Dates and Walnuts in a Loaf

Here's a homey, hearty loaf! My mom called it bread, but I like to think of it as a cake! I prefer using 'Fancy Medjool Dates.'

• Ready In: 1 hr 5 mins
• Serves: 10

Ingredients

• 2  cups all-purpose flour
• 1  teaspoon baking powder
• 1⁄2 cup unsalted butter, cold, cut into small pieces
• 1⁄2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 (12 ounce) package dates, pitted & quartered
• 1⁄2 cup walnuts, chopped
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 7  tablespoons milk, slightly warmed
• 1  large egg, beaten

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, & grease an 8 inch loaf pan.
2. In large bowl, whisk together flour & baking powder.
3. Add butter & mix with fingers or cut with pastry cutter until mixture resembles coarse bread crumbs.
4. Add sugar, dates & nuts & stir to mix.
5. In a small bowl, combine baking soda & warm milk, mixing well.
6. Make well in middle of flour mixture & add milk mixture & beaten egg, stirring until mixture is smooth & fairly moist ~ If necessary, add a little more milk.
7. Spoon mixture into prepared loaf pan, smoothing top down with back of spoon.
8. Bake about 1 hour or until loaf has risen & is golden brown on top. Check with toothpick in the center to make sure loaf is done.
9. Cool pan on wire rack 10 minutes, then remove loaf from pan & let cool completely on wire rack before serving.