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Easy, Moist, Old-Fashioned Date Nut Bread

A close-up slice of moist date nut bread showing visible nuts and raisins, served on a white plate.
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Bake this classic, moist date nut bread, a comforting quick bread perfect for breakfast, snacking, or holiday gifting. This simple recipe guarantees a tender loaf every time you bake.

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 baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts

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 heatproof bowl. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over the dates and stir in the baking soda. Let this mixture stand for 10 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 helps create a moist crumb.
  4. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
  5. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  6. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Do not overmix the batter.
  7. Gently fold in the chopped walnuts and the date-water mixture. The batter will be thin; this is correct for a moist loaf.
  8. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
  9. Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
  10. Let the 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 moist date nut bread, soak the dates in hot tea instead of boiling water.
  • If you prefer a richer flavor, substitute half of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour.
  • 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://tastytribune.com/easy-moist-old-fashioned-date-nut-bread/