Lemon Blueberry Artisan Sourdough Bread
This lemon blueberry artisan sourdough bread recipe is filled with juicy blueberries, a light and sweet lemon flavor, and a cream cheese filling! Simple and easy to make, this is one of my family’s favorite things in the spring and summertime when blueberries are in season. Similar to my artisan sourdough bread, this recipe is my favorite combination of springtime flavors and tangy sourdough. It’s light and fluffy, with an enjoyable fruity and citrusy flavor you’re going to love.
Why You’ll Love Lemon Blueberry Sourdough Bread
Bright And Beautiful
The blueberries spread throughout this delicious bread give it a strikingly beautiful appearance, perfect for spring.
Healthy
Made with homemade cream cheese, fresh blueberries, lemon juice and honey, this bread is perfect for those on a healthier diet.
Delicious
It tastes wonderful plain, but is even more delicious when slathered with homemade butter or cream cheese.
Great Snack
I often enjoy a warm slice of this bread when I need a quick snack. It also makes a delicious dessert.
What are the health benefits of sourdough?
Anytime you add a fermented element like sourdough to a recipe, it becomes more nutritious because it contains live probiotics and good bacteria that help with gut health and digestion. Gluten and phytic acid are naturally present in wheat, and are usually what is to blame for people not being able to digest gluten well. When the grain is fermented through the sourdough process, the gluten and phytic acid are broken down, making it easier to digest. A lot of people that struggle with gluten intolerance (not people with celiac), can digest food made with sourdough without any issue, especially if the recipe is allowed to sit out for a few hours and “long ferment”.
In addition, phytic acid is an anti-nutrient that blocks absorption of the nutrients found in wheat. During the sourdough fermentation process, the phytic acid gets broken down and the nutrients are more bio-available to the body. This is why baking with sourdough is so important for our health.
Simple Ingredients
- Flour – I like to use bread flour when making sourdough bread, but all-purpose flour works just fine too. I prefer to source my flour from Azure Standard, but I can sometimes get good quality flour from Sam’s club as well. You can also use whole wheat flour, but I prefer to mix it 50/50 with all purpose flour.
- Water – Non-chlorinated water is best. You can leave chlorinated water sit out on the counter for a few hours and the chlorine will naturally evaporate. Always use warm water when working with sourdough as it will better activate the wild yeast in the sourdough. If you like a stronger lemon flavor, you can also use lemon juice for part of the water in this recipe.
- Sourdough Starter – it is best to use active sourdough starter in this beautiful bread. Learn how to make your own sourdough starter here.
- Salt – I prefer to use Redmond Real Salt, but use whatever you have available.
- Cream Cheese – Sweetened cream cheese is layered throughout the dough of this bread making it taste like it has little bits of cheesecake in the dough. This is my favorite part of the bread!
- Sugar – You can use cane sugar or regular sugar to sweeten the cream cheese
- Lemon Juice – Fresh lemon juice is always best, but bottled lemon juice works just fine.
- Honey – Mixed with lemon juice and added to the outside of the bread once it’s baked.
- Blueberries – Fresh blueberries are the best, as they aren’t quite as juicy.
Example of Timing For Making Lemon Blueberry Sourdough Bread
Sourdough bread is so flexible, it can fit into any schedule. Here’s a couple of examples of how you could fit sourdough baking into the margins of your day.
Option 1
- Before bed feed sourdough starter
- 8:00 a.m. the next morning mix ingredients
- 8:30 a.m. add salt and begin stretch and folds over 2-3 hours
- 11:00 a.m. bulk Ferment for 2-3 hours
- 2:00 p.m. shape and put in refrigerator
- 5:00 p.m. bake in time for supper
- OR
- 7:00 a.m. the next morning – bake in time for breakfast
Option 2 (this would work great if you work away from the house all day)
- 7:00 a.m. Feed your sourdough starter
- 5:30 p.m. Mix your ingredients
- 5:45 p.m. Add salt and begin your stretch and folds every 15 minutes (since this will be a tigher timeline)
- 7:00 p.m. Bulk ferment on counter for 2 hours
- 9:00 p.m. Shape and put into the refrigerator
- 6:00 a.m. Bake
For more of our favorite sourdough recipes, click here.
Keys To Success
Thick active sourdough starter
If you have a weak or runny sourdough starter, you’re gonna have flat and sloppy dough. It’s really important to start with a strong and active starter. Learn how to make a healthy sourdough starter without using a scale here. When you’re preparing to make bread especially, be sure to mix your starter thickly – with more flour than water. You want your starter to have a thick pancake like consistency.
Create Good Internal Structure In Your Dough
Work with your dough every few minutes until it has good structure and holds it shape (see video below).
Don’t Overferment
Don’t overferment your dough. Try not to forget the dough sitting on the counter for more than 2-3 hours during the bulk fermentation time. If you overferment your dough it won’t hold it’s shape and will be a sloppy mess. If you get interrupted before the bulk ferment is done and need to leave, just put it in the refrigerator. You can always shape it after it’s been in the refrigerator. Once again, it’s very flexible, but try not to let it sit out on the counter until it ferments into a sloppy ball or it won’t raise much in the oven.
