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Easy, Moist, Old-Fashioned Date Nut Bread

Three slices of rich, dark date nut bread packed with visible walnuts, served on a white plate.
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Bake this classic, moist date nut bread. This easy quick bread recipe delivers comforting, rich flavor perfect for breakfast, snacking, or holiday gifting.

Ingredients

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  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1 cup packed pitted dates, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts, plus extra for topping

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
  2. Place the chopped dates in a heatproof bowl. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over the dates and stir in the baking soda. Let this mixture sit for 15 minutes to soften the dates.
  3. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
  4. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
  5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in three additions, mixing just until combined after each addition. Do not overmix.
  6. Gently fold in the softened date mixture (including any remaining liquid) and the chopped walnuts.
  7. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle a few extra chopped walnuts over the top, if desired.
  8. Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top browns too quickly, loosely tent it with aluminum foil after about 40 minutes.
  9. Let the loaf cool in the pan for 10 minutes before turning it out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and serve warm with butter for the best flavor.

Notes

  • For an extra moist loaf, soak the dates in hot tea instead of plain water.
  • This bread freezes well once completely cooled. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and then foil.
  • If you prefer a sweeter bread, substitute half the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour for a slightly healthier, wholesome snack bread.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://spoonswirl.com/easy-moist-date-nut-bread-recipe/