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Old-Fashioned, Exceptionally Moist Date Nut Bread Recipe

Two moist slices of dark brown date nut bread showing visible walnuts on a white plate.
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Make this classic, moist date nut bread using simple ingredients. This easy quick bread recipe delivers comforting flavor perfect for breakfast, snacking, or gifting.

Ingredients

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  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1 cup packed pitted dates, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a standard 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 stand for 15 minutes to soften the dates.
  3. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step incorporates air, which helps keep your quick bread moist.
  4. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
  5. Add the date and water mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. The mixture may look slightly curdled; this is normal.
  6. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  7. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing only until the flour streaks disappear. Do not overmix the batter.
  8. Fold in the chopped nuts.
  9. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
  10. Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top starts to brown too quickly, loosely tent the loaf with aluminum foil after about 40 minutes.
  11. Let the date nut loaf cool in the pan for 10 minutes before turning it out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and serve this homemade date bread.

Notes

  • For an extra flavorful walnut date bread, lightly toast the nuts before adding them to the batter.
  • This bread freezes well. Wrap the cooled loaf tightly in plastic wrap and then foil before freezing for up to three months.
  • If you want to try a variation, substitute 1 cup of mashed ripe bananas for half of the water/date mixture to make a banana date bread.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://tastethisplate.com/date-nut-bread-moist-quick-bread-recipe/