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Easy, Moist, Old-Fashioned Date Nut Bread

Close-up of a freshly baked date nut bread loaf, sliced to show moist interior with visible dates and walnuts.
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Bake a comforting, moist date nut bread loaf. This easy quick bread recipe delivers classic flavor, 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 and let the mixture sit for 10 minutes to soften the dates. This step helps ensure a very 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 stir in the vanilla extract.
  4. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, and salt.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Do not overmix.
  6. Gently fold in the chopped walnuts and the date mixture (including all the liquid). The batter will be thick.
  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 after about 40 minutes.
  9. Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before carefully turning it out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

  • For the best moisture, do not skip soaking the dates in hot water with the baking soda; this activates the dates and creates steam while baking.
  • This classic quick bread freezes well. Wrap the cooled loaf tightly in plastic wrap and then foil before freezing for up to three months.
  • If you prefer a slightly sweeter loaf, you can add 1/2 cup of mashed ripe banana along with the eggs.

Nutrition

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