FAQ
Sourdough starter is a fermented mix of flour and water that has captured the wild yeast that is in your environment. It uses this yeast to raise your bread so you don’t have to purchase store bought yeast in order to make sourdough artisan bread. As long as you have access to flour, water and salt, you can make this traditional bread.
Lemon blueberry sourdough bread is actually really good just plain, but it is also delicious slathered with homemade butter or cream cheese.
Yes, you can. It will take longer to create good internal structure in the dough and it may not rise as well, but you can still make this recipe with discard. If you are new to sourdough, I would highly recommend making it with active sourdough starter instead of discard, but if you forget to feed your starter and still need to make bread, it will still work.
Yes, artisan sourdough bread is healthier than yeast bread because of the phytic acid that is broken down during the fermentation process. A lot of people that are gluten intolerant can eat long fermented sourdough bread without any digestion issues. Sourdough bread also has a lower glycemic index than regular yeast bread and when eaten with a meal it actually lowers the glycemic level of the entire meal. This is really important for people that are diabetic. More information on the glycemic level of sourdough bread here.
The best flour to use is a bread flour with a protein content of at least 11-14%. My favorite flour for bread baking is from Azure Standard. However, you can make this artisan sourdough bread with whatever flour you have on hand. I’ve made many loaves with bleached all purpose flour and they turn out just fine. If you plan to use whole wheat or whole grain flour, it’s best to make to use half whole grain and half all purpose flour.
Lemon and blueberry is a popular flavor combination because the tartness of the lemon pairs well with the sweet blueberries. It’s the perfect flavor blend for the spring and summer months.
Yes, you can freeze lemon blueberry sourdough bread. Just wrap it in plastic wrap or place it into a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. To thaw, set it out on the counter until it comes to room temperature. Can be reheated in 350 degree oven for 15 minutes for a fresh chewy sourdough texture.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here
Supplies You May Need
- Large mixing bowl
- Measuring cups
- Danish Dough Whisk
- Bench Scraper
- Bread Lame Scoring Tool or Razor Blade
- Banneton basket (you can also use a towel-lined bowl – see video)
- Parchment paper
- Cast Iron Dutch Oven (optional)
How To Make Lemon Blueberry Artisan Sourdough Bread
Feed Starter
Feed starter 4-12 hours before mixing up your dough
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Mix Ingredients
In a large bowl, add water, active sourdough starter, and flour. Mix until it comes together into a shaggy sticky dough. Leave it for 15-30 minutes to “autolyse”. This just means you’re giving the flour a chance to absorb the water and the starter.
Add the salt and “mix” into the dough with a circular motion similar to how a mixer would mix the dough (see video below). Let sit for another 15-30 minutes.
Create Structure In Your Dough
Begin creating structure in your dough by doing a series of stretch and folds, coil folds and/or lamination every 15-30 minutes. You will know your dough has good structure when it holds it shape and starts getting some bubbles on top. Sometimes I only do 2-3 stretch and folds before letting it bulk ferment if I’m in a hurry, but I try to also do 2-3 coil folds and one lamination.
Bulk Ferment
Cover bowl with a loose fitting lid like a plate and leave it in the bowl at room temperature for 2-3 hours to bulk ferment.
Add The Inclusions
Turn dough out on the counter with the top of the dough facing down on the counter. Gently spread the dough out until it’s in a very thin layer. This is called laminating the dough. Combine cream cheese, sugar and lemon juice and spread over the surface of the dough. Sprinkle blueberries on top of the cream cheese mixture.
Shape
Gently roll up the bread into a roll, and then fold the ends in towards the middle. Carefully add tension to the dough by pushing it away from you, and then pulling it back. (See video).
Cold Ferment
Place dough upside down in a banneton or tea towel and flour lined bowl. Cover with cloth or plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 2-12 hours. Keep in mind that the dough will raise some while in the refrigerator, but it may not double in size like yeast bread. It does a lot of its rising while baking. Remember, this is very different than baking regular yeast bread.
Preheat Oven
There are two ways you can bake this bread. In a dutch oven or without a dutch oven as an “open baked” loaf. Either method works well. If using the dutch oven method, be sure to place your dutch oven in your oven while it preheats to 450 degrees.
Score
When oven is hot, take sourdough out of the refrigerator and dump it out onto a piece of parchment paper. Your dough should still be holding it’s shape. Slash the top of the dough about a ½” deep. I find that this simple score works best for this loaf with all of the inclusions..
Bake
Dutch Oven Method
Remove dutch oven from pre-heated oven. Remove lid and quickly place parchment paper with bread on it into the hot dutch oven. Replace lid and quickly place it back into the oven. Place a baking sheet on the rack under the dutch oven so the bottom of your bread doesn’t end up too hard and crusty.
