After 6 attempts, I finally nailed the ever-elusive lemon blueberry sourdough bread recipe (!!!).

It checks all the boxes: punchy lemon flavor, soft blueberries, a hint of sweetness, no gummy spots, and a dough that’s actually easy to handle.

lemon blueberry artisan sourdough bread 10

I’ll be honest… by the fourth failed attempt (which was somehow way worse than the third), I was ready to admit defeat. But we pushed through.

And I say we because this recipe wouldn’t exist without all of you. Your suggestions, feedback, and encouragement guided every experiment, and together, we landed on a recipe that’s not just good—it’s one worth making again and again.

lemon blueberry artisan sourdough bread 11

Affiliate disclaimer: there are a couple of affiliate links in this post for unique products I used to make this loaf. If you choose to purchase any of them after clicking my link, I thank you so much for supporting my work here.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Tried and tested: I went through a lot of failed attempts to get to this winning recipe. I promise you: it’s a good one.
  • Simple ingredients: While I tested some niche ingredients like lemon essential oil, I ended up with a recipe that uses easy-to-find, simple ingredients. All you need here is dried blueberries, an orange, and three lemons.
  • Easy-to-handle dough: Many of my trials produced sticky, impossible-to-manage dough. When using lemons, avoiding an overly acidic dough (which gets sticky fast) is a challenge. But with a few thoughtful recipe tweaks like a lemon-free fermentolyse and lower hydration, this dough manages to stay very beginner-friendly throughout the bulk fermentation and shaping.
  • Even distribution of blueberries: no one wants all their blueberries on one side of the loaf (a common complaint I got from other bakers). By incorporating the blueberries during the 2nd set of stretch and folds, the blueberries are evenly dispersed throughout the dough.
  • Punchy, bright lemon flavor: my complaint with lemon blueberry loaves I’ve made in the past is, 1) the lemon flavor disappears, or 2) the lemon flavor tastes and smells off. This loaf uses the zest of 2 lemons in the dough itself, plus the dried blueberries soak in a fresh lemon-orange juice mixture that amps up the brightness even more. Each bite has a fresh lemon flavor that is truly astounding.
  • Optional glaze for added sweetness: last but not least, you can make a simple lemon glaze that’s just the zest and juice of one lemon with 75g of powdered sugar. When drizzled on the loaf, it adds an additional lemony sweetness that’s perfect for those who really prefer a dessert loaf. (And if you’re not a fan of super sweet? Just omit this!)
lemon blueberry artisan sourdough bread 12

I’m so proud of this loaf!

Yes, there is more than one way to make a great lemon blueberry loaf. But my, oh my. This one is a clear winner.

lemon blueberry artisan sourdough bread 3

The Journey: Six Attempts to Success

This recipe started with your ideas—so many great suggestions came in when I asked for tips on making the perfect blueberry lemon sourdough loaf.

These were my initial notes:

lemon blueberry suggestions from followers

With all those insights in hand, I got to work.

It took six rounds of testing (and plenty of lessons learned) to land on the winning loaf. Let me take you through the journey.

lemon blueberry artisan sourdough bread 6

P.S: If you want to follow along the entire journey, I saved each and every step to my Lemon Blueberry highlight bubble on Instagram. Tap through the videos to experience the whole journey with me!

Attempt 1: The Lemonade Experiment

I thought organic lemonade would be the perfect way to infuse natural lemon flavor into the dough. Here’s what I tried:

  • 500g bread flour
  • 200g organic lemonade
  • 125g water
  • 120g starter
  • 10g salt
  • 3g lemon extract
  • Inclusions: 9 oz fresh blueberries dusted with flour, zest of 2 lemons mixed with 1 tsp sugar (rubbed together)
loaf 1

What went wrong: The lemonade didn’t deliver much lemon flavor at all, and the dough was stickier than expected. Plus, fresh blueberries caused gummy spots in the baked loaf. It looked beautiful and had a good rise, but the flavor fell flat. Even the kitchen renovation crew who sampled it agreed – it was underwhelming.

Attempt 2: The Fresh Lemon Juice Debacle

I swapped the lemonade for fresh lemon juice and added sugar.

