Date Nut Bread

This easy Date Nut Bread is made with soft soaked dates, warm spices, and toasted walnuts for a moist, naturally sweet loaf that’s perfect any time of day. It bakes up beautifully every time, a perfect breakfast.

Prep – 25 minutes mins
Cook – 1 hour hr
Serves – 10

Ingredients  

• ▢ 2 cups chopped pitted dates (preferably Medjool) (300g)
• ▢ 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ▢ 1 cup hot coffee, black tea, or water (240ml)
• ▢ 1 3/4 cup white whole wheat flour (200g)
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ▢ 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• ▢ 1/4 cup brown sugar (53g)
• ▢ 1/4 cup honey (85g)
• ▢ 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more for pan (60ml)
• ▢ 1 large egg
• ▢ 1 cup chopped toasted walnuts (113g)

Instructions 

• Get ready. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Brush a standard (8 1/2-inch x 4 1/2-inch x 2 1/2-inch) loaf pan with olive oil or spray it with baking spray.
• Soak the dates. Add the chopped dates and baking soda to a large mixing bowl. Pour the hot coffee, black tea, or water over the dates and allow them to soak for 15 minutes.
• Mix the dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
• Mix the wet ingredients. To the date mixture, add the brown sugar, honey, olive oil, and egg, and whisk to combine.
• Make the batter. Add the flour mixture to the date mixture. Mix gently with a silicone spatula until just combined. Stir in the walnuts.
• Bake. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean. If the top of the loaf is browning too quickly, tent it with foil.
• Cool and serve. Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove from the pan and place on a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and serve.

Notes

• To toast walnuts: Spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes at 350°F.
• To substitute flours: Milled from hard white spring or winter wheat, white (or golden, depending on the brand) whole wheat flour has a milder flavor and paler color than traditional whole wheat flour, but the same nutritional value. You can substitute whole wheat pastry flour or a fifty-fifty blend of regular whole wheat flour and all-purpose flour.
• Storage: Date nut bread will keep for up to 5 days in an airtight container at room temperature. Freeze for longer storage.

Nutrition

Calories: 330.6kcalCarbohydrates: 51.1gProtein: 5.7gFat: 13.9gSaturated Fat: 1.7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5.2gTrans Fat: 0.002gCholesterol: 16.4mgSodium: 256.3mgPotassium: 310.9mgFiber: 5gSugar: 32.2gVitamin A: 70.8IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 66.9mgIron: 1.3mg