Date Walnut Loaf
"This is the date loaf I've been making for years, originally found in a FiveRoses cookbook, I think. I like to spread a little butter on slices of it and have it with tea."
photo by najwa
- Ready In:
- 1hr 10mins
- Ingredients:
- 11
- Serves:
-
12
ingredients
- 3⁄4 cup boiling water
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1⁄2 cups chopped dates
- 1 1⁄3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- 3⁄4 cup packed brown sugar
- 3⁄4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1⁄4 cup melted butter, cooled to room temperature
directions
- Preheat oven to 350F; spray a loaf pan with nonstick baking spray like Pam, and set aside.
- In a small bowl or measuring cup, pour boiling water over baking soda so that soda dissolves.
- Place dates in a mixing bowl and pour water/soda mixture over dates; let cool.
- In a small bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.
- In a different bowl, beat the egg with an electric mixer, then slowly add the brown sugar, beating well after each addition.
- To the egg/sugar mixture, add cooled date mixture, toasted nuts and vanilla; mix well.
- Stir in the dry ingredients.
- Now, add the melted butter and mix well.
- Pour this mixture into the prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for approximately 55 minutes, or until loaf tests done.
- Let cool 10 minutes before removing from pan, then cool completely on a rack.
Questions & Replies
-
Do I leave the water with the dates and add or do I drain the water before? -
I've been making a similar date nut bread, recipe which is my grandmother's recipe, for years. I've always wondered how the baking soda works, since it's getting dissolved with boiling water way before the batter is put together and baked. If you can answer this I'd love to understand. I do see her recipe does make a denser bread with less rising than, for example, a banana bread. Perhaps this is the desired end result. Someone please enlighten me! When I make her spice loaf, I've changed her recipe, instead of dissolving the baking soda, I add it with the flour. I think it's a little better, but that is a different bread. TIA
Reviews
-
I made this loaf and found it very tasty. I might not toast the walnuts next time, but otherwise no problems. My only gripe is that being English I am used to weighing ingredients rather than using measures. How DO you measure chopped dates? -
Baking right now smells wonderful ?? -
Made this tonight and added more walnuts and used vegan butter and 1/2 of sugar instead and it was delicious! I'm gonna try and make it vegan next time and will use applesauce instead of the butter and will see how it goes. -
Moist and delicious! A winner!
-
Would you recommend using a tablespoon or two of molasses, as in banana bread? If so would there be the need to reduce the amount of sugar? AnnaM
see 6 more reviews
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
I have been sharing recipes here at Recipezaar since October 2001. You won't see me around anymore, although if you're an old-school Zaarite you'll remember that in the past, you couldn't shut me up!
