$500 Margarita Bread

San Marcos Sunshine's Note:

This is probably #2 of my Top Ten all time favorites. The recipe won Harold Freeman of Phoenix $150 in a newspaper contest probably 20 years ago. He should have easily won $500, as I've made many life long friends equally addicted to Harold's tipsy bread. I usually make it in mini foil pans for gifts. Don't skip the special cheese spread, as It really adds the lagniappe! Try it soon, and maybe we can each chip in another $5 to bring Harold his just reward for a great recipe!

• Total Time: 1 hrs 30 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 10

• 1 cup pitted dates, chopped small dice
• 1/4 cup tequila
• 1/4 cup orange-flavored liqueur (such as)
• triple sec or Cointreau liqueur
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon lime zest (use a microplane grater if you have one)
• 2/3 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 2 tablespoons shortening
• 1 large egg
• 2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup pecans, chopped

CREAM CHEESE SPREAD

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 2 teaspoons powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon orange-flavored liqueur
• 1 tablespoon lime zest

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, combine dates, tequila, orange liqueur, water, lemon and lime zest; set aside. In large mixer bowl, beat sugar, shortening and egg until fluffy. In another bowl, combine flour, soda and salt. Add to creamed mixture alternately with date mixture, using low to medium speed. Stir in pecans.
2. Turn into greased 9" x 5" by 2-1/2" loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Or, bake 3 or 4 mini loaf pans 30-35 minutes. Turn out on wire rack to cool. Slice thin and serve with cream cheese spread.
3. CREAM CHEESE SPREAD:.
4. In small mixer bowl, beat cream cheese, butter and sugar until smooth. Stir in liqueur and lime zest. Makes 1-1/4 cups.
5. Bread freezes well.

Reviews

[mianbao]

The bread is flavorful, but quite dry. Probably because it only contains 2 tablespoons of shortening. It was better the second day after baking, but not something I would like to try again. With the cream cheese spread, I would say 4 stars, without, 3. Proof again that we're all different. Thank you for an interesting experience. I think I'll go with a plain date nut bread from now on.

[sugarpea]

If Sunshine says it's gonna' be good-take it to the bank, it's gonna' be GOOD. I made a quadruple batch and got 4ea 8" and 1ea 9" loaves; 1 for Christmas brunch and 4 to give as superior gifts along with a carton of the cream cheese spread for every loaf. I sampled the brunch loaf and sampled again and then had to square off my slanted cut and, you know... This is quite possibly the finest thing ever done with a pkg. of dates. 27* Fabulous. need a nap...

[cookiedog]

Where do I send my money???!!! This is the Best Margarita Bread I have ever had!(Actually the only Margarita bread I've ever had but I can't imagine anything better!) I did my best to mess up the recipe and it still came out wonderful- Including letting the mixer go and go with out turning it off and adding the sugar into the tequila instead of beating it with the shortening. Even after all my mistakes it still came out fabulous! The flavor is incredible-and the spread takes it over the top! Thank you for sharing San Marcos Sun!