Delicious, moist and classic date nut loaf. Enjoy with butter for a perfect snack any time of day! Keeps and freezes well!
Delicious, classic, old-fashioned date nut bread, made with walnuts or pecans and with a touch of molasses. A great date loaf to enjoy any time of day!
This date bread just might be one of my favourite things to have on the counter. I love the great flavours and texture and a slice with a bit of butter seems to just hit the spot any time of the day.
The Best Banana Bread Recipe
This classic, old fashioned recipe is my favourite, delivering a loaf that is never dry, but not sticky or damp either. It’s just perfectly moist, with great slicing texture. I also love the touch of molasses.
Dates – regular supermarket, pitted, dried cooking dates are all you need for this recipe. These are the ones that are found in the baking aisle in brick form. The ones I buy come in a package just slightly over the pound specified for this recipe. You can use the entire package without issue, if you don’t want to waste. Your loaf will just have more dates in it :)
I haven’t tested this recipe with fresh dates, such as Medjool or mazafati dates. They may work, but I haven’t tried it myself. The higher-moisture fresh dates may affect the texture of the finished loaf.
Grandma's Soft And Chewy Date Filled Cookies
Molasses – you’ll want to use “Fancy” molasses here, for best results and flavour. Cooking molasses will work, though the molasses flavour will be stronger in the finished loaf. I don’t recommend Blackstrap molasses as I feel like the flavour might be too strong here. If you don’t have or want to use molasses, you can substitute it with an equal amount of honey, maple syrup or golden syrup.
Brown Sugar – I generally use light brown sugar (aka Golden Sugar), though you could use dark brown sugar, if you prefer. It will produce a darker loaf, with a touch more molasses flavour.
You can tweak the sugar a bit, to taste, but be careful making large changes to the sugar amount, as the sugar in baking recipes acts as more than a sweetener. It contributes to the texture and moistness of the finished loaf, as well. Start by making small reductions, if desired, and go from there, so you can see the effect on the finished loaf and make your own decisions on acceptable compromises. Also keep in mind that the sugar amount listed is for TWO loaves.
How To Make Date Nut Bread
Pecans or Walnuts – I am usually a walnut girl in quick breads like this one, but I actually prefer pecans in this date nut bread. That’s what I’ve use here. Of course, use what you have or prefer. Even thought the nuts used are already chopped, I like to chop them a little bit more before adding to the loaf, but that’s just my preference. If you want a straight up date bread simply omit the nuts altogether, for a nut-free loaf.
First Steps: We’ll start by soaking the dates in boiling water, to which we add some baking soda. (The baking soda does two things in this recipe. It helps to soften the dates, but it will also be transferred to the batter with the dates, to contribute to the rise of the loaf later.) Let the dates stand for 10-15 minutes (it needs to both soften the dates and cool somewhat, before adding to the batter).
Start the batter by creaming together the butter and brown sugar. Add the egg and molasses and beat together, scraping down the bowl at least once. You should have a smooth and creamy batter at this point.
Best Date Loaf Recipe
Final Steps: Add the date mixture (liquid too) to the batter and mix in. Finally, mix in the flour on low speed, just until combined, with no visible flour. Spoon batter into prepared pan(s) and bake!
Yes! This recipe specifies an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 metal loaf pan and for best results, you’ll want to use the loaf pan size specified in the recipe, as that is the pan the recipe has been tested with.
You may think that you can just put the batter into a larger loaf pan and despite having a shorter loaf, all will be fine. But that is not always the case! Quick breads like this one should fill the pan 2/3 full in order to rise properly and if you put this batter into too large a pan, it may not fill the pan enough and it may not rise properly.
Date And Walnut Roll. Old Fashioned Goodness
Larger pans also have more surface area, so adjustments may be needed to oven temperature and/or baking time. If you don’t make those necessary adjustments for the larger pan, your loaf may fail to rise properly and/or it may rise while baking and fall/collapse once out of the oven.
If you are baking in a glass loaf pan of this same size, you will need to reduce the oven temperature by 25 degrees F.
You can toast the nuts if you like, before using in your loaf. Be sure to let them cool before adding to the batter, though!
Old Fashion Date Nut Bread (with Chocolate Chips)
I love date nut bread with a generous spread of butter, but it is equally nice with a spread of cream cheese instead. With either butter or cream cheese, you can make a bit of a sandwich, cutting thin slices, spreading one with butter or cream cheese and sandwiching it by placing the other half on top.
A little bit of orange zest added to the butter or cream cheese makes a great flavour combination with date nut bread!
Date nut bread does not need to be refrigerated. Simply wrap and store at room temperature for up to 3 days. That said, as long as it is well-wrapped (to prevent drying), you can refrigerate date nut bread to stretch it out to about 1 week, if you don’t want to freeze it.
Old Fashioned Sandwich Loaf
1. Fancy molasses if recommended for best flavour, though Cooing molasses will work, but produce a bolder molasses flavour. I don’t recommend Blackstrap molasses. If you like a darker, more molasses-forward date loaf, you can double the molasses, without the need to change anything else.
2. Using other pan sizes … I have not tested this recipe in 9×5 loaf pans. The larger pans may cause issues with proper rising (may not rise well or may fall after baking) and the baking times/oven temperature listed may not work for a larger loaf. I highly recommend using the pan size specified, for best results. I have not tested this recipe as mini loaves or muffins. It may work, but I have no guidance to offer in terms of baking time, as I haven’t done it myself.
3. Date Nut Bread can be stored well wrapped at room temperature for 2-3 days, or can be kept well wrapped in the fridge for 5-7 days. You can also freeze up to 2 months.
Old Fashioned Date Pudding Recipe
Be sure to read the Ingredient and Cook’s Notes above this Recipe Card, for more tips on making this recipe. You will also find Step-by-Step photos there, as well.
Serving: 1 serving , Calories: 225 kcal , Carbohydrates: 36 g , Protein: 3 g , Fat: 8 g , Saturated Fat: 3 g , Polyunsaturated Fat: 3 g , Monounsaturated Fat: 2 g , Trans Fat: 1 g , Cholesterol: 22 mg , Sodium: 183 mg , Potassium: 222 mg , Fiber: 2 g , Sugar: 22 g , Vitamin A: 130 IU , Vitamin C: 1 mg , Calcium: 42 mg , Iron: 1 mg
Hi! I’m Jennifer, a home cook schooled by trial and error and almost 40 years of getting dinner on the table! I love to share my favourite recipes, both old and new, together with lots of tips and tricks to hopefully help make your home cooking enjoyable, stress free, rewarding and of course, delicious!Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means I will earn a commission at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase. Regardless, I only link to products we use on our homestead or believe in.
Old Fashioned Date Nut Bread
Grandma's date bread recipe was born during war rationing, when sugar was scarce, inventive homemakers looked for other ways to sweeten baked goods. Honey, corn syrup, molasses, and maple syrup were often used as sweeteners, as well as dried fruits such as raisins and dates.
This date loaf recipe comes right from my grandmother’s recipe box. Dates play a starring role and the bread is sweet enough that you would never know it doesn’t include sugar!
The bread is delicious on its own for breakfast or a snack, or served alongside a meal. My husband particularly enjoy's this bread alongside a plateful of baked beans.
Classic Date Nut Bread Recipe
The original recipe calls for all-purpose flour, but I have also successfully made a gluten-free version by using a gluten-free flour blend one to one. I have also added baking powder to the original recipe, to improve the rise of the bread. Learn more about gluten free baking in Successful Gluten-Free Baking That Tastes Good.
Use a fork
0 Komentar