  • 500g bread flour
  • 265g water
  • 50g fresh lemon juice (from 2 lemons)
  • 40g sugar
  • 120g starter
  • 10g salt
  • Same inclusions as Attempt 1
loaf 2

What went wrong: The fresh lemon juice completely changed the dough structure. It overproofed way faster than expected, becoming extremely sticky and hard to handle. The overly acidic dough essentially behaved like a dough made with an acidic starter – super frustrating to handle. The loaf baked up ugly and flat. However, the flavor was incredible. The lemon came through beautifully, but the structure was a total flop. Fresh blueberries still led to gummy pockets.

Attempt 3: The Frozen Blueberry and Zest Test

This time, I wanted to try frozen blueberries, which I thawed and coated in flour. I also hoped the lemon zest in the dough would provide enough citrus flavor.

  • 500g bread flour
  • 325g water
  • 100g starter
  • 10g salt
  • 40g sugar
  • Zest of 1 lemon (rubbed with sugar)
  • 8 oz (ish) frozen blueberries (thawed & coated in flour)
loaf 3

What went wrong: The dough was still sticky, and while the flavor improved, it could’ve been a tiny bit sweeter. Overall, this test wasn’t too bad. I felt like I was getting a lot closer to a winning loaf. I tested a lemon glaze (powdered sugar + lemon juice), which was amazing. I love that it’s an optional way to boost the lemon flavor and add extra sweetness.

Attempt 4: The Total Disaster

I thought rolling blueberries in powdered sugar and laminating lemon curd into the dough would be a great way to layer in flavor. Spoiler: it wasn’t.

  • 500g bread flour
  • 325g water
  • 120g starter
  • 10g salt
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 40g honey
  • 5 oz frozen (thawed) blueberries, rolled in powdered sugar
  • Lemon curd spread over the dough before rolling
loaf 4

What went wrong: Absolute chaos. The powdered sugar macerated the blueberries, pulling out their liquid and making everything sticky. The lemon curd turned into long gummy streaks in the loaf. The whole thing was a disaster, from shaping to baking. The final texture in the loaf was downright gross.

Attempt 5: The Breakthrough

After the fourth attempt, I really needed a win, and Attempt 5 did not disappoint.

Major adjustments here:

  • Cut hydration by 25g to decrease stickiness
  • Used a sweet starter (10g starter, 10g honey, 50g flour, 50g water, fermented overnight)
  • Hydrated dried blueberries in lemon + orange juice
  • Added lemon zest after a 1-hour fermentolyse to reduce acidity impact and give the dough a jumpstart on bulk fermentation
  • Added some lemon essential oil to the dough for a concentrated lemon flavor
loaf 5

What worked: The dried blueberries were a game changer—no gummy spots, better distribution, and incredible flavor from the soaking mixture. The sweet starter helped balance acidity, and the dough was way easier to handle.

What still needed work: I used lemon essential oil for extra lemony flavor, but my DMs exploded with people saying they did not want to buy it or thought it was unsafe to consume. I needed another way to boost lemon flavor that everyone could get on board with. I also wanted to add the blueberries during the stretch and folds instead of the shaping – I wasn’t happy with their distribution.

Attempt 6: The Winner

The final version, with all lessons learned:

  • More lemon zest, rubbed into sugar with a mortar and pestle to extract maximum flavor
  • Dried blueberries soaked in citrus juice for that deep, punchy blueberry taste
  • A sweet starter
  • Blueberries incorporated during stretch and folds for even distribution
loaf 6

Note: In attempt 6, I used 6 ounces of dried blueberries. I felt like it may have been a little too much, so for the 7th loaf I made (which I photographed for this recipe post), I cut it back to 4 ounces. See the difference here:

This loaf was perfect. Strong lemon flavor, even blueberry placement, and no gummy spots. Plus, zero-waste – every part of the lemons (zest and juice) got used!

Baker’s Timeline

Here’s a suggested baker’s timeline to help you plan your bake:

Day 1
8:00 PMMake the sweet starter
Day 2
8:00 AMMix the main dough (minus the salt), cover, and let sit on the counter for 1 hour. Soak dried blueberries in lemon-orange juice mixture.
9:00 AMAdd salt and citrus sugar, incorporate well.
9:30 AMStretch and fold #1
10:00 AMStretch and fold #2, add drained blueberries
10:30 AMFinal fold; then, let rise until bulk fermentation is done; dough should be puffy, bubbly, and jiggly (took about 7 hours in my home at 73°F)
3:00 PMPre-shape
3:30 PMFinal shape; refrigerate overnight
Day 3
AnytimeScore & Bake at 450°F for 30 min covered, 10-15 mins uncovered.

