Lemon Blueberry Sourdough Swirl (Print Version)

Tangy sourdough with lemon zest, fresh blueberries, and a golden crumble topping, perfect for breakfast.

# Components:

→ Dough

01 - 2 3/4 cups bread flour
02 - 1/3 cup active sourdough starter
03 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1 large egg
05 - 1/2 cup whole milk, lukewarm
06 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
07 - 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
08 - Zest of 1 large lemon

→ Blueberry Swirl

09 - 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
10 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
11 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
12 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch

→ Crumble Topping

13 - 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
14 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cubed
15 - 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
16 - Pinch of salt

# Directions:

01 - In a stand mixer bowl, combine bread flour, sugar, salt, and lemon zest. Add sourdough starter, egg, and lukewarm milk, mixing to form a shaggy dough.
02 - With the mixer on low speed, add softened butter in pieces, mixing until fully incorporated and dough is smooth and elastic, approximately 8 to 10 minutes.
03 - Place dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, approximately 2 hours.
04 - In a small saucepan, combine blueberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat until berries burst, about 5 minutes. Stir in cornstarch and simmer until thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Cool completely.
05 - Mix flour, brown sugar, and salt in a bowl. Cut in cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Chill until needed.
06 - Punch down risen dough and roll out on a floured surface to a 10 by 14-inch rectangle. Spread cooled blueberry mixture over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border. Roll up tightly from the short side to form a log and place seam-side down in a greased 9 by 5-inch loaf pan.
07 - Cover the loaf and let rise until puffy, approximately 1 hour.
08 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Brush loaf with milk or beaten egg if desired, and sprinkle evenly with crumble topping.
09 - Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, tenting with foil after 30 minutes if browning too quickly.
10 - Cool in pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sourdough tang plays beautifully against the sweet-tart blueberries, so you get real flavor complexity instead of just sweetness.
  • That crumble top gets golden and crispy while the crumb stays impossibly moist, making it as good day-old as it is fresh from the oven.
  • It feels fancy enough to serve guests but honest enough to eat straight from the cooling rack with your fingers.
02 -
  • The blueberry filling must be completely cool before spreading, or it'll warm up your dough and mess with the rise and texture of the final loaf.
  • Don't skip the thickening step with cornstarch, because a wet filling will create a soggy middle and the bread won't slice cleanly.
03 -
  • If your kitchen is cold, proof the dough in a slightly warmed oven (preheat to 200°F, then turn it off) for faster rising without drying it out.
  • A simple lemon glaze drizzled over the cooled loaf takes it from good to "why does this taste like it came from a real bakery" territory.
Return