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Lemon Blueberry Sourdough Loaf

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If you love baking with sourdough and want something bright, fresh, and a little different from traditional loaves, this Lemon Blueberry Sourdough Loaf is a must-bake. It combines the gentle tang of sourdough with sweet bursts of blueberry and fresh citrusy lemon flavor — making it perfect for breakfast, brunch, or even a sweet afternoon snack.

This is a great recipe for using active sourdough starter in a way that feels bakery-level fancy but is still totally doable at home.

lemon blueberry sourdough loaf

If you love baking with sourdough, be sure to check out my list of Easy Sourdough Recipes.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Uses active sourdough starter
  • Lightly sweet — not dessert sweet
  • Moist, tender crumb
  • Freezer friendly
  • Perfect with coffee or tea

One of the best parts about baking with sourdough is how it connects us to slow, intentional cooking. Taking the time to feed your starter, mix your batter, and bake something homemade is deeply rewarding — and the smell of lemon and blueberries baking in your kitchen is worth it every single time.

This loaf also makes a wonderful seasonal recipe to share with family and friends. It’s perfect for spring brunches, summer picnics, baby or bridal showers, or even sliced and packed into lunchboxes. If you love creating food memories around the table, this is one of those recipes that people will ask you to make again and again.

Ingredients for Lemon Blueberry Sourdough Loaf

For the leaven

  • 3 tablespoons of active starter
  • 1/2 cup of bread flour
  • 1/2 cup of filtered water

For the bread

  • 4 cups of bread flour
  • 1 cup of leaven
  • 1 cup of water
  • 1 tablespoon of salt
  • Extra flour for dusting

Inclusions for the Bread

  • 1/2 cup of brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup of lemon juice
  • 1 cup of fresh blueberries
  1. To make the leaven, add 3 tablespoons of active starter to a cup with the flour and water. Mix well and let it rise until doubled in size.
  2. Once it has doubled, add it to a large glass mixing bowl. Add the flour, water, brown sugar, lemon juice, and salt. Mix well together.
  3. Stretch and fold the dough 16 times. Cover and let it rest for 10 minutes.
  4. After 10 minutes, stretch and fold the dough 4 times. Cover and let rest. Repeat this process 4 more times.
  5. Once you have completed all the stretch and folds, let the dough rest until doubled in size. 
  6. Once the dough has doubled in size, pour it out onto the counter. Stretch the dough out on the counter. Pour some of the blueberries onto the dough. Fold each side of the dough over. Pour the remaining blueberries onto the dough. Roll the dough up into a ball and start pulling and turning it towards you.
  7. Pull the dough toward you and turn it. Do this until the dough has formed a nice, smooth top.
  8. Flour the inside of your proofing basket. Place the dough into the basket with the smooth round side down. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 24 hours.
  9. After 24 hours, remove the dough from the fridge. Place the Dutch oven in the oven and preheat both to 450 degrees.
  10. While the Dutch oven is heating, take the dough and pour it out onto a piece of parchment paper. 
  11. Use the scoring tool and score two deep cuts on the top of the dough. This will allow the dough to rise during the baking process. 
  12. Place the parchment paper and the dough into the Dutch oven and then place the lid on top. Put back in the oven and bake for 25 minutes. After 25 minutes, remove the lid and bake for an additional 20 minutes.
  13. Remove the dough from the oven and allow the bread to cool for at least an hour before cutting it into the loaf.

Storage

Counter: 2 days wrapped tightly
Fridge: Up to 5 days
Freezer: Slice and freeze up to 3 months

Serving Ideas

  • Toasted with butter
  • With whipped honey butter
  • As part of a brunch board
  • With iced coffee or hot tea

If you make this recipe, try experimenting with your own twist. Add a lemon glaze, swap in raspberries, or mix in white chocolate chips for a dessert-style loaf. However you make it, this Lemon Blueberry Sourdough Loaf is sure to become a favorite in your recipe collection.

Another great rendition of this bread is my Chocolate Sourdough Bread Loaf.

Love Sourdough? Check out these delicious recipes

Yield: 1 loaf

Lemon Blueberry Sourdough Loaf

Lemon Blueberry Sourdough Loaf

Bake a bright and flavorful Lemon Blueberry Sourdough Loaf with tangy starter, fresh lemon zest, and juicy blueberries — perfect for breakfast, brunch, or snacking.

Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes

Ingredients

For the leaven

  • 3 tablespoons of active starter
  • 1/2 cup of bread flour
  • 1/2 cup of filtered water

For the bread

  • 4 cups of bread flour
  • 1 cup of leaven
  • 1 cup of water
  • 1 tablespoon of salt
  • Extra flour for dusting

Inclusions for the Bread

  • 1/2 cup of brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup of lemon juice
  • 1 cup of fresh blueberries

Instructions

    • To make the leaven, add 3 tablespoons of active starter to a cup with the flour and water. Mix well and let it rise until doubled in size.
    • Once it has doubled, add it to a large glass mixing bowl. Add the flour, water, brown sugar, lemon juice, and salt. Mix well together.
    • Stretch and fold the dough 16 times. Cover and let it rest for 10 minutes.
    • After 10 minutes, stretch and fold the dough 4 times. Cover and let rest. Repeat this process 4 more times.
    • Once you have completed all the stretch and folds, let the dough rest until doubled in size. 
    • Once the dough has doubled in size, pour it out onto the counter. Stretch the dough out on the counter. Pour some of the blueberries onto the dough. Fold each side of the dough over. Pour the remaining blueberries onto the dough. Roll the dough up into a ball and start pulling and turning it towards you.
    • Pull the dough toward you and turn it. Do this until the dough has formed a nice, smooth top.
    • Flour the inside of your proofing basket. Place the dough into the basket with the smooth round side down. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 24 hours.
    • After 24 hours, remove the dough from the fridge. Place the Dutch oven in the oven and preheat both to 450 degrees.
    • While the Dutch oven is heating, take the dough and pour it out onto a piece of parchment paper. 
    • Use the scoring tool and score two deep cuts on the top of the dough. This will allow the dough to rise during the baking process. 
    • Place the parchment paper and the dough into the Dutch oven and then place the lid on top. Put back in the oven and bake for 25 minutes. After 25 minutes, remove the lid and bake for an additional 20 minutes.
    • Remove the dough from the oven and allow the bread to cool for at least an hour before cutting it into the loaf.

    Nutrition Information:

    Yield:

    10

    Serving Size:

    1

    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 481Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 557mgCarbohydrates: 101gFiber: 3gSugar: 16gProtein: 14g

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