Ingredients

You can visit the recipe card for the full ingredient list, but I wanted to touch on some of the ingredients that make this lemon blueberry loaf a winner.

all ingredients you need
  • Sweet starter: you can use a regular starter for this recipe, but the sweet starter does transfer some sweetness to the final loaf. The final loaf is also less sour.
  • Citrus sugar: Muddling the lemon zest with sugar helps fully release all those aromatic oils. It is the perfect replacement for the lemon essential oil. The mortar and pestle made quick work of the job, but it isn’t required.
  • Dried blueberries soaked in fresh lemon and orange juice: retained structure better than fresh blueberries, preventing gummy spots. Also gave an avenue for infusing more lemon flavor by rehydrating them in a lemon and orange juice mixture. The orange is hardly detectable but adds a layer of complexity that I adore.
  • Optional lemon glaze (powdered sugar and zest + juice from a lemon): A final citrusy punch that takes the loaf to the next level. The perfect addition for those who want extra sweetness or to treat this like a dessert loaf.

How to Make Lemon Blueberry Sourdough Bread (Step by Step)

lemon blueberry artisan sourdough bread 8

Step 1: Make the Sweet Starter 

The night before you prep your dough (two nights before baking), make the sweet starter. It’s like feeding your regular starter, but adding a bit of honey for sweetness.

In a jar, mix 10g sourdough starter, 10g honey, 50g bread flour, and 50g water. Stir until fully combined. Cover the jar loosely (with a lid set on top or a paper towel with a rubber band) and let it sit on the counter at room temperature overnight.

After 10-14 hours, you’ll have 120g of bubbly, active starter. You only need 100g for this recipe, so you can either discard the extra 20g or save it for later.

Step 2: Mix the Dough

In a big glass mixing bowl, combine 300g warm water and 100g sweet starter and stir until the starter is dissolved.

lemon blueberry 2

Add 500g of bread flour and mix using a Danish dough whisk or your hands until there’s no dry flour left.

The dough might look all shaggy and feel sticky at first, but it’ll smooth out as it comes together.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rest for a one-hour fermentolyse at room temperature.

For this lemon blueberry loaf, the fermentolyse is especially helpful. It gives the dough a head start on the fermentation before the lemony additions can make it too acidic.

Step 3: Prepare the Citrus Sugar

lemon blueberry 8
What you need to make citrus sugar

While you’re letting your dough rest, zest two lemons using a microplane.

lemon blueberry 9

If you don’t have a microplane, you can use a regular grater, but a microplane gives you the finest zest.

Add the zest to a mortar with about 25g of sugar and, using your pestle, grind it together.

If you don’t have a pestle and mortar, just rub the zest and sugar together with your fingers to really press and release all those natural citrus oils.

When it’s all rubbed together, it’ll start to smell amazing, and that’s when you know you’ve really intensified the lemon flavor, and it’s ready to add to your dough.

Step 4: Incorporate the Salt and Citrus Sugar

Once the dough has rested for an hour, sprinkle 10g of salt and the citrus sugar mixture evenly over the top and use your fingertips to dimple it in.

Then, you can either do your first set of stretch and folds or knead the dough to mix everything together. 

lemon blueberry 26
It will be a little rubbery and stringy at first, but the more you knead the dough, the more it will come together and smooth out.

The goal here is to fully incorporate the salt and citrus sugar so it’s evenly distributed throughout the dough.

You’ll notice that the dough starts to feel smoother and more elastic the longer you work it. Keep at it for about 3-4 minutes, and by the end, your dough should be well-mixed and soft to the touch. 

lemon blueberry 27

Step 5: Hydrate the Dried Blueberries

In a small jar or bowl, pour the juice of 2 lemons (the same ones you zested earlier) and 1 orange over 4-6 oz of dried blueberries, and give it a little stir.

P.S: This is the citrus juicer I use, and I love it.

If you love a super blueberry-loaded loaf, go for 6 oz—the loaf will be packed with berries. I tried 6 oz, and it seemed like a lot, so I scaled down to 4 oz.

But honestly, I think 4 oz wasn’t quite enough. 5 oz might just be the sweet spot!

