Chocolate Tea Bread

An unusual and delicious loaf that will turn your afternoon cuppa into a Tea Party! It also goes well with iced Earl Grey. Serve it chilled with unsalted butter or toasted for breakfast. From Murphy's B&B, Narragansett, RI

• Ready In: 1 hr 5 mins
• Yields: 1 loaf

Ingredients

• 3  cups flour
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1⁄2 cup  cocoa
• 1  cup sugar
• 1  egg
• 1 1⁄2 cups buttermilk
• 1⁄3 cup  melted butter or 1⁄3 cup  oil
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped walnuts
• 1⁄4 cup raisins
• 1⁄4 cup  chopped dates

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, cocoa, and sugar.
3. In a separate bowl, beat the egg, buttermilk, and melted butter or oil.
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir well.
5. Stir in the nuts, raisins, and dates, batter will be stiff.
6. Spoon into a greased and floured loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 55 minutes.
7. Cool briefly in pan, then turn out onto cooling rack to cool completely before slicing.