 2% mf), at room temperature
2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
¼ cup (60ml) dark rum
1⅓ cups (7oz/200g) fresh blueberries
1 tbsp (12,5g) white sugar
¼ cup pearl sugar

Instructions

• In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar, egg yolks and vanilla extract. Whisk until lighter in color and fluffy. Add the soft butter (room temperature) and whisk. Add the milk and whisk. The texture is lumpy, this is normal.
• In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Whisk in the dry ingredients to the wet, stop whisking when just incorporated. Switch to a spatula and fold in the rum. Finally, gently fold in the blueberries (keep a few for topping).
• In a clean bowl, whip the egg whites to firm peaks. Gently fold them into the batter, in four separate additions, to keep the mixture light and airy as much as possible.
• Preheat your oven to 160°C (325°F) with a rack in the middle. Grease and flour a bundt pan. Pour the batter in and top with the remaining blueberries. Sprinkle evenly with white sugar and the pearl sugar (this creates the crunchy top).  
• Bake the cake for 1h10, or until golden on top and a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.
• Transfer to a cooling rack and cool for 15 minutes before unmoulding and transferring onto a plate.

The post Blueberry Bundt Cake (Tourte aux Myrtilles) appeared first on Pardon Your French.

If you’re visiting Alsace in the Summer, you’ll likely find an offering of this Alsatian Blueberry Tart in most restaurants, cafes and B&Bs. It is an iconic dessert from this French region and a tart that locals love to make at home too. It is simple, rustic-looking, delicious and makes do with the abundance of blueberries in late Summer.   

You can find this dessert called by “Tarte aux myrtilles” (myrtille translating to blueberry) or “Tarte aux Brimbelles” – brimbelles referring to the local wild blueberries harvested in Alsace. 

Note: This Alsatian Blueberry Tart recipe was first published on the blog in August 2018. Three years later, I re-worked the recipe slightly, with more blueberries, less sugar and slightly more crème fraiche. I also wanted to update the photos and instructions and add step-by-step photos. 

The crust: a “Pâte Brisée”

To make an Alsatian Blueberry Tart, I find a classic-French “Pâte Brisée” to be the best choice. 

A “Pâte Brisée” is the French version of a standard pie crust, made with a generous amount of butter. In comparison to a “Pâte Sucrée” (traditionally used for a French Lemon Tart) or a “Pâte Sablée” (traditionally used for a French Frangipane Apricot Tart), a Pâte Brisée is made with only flour, butter and water – no sugar or eggs. 

With fewer ingredients, a “Pâte Brisée” is a simpler, quicker pie crust that is more often used for “rustic” desserts (meaning, a little less fancy) that will simply allow the fruits to be the center of attention. Since it doesn’t have any sugar, it also means a “Pâte Brisée” can be used for both sweet and savory pies, be it quiches, fruits tarts or galettes. 

Because the flour and butter are mixed with water (water encouraging the gluten development in the flour), a “Pâte Brisée is sturdier and less sandy, in comparison to a “Pâte Sucrée” or a “Pâte Sablée”. This makes it an ideal crust for fruit tarts, to hold the baked soft fruits without breaking. It is also great for galettes, to avoid having the edges crumble when you fold them over the fruits. Lastly, it is a great crust to work with to create trimming, decorations or lattice-work for the top or edges of a fruit tart – just like this blueberry tart. 

Tips for a great Pâte Brisée”: 

• It is essential to use cold butter and ice cold water to make the dough. Cold butter -not room temperature- will distribute into the flour without softening. And ice-cold water will bind the ingredients together without softening the butter. This ensures little bits of butter are still present in the dough once rolled out, which makes for a most tender baked Pâte Brisée. 
• Do not overmix the dough: stop mixing when it just comes together into a rough ball. Otherwise, your crust likely will end up too tough once baked. 
• The Pâte Brisée needs to be chilled at least 20 minutes before being rolled out. If the dough is too cold and firm when trying to roll it out, let it sit for 5 or 10 minutes. It will warm up slightly, to become easier to roll out. If the dough cracks a bit when you roll it out or transfer it into the pan, do not fret. You can simply wet your fingers lightly under lukewarm water and “rub” the cracks to bind the dough back together. 