Let the blueberries soak while the dough rests to help them plump up and soak in that citrusy goodness.

lemon blueberry 17

Step 6: First Set of Stretch and Folds

Wet your hands a little to keep the dough from sticking, then pick up one corner of the dough with your fingers, stretch it up, and fold it over the rest of the dough.

Turn the bowl a quarter turn, grab the next corner, and repeat—stretch and fold it over. Keep going around the dough, making sure each corner gets stretched and folded towards the center.

The dough will start to feel a bit firmer with each stretch and fold. Once you’ve gone all the way around and it resists a bit, stop.

lemon blueberry 31

Let the dough rest for about 30 minutes before you start the next set.

Step 7: Add Blueberries with the Second Set of Stretch and Folds

On the second set of stretch and folds, add the blueberries. It might feel a bit chaotic at first, but adding them here works best for an even distribution.

Grab the bowl of blueberries you set aside to soak in the citrus juice. Drain the juice (save it for a cocktail or mocktail if you like!), and pat any extra moisture off the blueberries with a paper towel.

lemon blueberry 32

Add the blueberries a quarter at a time with each stretch and fold. Start by sprinkling a quarter of the blueberries on top of the dough, then stretch the dough up and fold it over the blueberries.

Repeat with the next quarter, and keep folding until all the blueberries are added.

lemon blueberry 43

Cover and let sit for another 30 minutes.

Step 8: Final Coil Fold

For the final dough strengthening session, I like to do a coil fold to build up extra dough strength without overworking it. Since all the blueberries are already in there, it’s easier on the dough and helps keep things nice and smooth.

To do the coil fold, gently lift the center of the dough and let the edges naturally drape down on the sides. Then, tuck the edges underneath the dough, like you’re folding it into itself, and set it back down in the bowl. 

If the dough still feels a little slack or not as strong as you’d like, you can do an extra coil fold after another 30-minute rest. 

lemon blueberry 47

Step 9: Bulk Fermentation

Cover the dough and let it ferment at room temperature until it’s done. The time it takes will depend on your environment, so keep that in mind. 

The fermentation timer starts when the starter is mixed with the water and flour. For reference, mine took about 7 hours at 73°F (23°C).

You’ll know it’s done when you see visual signs like it being puffy, jiggly, and having visible bubbles on the surface and sides.

Here’s what my dough looked like when I dumped it out:

Step 9: Pre-shape the Dough 

Mist your work surface with water—this always works better for me than using flour, and it keeps the dough from drying out.

Gently turn the dough out of the bowl onto your surface. Then, using a push-and-pull motion with your hands and a bench scraper, start shaping the dough into a round ball. The goal is to have a smooth, tight top.

lemon blueberry 52

Once it’s shaped, let the dough rest uncovered on the counter for about 20 minutes, or just until it starts to relax a bit.

Step 10: Final Shaping

Scoop the dough up and flip it over into your palms so the smooth side is facing down. For a batard, fold the edges to the center like a book, to make a caddy clasp.

For a boule, rotate it and fold it twice to get a nice round shape. 

Step 11: Cold Proof Overnight

Once it’s shaped, set it into a floured banneton, seam side up. Pinch the seam together to give it a bit more tension and seal everything in place.

lemon blueberry 60
I did some light stitching

Quick tip: When you’re using blueberries or other inclusions that might leak, I suggest skipping the wood pulp banneton. If the blueberries leak during the cold retard, it may stain your banneton. I finally found a good use for those silicone bannetons!

Cover it with a flour sack towel or plastic wrap and put it in the fridge for a cold-proof overnight, or about 8-24 hours.

lemon blueberry 62

Step 12: Bake

Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C) with a Dutch oven inside for at least 30 minutes to get it nice and hot.

Once the oven’s ready, flip your cold dough onto parchment paper or a bread sling. Score the top with a bread lame or sharp knife to control the rise, and carefully place it into the Dutch oven.

Bake with the lid on for 25 minutes; then, take the lid off.

halfway through the bake
Halfway through the bake

Bake for another 10-15 minutes, until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 205-210°F (96-99°C).

lemon blueberry 66

Let it cool on a wire rack before slicing.

Step 13: Optional Glaze

If you love a touch of extra sweetness, whisk together 75g powdered sugar with the zest and juice of 1 lemon.

