How to Make Cherry Sourdough at Home

Introduction

Making cherry sourdough at home is a rewarding experience. The process allows you to create a unique loaf with a burst of cherry flavor. This guide will walk you through each

Gather Your Ingredients

First, gather all the necessary ingredients. You will need:

• 500g bread flour
• 100g whole wheat flour
• 350g water
• 150g sourdough starter
• 10g salt
• 200g dried cherries or fresh in season
•  200g dried blueberries 

Make sure your sourdough starter is active and bubbly before you begin.

Mixing the Dough

Start by mixing the bread flour, whole wheat flour, and water in a large bowl. Let it rest for about 30 minutes. This process is called autolyse and helps the flour absorb the water.

After the rest, add the sourdough starter and salt to the mixture. Mix until all ingredients are well combined. You can use your hands or a dough whisk for this step.

Incorporating the Cherries

Once the dough is mixed, it's time to add the dried cherries and blueberries. Gently fold them into the dough until they are evenly distributed. Be careful not to overwork the dough.

Cover the bowl with a damp cloth and let it rest for 30 minutes.

Bulk Fermentation

During bulk fermentation, the dough will rise and develop flavor. Let the dough sit at room temperature for about 4 hours. Every 30 minutes, perform a series of stretch and folds to strengthen the dough.

To do a stretch and fold, pull one side of the dough up and fold it over itself. Rotate the bowl and repeat on all sides.

Shaping the shape it into a round or oval loaf. Be careful not to deflate the dough too much.

Place the shaped dough into a proofing basket or a bowl lined with a floured cloth. Cover and let it proof for another 2-3 hours at room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator.

Baking the Bread

Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C) with a Dutch oven inside. When the oven is ready, carefully transfer the dough into the hot Dutch oven. Score the top with a sharp knife.

Cover and bake for 20 minutes. Then, remove the lid and bake for another 20-25 minutes until the crust is golden brown. Use a steal in your oven really does a good job giving a golden brown crust.

Before slicing. This helps the bread set and makes it easier to cut. Cherry Rhubarb Compo!

Enjoy your homemade cherry sourdough with butter, jam, or simply on its own. The combination of tangy sourdough and sweet cherries is sure to delight your taste buds. Take one cup cherries (pitted) and one cup rhubarb one inch cut. One teaspoon Lemon Juice. One cup sugar. Mix together and chill one hour. Serve with cherry sourdough.