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Easy, Moist, Old-Fashioned Date Nut Bread

Close-up of two moist slices of date nut bread, rich in raisins and nuts, sitting on a white plate.
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Bake a truly comforting quick bread that stays moist. This old-fashioned date nut bread recipe is simple to follow and perfect for breakfast or holiday snacking.

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 baking powder
  • 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 9×5 inch loaf pan.
  2. Place the chopped dates in a medium 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. This step helps keep your bread moist.
  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 stir in the vanilla extract.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
  5. Gently fold in the date mixture (including all the liquid) and the chopped walnuts.
  6. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle a few extra walnuts over the top if desired.
  7. 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 foil after about 40 minutes.
  8. Let the date nut bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before carefully 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.
  • If you prefer a sweeter loaf, you can add 1/2 cup of mashed ripe banana to the batter for a Banana Date Nut Bread variation.
  • This homemade quick bread freezes well once completely cooled. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and then foil.

Nutrition

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