Drizzle it over the cooled loaf just before slicing, or drizzle it onto each individual slice.

lemon blueberry artisan sourdough bread 9

FAQs

Can you really taste the orange from soaking the blueberries in lemon and orange juice?

Not really—it doesn’t make the bread taste like oranges. It just adds a more complex acidity that balances the flavors, which I think is lovely.

oranges and lemons

How’s the blueberry flavor?

The blueberry flavor is great. The dried blueberries plump up beautifully when rehydrated, so you get a nice burst of blueberry in every bite.

lemon blueberry artisan sourdough bread 7

Can I use fresh blueberries instead of dried?

Every time I’ve tried, I ended up with slightly gummy spots around the fresh blueberries in the finished loaf. Dried blueberries solve that problem and have the bonus of soaking up extra citrus flavor when rehydrated in lemon and orange juice.

That said, if you like that extra moisture from fresh blueberries, I’d add them at the same time (during the stretch and folds), but toss them in all-purpose or bread flour first.

Another inclusion loaf you might like: Italian Herbs & Cheese Artisan Sourdough Bread Recipe

lemon blueberry artisan sourdough bread 2
lemon blueberry artisan sourdough bread 10

Lemon Blueberry Artisan Sourdough Bread Recipe

This Blueberry Lemon Sourdough is the result of six rounds of perfecting the balance between bright citrus, sweet blueberries, and a light, airy crumb. With a foolproof method for even blueberry distribution and a dough that’s easy to handle, this recipe eliminates common issues like gummy spots and overly acidic dough. The dried blueberries soak up fresh lemon and orange juice for a punchy, fruit-forward flavor, and an optional lemon glaze adds the perfect sweet-tart finish.
5 from 9 votes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Resting Time 19 hours
Total Time 20 hours 5 minutes
Course Bread, Dessert
Servings 1 loaf

Ingredients
  

Sweet Starter

  • 10 g sourdough starter
  • 10 g honey
  • 50 g bread flour
  • 50 g water

Main Dough

  • 300 g warm water
  • 100 g sweet starter (from above)
  • 500 g bread flour
  • 10 g salt (added after an hour)

Citrus Sugar

  • 2 lemons, zested
  • 25 g sugar

Blueberry Inclusion

  • 4-6 oz dried blueberries
  • 2 lemons, juiced (same lemons as the citrus sugar)
  • 1 orange, juiced

Lemon Glaze (Optional)

  • 75 g powdered sugar
  • 1 lemon (zest and juice)

