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Easy, Moist, Old-Fashioned Date Nut Bread

Close-up of a moist slice of date nut bread showing visible dates and walnuts.
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Bake a comforting, moist date nut bread that tastes like classic homemade comfort food. This easy quick bread recipe is 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 packed light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts, plus extra for topping

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a standard 9×5 inch loaf pan.
  2. Place the chopped dates in a small bowl and pour 1 cup of boiling water over them. Stir in the baking soda. Let this mixture sit for 10 minutes to soften the dates. This step is key for a moist loaf.
  3. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla extract.
  4. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour and salt.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Do not overmix.
  6. Stir in the softened date mixture (including any remaining liquid) and the chopped walnuts until they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
  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 for the last 15 minutes of baking.
  9. Let the date nut bread 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 rich flavor, substitute half of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour. This keeps the bread wholesome while maintaining texture.
  • If you prefer a sweeter loaf, you can add 1/2 cup of mashed ripe banana along with the wet ingredients.
  • This bread freezes well. Wrap the cooled loaf tightly in plastic wrap and then foil before freezing for up to three months.

Nutrition

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