by Diana Rattray
Date nut bread is one of my favorite quick breads to make for company or a weekend snack. The dates help moisten the cake and add sweetness. I love the bread with a smear of butter or cream cheese. You might also enjoy a flavored spread. A maple cream cheese spread is wonderful, or make an orange cream cheese spread with 4 ounces of soft cream cheese, 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar, and 1 teaspoon each of orange zest and juice.
Ingredients
Dates: I use pitted whole Medjool dates and I like to chop them coarsely. You can use pre-chopped dates if that’s what you have on hand.
Nuts: Walnuts or pecans are great choices, but you could also use pistachios, macadamia nuts, or hazelnuts.
Sugar: Use light or dark brown sugar or make the bread with granulated sugar or a combination.
Recipe Variations
Spiced: Add warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, or a spice mixture.
Chocolate Chips: Fold in 1/2 to 1 cup of chocolate chips for extra flavor and texture.
Coconut: Add 3/4 cup of coconut to the batter along with the nuts.
Nuts: Omit the nuts or use another kind of chopped nut.
PrintDate Nut Bread
This date nut bread is easy, moist, and delicious. You don’t need an electric mixer to make this quick bread!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings 1x
- Category: Quick Bread, Dates
- Method: Bake
Ingredients
- 1 cup water, brewed coffee, or orange juice
- 2 cups chopped pitted dates, about 227 grams
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, light or dark
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cups (208 grams) all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon table salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350 F and spray a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with baking spray.
- Bring the water, coffee, or orange juice to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Put the dates, butter, baking soda, and brown sugar in a medium bowl. Pour the hot liquid over the date mixture and stir; set stand for 15 minutes to soften the dates and cool a bit.
- Whisk the egg and vanilla into the cooled date mixture.
- Combine the flour, salt, and baking powder in a mixing bowl and stir or whisk to combine.
- Pour the date mixture into the mixing bowl with the flour mixture and gently mix until smooth.
- Fold in the chopped nuts.
- Spoon the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread evenly.
- Bake the loaf in the preheated oven for 45 to 55 minutes. Tent it with foil after 35 minutes. A skewer or toothpick inserted into the loaf should come out with just a few crumbs clinging to it.