Instructions
 

  • Make the sweet starter the night before. In a jar, mix 10 g sourdough starter, 10 g honey, 50 g bread flour, and 50 g water. Stir until fully combined, then cover loosely and let it ferment overnight at room temperature (about 10-14 hours). By morning, it should be bubbly and at least doubled in size. You'll have 20g more than you need (add it to your discard jar in the fridge if you like!).
  • Mix the dough. In a glass mixing bowl, combine 300 g warm water and 100 g sweet starter, stirring gently to dissolve the starter. Add 500 g bread flour and mix with a Danish dough whisk or your hands until no dry flour remains. The dough will be shaggy and sticky – that’s normal! Cover with plastic wrap or a bowl cover and let rest for 1 hour (this is called a fermentolyse).
    lemon blueberry 4
  • Prepare the citrus sugar. While the dough rests, mix 2 lemons, zested (use a microplane for that) and 25 g sugar in a pestle and mortar (or rub together with your fingers) until fragrant. This releases the natural citrus oils and intensifies the lemon flavor.
    lemon blueberry 11
  • Incorporate the salt and citrus sugar. After the dough has rested for an hour, sprinkle 10 g salt and the citrus sugar mixture over the dough. Use your fingertips to dimple it in, then switch to stretch and folds or kneading to fully incorporate. This step takes about 3-4 minutes. The dough will become smoother as you work it.
    lemon blueberry 25
  • Hydrate the dried blueberries. In a small jar or bowl, combine 4-6 oz dried blueberries with 2 lemons, juiced and 1 orange, juiced (use the same lemons you zested earlier!). Let them soak while the dough rests. This step plumps up the blueberries and infuses them with bright citrus flavor.
    lemon blueberry 17
  • Perform a set of stretch and folds. To do this, grab one side of the dough, stretch it upward, then fold it over itself. Rotate the bowl and repeat on all four sides. Keep going until the dough resists being stretched. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes.
  • Incorporate the blueberries during the second set of stretch and folds. After draining the blueberries (save the juice for a cocktail or mocktail!), gently pat them dry with a paper towel. Add a quarter of the blueberries at a time during the second stretch and fold, layering them evenly as you perform each fold to ensure even distribution.
    lemon blueberry 37
  • Final coil fold. After 30 minutes, perform a final coil fold to build additional dough strength. To do this, lift the center of the dough, allowing the edges to drape down, then tuck them underneath as you set the dough back down. If you feel the dough is slack or not strong enough, you can do an additional coil fold after another 30-minute rest.
  • Bulk ferment. Cover the dough and let it ferment at room temperature until it is puffy, jiggly, and has visible bubbles on the surface and sides. The exact amount of time this takes will vary. The temperature of your environment is the biggest factor. For reference, it took my dough about 7 hours at 73°F (23°C). The timing begins when we mix our dough.
    lemon blueberry 51
  • Pre-shape the dough. Mist your work surface with water (or lightly flour it if you prefer). Gently turn the dough out of the bowl. Using a push and pull motion, shape the dough ball into a round shape. We want the surface to be taut. Let rest, uncovered, for about 20 minutes, or just until the dough relaxes a bit.
    lemon blueberry 52
  • Final shaping.  Flip the dough and use the caddy clasp final shaping technique to fold it into a boule or batard. See the Notes section for video tutorials.
  • Cold proof overnight. Place the shaped dough into a floured banneton, cover with a flour sack towel or plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight (8-24 hours). This slow fermentation enhances flavor and makes the dough easier to score before baking.
    lemon blueberry 62
  • Bake. Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C) with a Dutch oven inside for at least 30 minutes. (I use convection.) When ready to bake, carefully transfer the cold dough onto parchment paper or a bread sling, score the top with a bread lame, and place it into the preheated Dutch oven. Cover and bake for 25 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 10-15 minutes until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 205-210°F (96-99°C).
    lemon blueberry 66
  • Optional glaze. If you love a touch of sweetness, whisk together 75 g powdered sugar with the zest and juice of 1 lemon. Drizzle over the cooled loaf.

Notes

If you prefer fewer blueberries, use 4 ounces (this is what is photographed for this recipe card). If you want a lot of blueberries, use 6 ounces (see attempt 6 earlier in this post for an example). And if you like something in the middle, I suggest 5 ounces!
Caddy clasp for a batard shape
Caddy clasp for a boule shape
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
lemon blueberry artisan sourdough bread 13

Conclusion

After six attempts, I finally cracked the code on the perfect blueberry lemon sourdough loaf.

lemon blueberry artisan sourdough bread 1

And this loaf is one for the books. The flavor is bold, the texture is dreamy, and the lemon glaze? Chef’s kiss.

If you make it, let me know how it turns out—because if there’s one thing I love more than baking sourdough, it’s seeing all of you baking it too.

To try next: Cinnamon Swirl Sourdough Bread Recipe: No Stress, No Leaks

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35 Comments

  1. Is it dehydrated blueberries or freeze dried blueberries? Maybe I missed it but I didn’t see anything other than dried blueberries being used. I’d assume it’s freeze dried?

  2. I made this and it came out great! I modified it a little; accidentally added the whole jar of starter (extra 20g starter), mixed the salt with the flour instead of after, used 3.5 oz of dried blueberries and I did just a half hour of the final proof on a heating mat because I needed to bake it right away.

  3. What is the protein % of the bread flour you use for the recipe? And what brand bread flour? Thank you !!!

  4. I haven’t made this yet, but I want to – looks amazing! I had a couple of questions:
    1) were these average size lemons? Just wondering how much juice and zest to use (although…you just use the juice for soaking, so I guess it’s mostly important to have enough to cover the blueberries!)
    2) why not just make a smaller amount of sweet starter and use it all? Or was it a ratio thing- just easier to figure out the flavors at those measurements?

    Thanks! I only recently discovered your page and I love your approach! Also- I’m Rebecca and my husband is Aaron!!

    1. Yep, average sized lemons. I didn’t weigh the juice but I did weigh the zest once and it was about 3g. For the starter, you can create a smaller amount if you want. I’ve been trying to use round numbers because otherwise people get confused and ask me why I’m not rounding. Also, if you make the exact amount you need, a few grams will inevitably stick to the side of the jar and your utensil, so making a little extra just makes life a little easier.

