Date Nut Bread Recipe and More

The date nut bread recipe is one of my favorites of the holiday breads. I love the combination of the dates and nuts in many special holiday treats. I use this combination in breads, cookies and pudding.

Dates have been a staple food of the Middle Eastern countries for thousands of years but were not always plentiful in this country. When I was young, we were not privileged to have dates in our home. Perhaps that is why I love them so much now that I am older. Now they are found in every supermarket and are very assessable to all of us. The following quick bread recipe is easy and delicious.

DATE NUT BREAD RECIPE

• ¾ Cups coarsely chopped pecans
• 1 Cup coarsely chopped dates
• 1 ½ Teaspoons baking soda
• ½ Teaspoon salt
• ¼ Cup butter
• ¾ Cup boiling water
• 2 Eggs
• ½ Teaspoon vanilla
• 1 ½ Cups all purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

Combine the nuts, dates, soda and salt together in a large mixing bowl. Add the butter and pour the boiling water over the ingredients; Allow mixture to stand for 20 minutes. Beat the eggs and add the vanilla; set aside. Sift the flour and sugar together. Stir the date mixture to blend. Add the eggs and the flour sugar mixtures to the date mixture. Mix together but do not over mix. Put mixture in a greased loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour or until pick comes out clean. Cool before removing from the pan.

DATE MUFFINS

These date muffins are the same basic texture of the date nut bread recipe and made with the same basic technique. Being made with whole wheat, bran and wheat germ, they are great for breakfast or to pack for a trip. Some other great ingredients like dried fruit, nuts, honey or molasses add to more health benefits.

• 2 Cups boiling water
  
• 5 Cups bran divided
  
• 5 Cups whole wheat flour
  
• 5 Teaspoons baking soda
  
• 1 ½ Teaspoons salt
  
• 2 Teaspoons cinnamon
  
• 1 Cup wheat germ
  
• 1 Cup oil
  
• 1 Cup honey or molasses
  
• 4 Beaten eggs
  
• 4 Cups buttermilk or yogurt
  
• 1 Cup chopped dates (or raisins, apples or other dried fruit)
  
• ½ Cup chopped nuts
  
  

Preheat oven to 400F degrees.
Pour boiling water over 2 cups bran; let stand.
In another bowl sift flour, soda, salt and cinnamon.
Add wheat germ and remaining bran to flour mixture.
Combine wet bran mixture to dry mixture; stir until moist.
Add oil, honey, eggs, buttermilk, fruit and nuts.
Pour into well greased muffin tins; bake for 15 to 20 minutes.

BANANA LOAF RECIPE

This date nut bread recipe is so delicious made with ripe bananas. It makes 2 loaves and can be made ahead and frozen.

• ¾ Cup shortening
  
• 1 ½ Cups firmly packed brown sugar
  
• 4 Large eggs
  
• 2 Teaspoons vanilla
  
• 2 Cups flour
  
• 1 ½ Teaspoons baking soda
  
• 1 Teaspoon salt
  
• 1 Cup chopped dates
  
• 1 Cup chopped pecans
  
• 1 Cup quick cooking oats
  
  

Preheat oven at 350F degrees.
Beat shortening until fluffy; add brown sugar and continue beating.
Add eggs one at a time beating well after each; set aside.
Combine bananas and vanilla; set aside.
Sift flour, soda and salt; add to shortening mixture alternately with the banana mixture.
Stir in dates, pecans and oats; spoon into 2 greased and floured loaf pans.
Bake for about 55 minutes or until pick comes out clean; cover lightly with foil to prevent over browning.
Cool 10 minutes and remove from pans to cool completely.

RECIPE FOR APPLE BREAD

This great date nut bread recipe is blended with apples. What a combination!

• 3 Cups flour
  
• 1 Cup sugar
  
• 4 Teaspoons baking powder
  
• 1 Teaspoon salt
  
• ½ Teaspoon cardamom
  
• 1 Teaspoon cinnamon
  
• 1 Teaspoon ground cloves
  
• 1 ½ Cups milk
  
• 1 Beaten egg
  
• 2 Tablespoons oil
  
• 1 ½ Cups diced green apples unpeeled
• 1 cup dates
  
  

Sift dry ingredients in medium bowl; set aside.
In large bowl mix together milk, egg and oil; gradually stir in dry ingredients until well mixed.
Fold in apples and dates; pour into greased loaf pan.
Bake in preheated oven at 350F degrees for about 90 minutes or until pick comes out clean.

ORANGE MUFFIN RECIPE

Similar to the date nut bread recipe are muffins; most quick breads can be baked in muffin tins. Try this delicious orange muffin recipe with dates.

• 1 Cup rolled oats
  
• ½ Cup orange juice
  
• ½ Cup boiling water
  
• 1/3 Cup softened butter
  
• ½ Cup firmly packed brown sugar
  
• ½ Cup white sugar
  
• 2 Beaten eggs
  
• 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
  
• 1 Cup flour
  
• 1 Teaspoon baking powder
  
• 1 Teaspoon baking soda
  
• 1 Teaspoon salt
  
• 1 Cup finely chopped dates
  
• 1 Tablespoon grated orange peel
  
• ½ Cup chopped walnuts
  
  

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
Soak oats in large bowl with orange juice and boiling water.
Beat butter and sugars until fluffy; beat in the eggs, oats and vanilla.
In another bowl measure flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; stir in the dates, nuts and peel.
Add dry mixture to creamed mixture stirring only until moist.
Fill greased muffin tins 2/3 full and bake about 20 minutes or until pick comes out clean.

More Great Recipes for Bread

Go to Painless Cooking Home Page from Date Nut Bread Recipe