🫐 Step 5: Add the Blueberries

After the dough has become smooth and slightly puffy:

1. Lightly coat blueberries with flour (prevents sinking and bleeding).
2. Gently flatten the dough on a clean surface.
3. Sprinkle blueberries evenly over it.
4. Fold the dough carefully to distribute them without crushing.

👉 Be gentle—this preserves the berries and avoids purple-streaked dough.

🍃 Step 6: Shape the Dough

1. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface.
2. Shape it into a round or oval loaf:
   • Fold edges toward the center
   • Flip it over
   • Tighten the surface by pulling it toward you gently
3. Place it into a floured proofing basket (or bowl lined with a cloth).

❄️ Step 7: Cold Proof (Overnight Fermentation)

• Cover the dough and refrigerate for 8–12 hours.

👉 This slow fermentation:

• Enhances sourdough flavor
• Strengthens structure
• Makes scoring easier before baking

🔥 Step 8: Preheat the Oven

The next day:

• Preheat oven to 240°C (465°F) for at least 30–45 minutes.
• Place a Dutch oven inside (if available) to heat thoroughly.

👉 A hot baking environment creates a crispy crust and good oven spring.

✂️ Step 9: Score and Bake

1. Remove dough from fridge.
2. Turn it onto parchment paper.
3. Score the top with a sharp blade or bread lame.

Then bake:

• Cover with lid → bake for 20 minutes
• Remove lid → bake for another 20–25 minutes

👉 The crust should turn golden brown with slight caramelization.

❄️ Step 10: Cool Properly

• Let the loaf cool on a wire rack for at least 1 hour before slicing.

⚠️ Do not cut early—steam inside needs time to settle or the texture will become gummy.

🍞 Final Result

You should get a loaf that is:

• Crisp on the outside
• Soft and airy inside
• Slightly tangy from sourdough
• Sweet and juicy from blueberries

The berries will create beautiful purple pockets throughout the crumb, making each slice visually stunning and flavorful.

💡 Tips for Best Results

• Use frozen blueberries if fresh ones are too soft—they hold shape better.
• Do not overmix after adding berries.
• If dough feels too sticky, lightly flour hands instead of adding more flour.
• For extra flavor, add lemon zest or vanilla.

If you want, I can also turn this into:

• a printable recipe card (Etsy-style)
• a Canva design layout for your digital product shop
• or a short viral TikTok recipe script