Print

Easy, Moist, Old-Fashioned Date Nut Bread

Close-up of a moist slice of date nut bread, rich brown in color, packed with dates and walnuts, served on a white plate.
Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

Bake a truly comforting, moist date nut bread that tastes like classic homemade goodness. This easy quick bread recipe is perfect for breakfast, snacking, or holiday gifting.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 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 ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 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. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over the dates and stir in the baking soda. Let this mixture sit for 10 minutes to soften the dates.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
  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, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
  6. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix the batter.
  7. Gently fold in the chopped walnuts.
  8. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle a few extra chopped walnuts over the top if desired.
  9. 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 the loaf with aluminum foil for the last 15 minutes of baking.
  10. Let the date nut bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before turning it out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

  • For an extra moist loaf, soak the dates in hot water or strong brewed black tea instead of plain boiling water. This adds depth of flavor.
  • If you prefer a sweeter loaf, you can substitute up to half of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour for a more wholesome snack bread.
  • This classic quick 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://cookifyme.com/easy-moist-date-nut-bread-recipe/