  5. 5 stars
    Eating this right now, toasted with some lemon glaze on it. DELICIOUS! I had trouble with the blueberries, my own fault, as it was my first loaf with inclusions, but I soldiered on and it was a success 🤗 Thank you for the recipe!!

  6. 5 stars
    I was given this recipe by a fellow bread enthusiast (I’m the guinea pig) so I gave it a go. I used 5 oz. of blueberries and everything else was as per your recipe. The smell of the lemon-infused dough was very nice. I started it at around noon and had it in the basket by 9 pm. When I pulled it this morning from the fridge I was pleasantly surprised at how much more it rose. Here’s some pictures of my results, and the only thing I did differently was covered it with foil after 5 minutes with the lid off and baked it for an extra 5 minutes (20 total). Pics or it didn’t happen, right?
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/DGHbSWrEnRotunDJ9

  7. Since I am used to using grams, and all the other units in the recipe are grams I missed the ounces for blueberries. Imagine my surprise at how few blueberries there were. Unfortunately it took me more time than I like to admit to discover my mistake.

  8. 5 stars
    So today I decided to be super ambitious and tackled not just one of your recipes, but TWO! I have proofing in my fridge right now your Lemon/Blueberry sourdough loaf and your Cinnamon Swirl loaf. Since I have not baked them yet, all I can speak to is how easy these were to work with! I am notorious for not following a recipe exactly as written (guilty with these as well)! Not sticky and so, so easy to shape and get in the proofing basket. Thank you so much for all the detailed instructions. Very helpful!

  9. 5 stars
    UH MAZ ING. My first inclusion loaf. Turned out so beautiful, so delicious. I added the zest from the orange, and I used the blueberry liquid to make some glaze (and a cocktail)!

  10. 5 stars
    Is there a video? I have never heard the term that you used for picking up the center of the dough and I don’t really know how to do that I guess I’ll figure it out but if there is a video that would be great!!
    My friend just made this bread and he says it’s fabulous!!!

  11. 5 stars
    Oh my gosh! This is so Flippin good 😋 I followed your recipe exactly, but just because I have lemon oil, I added a few drops, and after marinating the berries, I mixed them with a little Lemon paste I got from King Arthurs. This is delightful, without being too sweet. I’d send pictures, but I don’t see a way to upload. Loved the journey for this recipe, you’ve made it fun & delicious! Thank you ❤️ Gotta go eat now 🍋 😆

  12. One more question about the blueberries…dried UNSWEETENED blueberries?

    But if I can only get “sweetened” dried blueberries, do you think reducing the amount of citrus sugar would be a good trade? Thank you!

    1. The ones at my grocery store are unsweetened but I’d interchange them for sweetened ones in a heartbeat. They soak in the citrus juice and that will likely bring out some of the added sugar. I don’t think it will make much of a difference honestly!

  13. 5 stars
    Wow just WOW!!! I’ve only been baking sourdough for a few months & this might just be my favorite specialty loaf. I baked it this morning before being out for the day. I thought about it all day while I was out. As soon as I got home this evening before even figuring out what was for dinner, I sliced a piece for toast. I added butter & drizzled a little honey. Then I finished it off with the tiniest sprinkle of salt. I so appreciate your recipes because they’re truly tested. I followed this recipe to a T…with the tiny exception of adding about a teaspoon of homemade lemon extract to the drained blueberries. I love a really lemony flavor & I think this just kicked that up a bit. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your wonderful recipes & helpful tips. You are so appreciated! Baking has become a huge anxiety & stress reliever for me. The fact that your recipes have so many insightful tips and are tested so well before posting is just the “chefs kiss”.

    1. OMG Stephanie, you actually took the time to type out this lovely review, and it absolutely made my day. I am a quality over quantity gal, which is why I’ll probably never be able to publish more than one recipe per week. Your feedback means the world.

  14. 5 stars
    This was so delicious. I followed the recipe, using 5 ounces of blueberries which worked perfectly.
    The only thing I might change is adding more lemon zest (and sugar) to amp up the lemon flavor.

  15. 5 stars
    Tried this recipe from that sourdough gal and it was amazing. The lemon was very refreshing and the dried blueberries made all the difference in the world. Best recipe I’ve tried yet.

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