The filling: Blueberries with a “migaine” 

What makes this Alsatian Blueberry Tart truly stand out from other blueberry tarts or pies is the quick custard – called “migaine”– that gets poured atop the blueberries right before baking. Sometimes referred to as a flan, a filling or a custard, a “migaine” is a simple mixture of crème fraiche and egg yolks. 

Once baked, the “migaine” turns into a soft flan-like texture that wraps around the blueberries. Its mellow, creamy taste pairs perfectly with the sweetness and acidity of the fruits. Preparing a “migaine” to fill sweet and savory tarts (such as quiches) is quite popular in the Eastern part of France. 

More Cooking notes: 

• Making your own Pâte Brisée will make a big difference for this Alsatian Blueberry Tart.  This recipe will give you enough for a 9-inch (22.9cm) tart pan and you will leftover dough to create some decorations if you would like – such as lattice designs for the top, braids for around the edge of the tart or cutouts. Decorations are fun to make, but optional. 
• I recommend you use a tart pan with a removable bottom, which will support the crust when lifting your tart.
• Although it wasn’t easy to find up until a few years ago, Crème fraiche has now become common in grocery stores in Canada and the US. You can usually find it next to sour creams. Two of my favorite brands I recommend are Liberte and Maison Riviera.

I hope you’ll love this Alsatian Blueberry Tart as much as I do! If you have any questions, please leave a comment. 

You may also like: 

• Blueberry Almond Financiers 
• Blueberry Lemon Yogurt Loaf
• Peach Blueberry  Galette 
• Peach Crème Fraiche Streusel Tart
• Apricot Frangipane Tart 
• Fresh Peach Yogurt Cake

Alsatian Blueberry Tart

Print Recipe

Serves: 8-12 Prep Time: 1 hour Cooking Time: 40 Minutes 40 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Rating: 4.7/5

( 3 voted )

Ingredients

For the Pâte Brisée: 

2 cups (250g) all-purpose-flour
1/2 cup (1 stick/125g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
A pinch of salt
1/4 cup (50ml) cold water (approximate)

For the filling: 

1 1/2 dry pint (about 3 cups/570g) fresh blueberries, washed and dried
¼ cup (about 70g) crème fraiche
2 egg yolks
2 tbsp (25g) sugar

Instructions

Make sure you read the Pâte Brisée tips and cooking notes before you start. 

Step 1 – Prepare the Pâte Brisée. Mix the flour, salt and butter with your fingers or pulse in a food processor, until you get a crumbly consistency and pea-size bits of butter are still visible. Add the water, one tablespoon at a time, and mix until the dough just comes together into a rough ball (about 1/4 cup of water); do not over-mix or your crust will end up tough. Add a few more splashes of water if you feel the dough is too crumbly - but try to keep the water to a minimum. Too much water will also make your crust tough. Wrap the dough in a plastic wrap and chill for about 20 minutes.

Pre-heat the oven to 390ºF (200ºC) with a rack in the middle. Butter and flour a 9-inch tart pan. 

Step 2 – 20 minutes later, take the dough out of the fridge. Transfer it onto a lightly floured surface and roll it out to circle of 16-inch (40cm) in diameter (about 1/6 inch thick). Drape the dough over your rolling pin and transfer it to the tart pan. Cut the excess off around the edges. Poke the bottom of the crust evenly with a fork (10-12 pokes). You can keep the excess of dough for another baking project or use them to do decorations. 

Step 3 - In a small bowl, whisk together (with a fork) the egg yolks and crème fraiche until combined and lump-free. 

Step 4 - Evenly scatter the blueberries onto the crust. Pour the egg yolk + crème fraiche mixture over top and toss gently until the blueberries are evenly coated. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons (25g) of sugar.  

Optional: At this point, brush any crust decorations with and egg wash (1 egg yolk mixed with 1 tbsp [15ml] milk). 

Bake for about 40 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the blueberries are bubbling.

Transfer onto a cooling rack and let cool for at least 15 minutes before enjoying. Enjoy warm or cooled. 

 

The post Alsatian Blueberry Tart (Tarte aux Myrtilles Alsacienne) appeared first on Pardon Your French.