How about a date?
Saturday, December 6, 2008 at 10:50AM 
Is it just me, or do you sometimes find yourself wanting to make certain things, not even being entirely sure if you like them? I had this urge to make date-nut bread -- but the thing is, I don't remember ever having it before, and I don't like dates! I mean, I like baking with them, and I have before -- but I can't remember ever making or even eating old-fashioned date-nut bread. Weird.
I did have some dates in the fridge, left over from another recipe, and I do hate to waste food, so maybe that's where this came from?
Anyway, I did make date-nut bread, and it was REALLY good. Moist, sweet but not overly so, sort of caramel-y -- a really nice treat for breakfast or snack time. I brought it into work, so it got gobbled up pretty quick -- but I bet it would freeze well. Enjoy!
Date-Nut Bread
Yield: 1 9-inch loaf
10 oz. pitted dates, finely chopped
6 Tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature, cut up
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1. Warm 1 1/4 cups water over high heat until it boils. Place butter and dates in a bowl. Pour boiling water over butter and dates and let stand until butter melts and mixture cools, stirring a couple of times, about 30 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 325ºF. Mist a 9-by5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
3. In large bowl, mix flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt; stir with a fork. Lightly whisk egg and vanilla into date mixture, then pour mixture into bowl with dry ingredients. Stir with a flexible spatula until just mixed (do not overmix). Fold in pecans. Pour batter into loaf pan and spread evenly.
4. Bake bread until a skewer inserted in center of loaf comes out clean, about 1 hour to 70 minutes. Cool bread in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes, then turn bread out onto rack to cool completely.
Reader Comments (8)
Yep, I'm the same way :-)
LOOOOVE dates!!
i love to bake with dates. they re so yummy :) this bread looks awesome
Looks like you did an awesome job on the bread!
You should really try the date balls I made not too long ago. They are so good and you might just like them! They are my favorite.
Would you believe I've never baked with a date? What's wrong with me, I better get baking!
Love dates, I bet they are even better in your bread!
Mmmm this looks delicious. I know what you mean about the date bread being caramel-y.
Have you ever made sticky toffee pudding before? SO good!
I Love dates! I'm sure I'd love this bread as well!
I love dates and boy could I fancy a slice of that right now!