Open Bake Method
Place parchment paper with bread on it onto a baking sheet or pizza stone and place it into the oven. Below it place a baking sheet or pan and pour boiling water into it to create steam. This will help to give your bread a crispy crust with a fluffy inside and will replicate the dutch oven baking.
Reduce heat to 425 degrees and bake for 25 minutes.
Remove the lid if using a dutch oven.
Bake for 15 more minutes until the loaf is a nice golden brown.
Remove bread from oven and place on a cooling rack.
Honey Lemon Wash
Mix the honey and lemon juice together to make a syrup. Brush on the top of the loaf immediately after it comes out of the oven.
Slice and Enjoy
For best results, wait until bread is cool to slice with a sharp knife. Sometimes I can’t wait that long, and slice it sooner. The bread can look gummy if you slice it to soon, but it is so good with fresh butter that sometimes I do it anyway.
The easiest way to slice artisan sourdough bread is to cut it in half, and then lay the halves flat and slice.
Store leftover bread in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Lemon Blueberry Artisan Sourdough Bread
Ingredients
Sourdough Bread
- 1 1/2 cups warm water Can also use 1 cup warm water and 1/2 cup lemon juice if desired.
- 1/2 cup active sourdough starter
- 3 1/2 cups all purpose or bread flour
- 1 Tbsp salt
Filling
- 8 oz. cream cheese
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
Honey Lemon Glaze
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/4 cup warm honey
Instructions
Feed Starter
- Feed starter 4-12 hours before mixing up your dough
Mix Ingredients
- In a large bowl, add water, active sourdough starter, and flour. Mix until it comes together into a shaggy sticky dough. Leave it for 15-30 minutes to “autolyse”. This just means you’re giving the flour a chance to absorb the water and the starter.
- Add the salt and “mix” into the dough with a circular motion similar to how a mixer would mix the dough (see video below). Let sit for another 15-30 minutes.
Create Structure In Your Dough
- Begin creating structure in your dough by doing a series of stretch and folds, coil folds and/or lamination every 15-30 minutes. You will know your dough has good structure when it holds it shape and starts getting some bubbles on top. Sometimes I only do 2-3 stretch and folds before letting it bulk ferment if I’m in a hurry, but I try to also do 2-3 coil folds and one lamination.
Bulk Ferment
- Cover bowl with a loose fitting lid like a plate and leave it in the bowl at room temperature for 2-3 hours to bulk ferment.
Add The Inclusions
- Turn dough out on the counter with the top of the dough facing down on the counter. Gently spread the dough out until it’s in a very thin layer. This is called laminating the dough. Combine cream cheese, sugar and lemon juice and spread over the surface of the dough. Sprinkle blueberries on top of the cream cheese mixture.
Shape
- Gently roll up the bread into a roll, and then fold the ends in towards the middle. Carefully add tension to the dough by pushing it away from you, and then pulling it back. (See video).
Cold Ferment
- Place dough upside down in a banneton or tea towel and flour lined bowl. Cover with cloth or plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 2-12 hours. Keep in mind that the dough will raise some while in the refrigerator, but it may not double in size like yeast bread. It does a lot of its rising while baking. Remember, this is very different than baking regular yeast bread.
Preheat Oven
- There are two ways you can bake this bread. In a dutch oven or without a dutch oven as an “open baked” loaf. Either method works well. If using the dutch oven method, be sure to place your dutch oven in your oven while it preheats to 450 degrees.
Score
- When oven is hot, take sourdough out of the refrigerator and dump it out onto a piece of parchment paper. Your dough should still be holding it’s shape. Slash the top of the dough about a ½” deep. I find that this simple score works best for this loaf with all of the inclusions..
Bake
Dutch Oven Method
- Remove dutch oven from pre-heated oven. Remove lid and quickly place parchment paper with bread on it into the hot dutch oven. Replace lid and quickly place it back into the oven. Place a baking sheet on the rack under the dutch oven so the bottom of your bread doesn’t end up too hard and crusty.
Open Bake Method
- Place parchment paper with bread on it onto a baking sheet or pizza stone and place it into the oven. Below it place a baking sheet or pan and pour boiling water into it to create steam. This will help to give your bread a crispy crust with a fluffy inside and will replicate the dutch oven baking.
- Reduce heat to 425 degrees and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove the lid if using a dutch oven.
- Bake for 15 more minutes until the loaf is a nice golden brown.
- Remove bread from oven and place on a cooling rack.
Honey Lemon Wash
- Mix the honey and lemon juice together to make a syrup. Brush on the top of the loaf immediately after it comes out of the oven.
Slice and Enjoy
- For best results, wait until bread is cool to slice with a sharp knife. Sometimes I can’t wait that long, and slice it sooner. The bread can look gummy if you slice it to soon, but it is so good with fresh butter that sometimes I do it anyway.
- The easiest way to slice artisan sourdough bread is to cut it in half, and then lay the halves flat and slice.
- Store leftover bread in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
