date nut bread

Date Nut Bread Recipe

Date Nut Bread

Date Nut Bread

Mine sounds too good-for-you to be good, doesn’t it?

That is, until you taste it: Plump and moist and chock-full of goodies. I make my date nut bread with spelt flour too, so it’s a win-win.

As you may know, I am hard at work on my next cookbook, and all sweeteners are “under investigation” in each of the book’s recipes. So, whenever possible (which turns out to be quite often, I am pleased to report!) I use natural sweeteners: In this date nut bread recipe as in quite a few others, agave syrup is gentle on your system, low GI and with its totally unobtrusive (zero!) flavor, you can tinker with it endlessly.

If you love dried figs, prunes or apricots, as I do, you can substitute them for, or use them in combination with, the dates.

This is wonderful enough to serve for dessert, and healthy enough to serve for breakfast. You just can’t miss!

Date Magic

Medjool dates

Trying to curtail your refined sugar intake? Dates might be the answer! Did you know that, in biblical times, honey was made from dates? They are not just used for baking and smoothies. They are awesome in tajines. We Sephardis used them daily, they are not just super healthy. They are also delicious and so versatile!

 

Ingredients

  • 1 cup diced plump dates, packed (dried figs, apricots or prunes OK too)
  • 1 cup dark or golden raisins
  • 2 1/2 cups flour, all purpose, whole wheat pastry or spelt (as always, spelt is my favorite)
  • 3/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

 

  • 2/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup agave syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup hot strong tea, decaf ok

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Mix the first set of ingredients together in a bowl. Mix the second set of ingredients in another bowl. Combine both mixtures, making sure not to over mix. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan, a 6-cup loaf pan, or 2 smaller loaf pans.

Bake 1 hour, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Date-Nut Muffins:

Pour the batter into greased muffin molds (about 12 medium) and bake about 30 minutes.

8 replies
  1. Melissa
    Melissa says:

    Tried these as muffins. Great – very dense and moist. Husband wants me to try a batch with cacao nibs or very dark chocolate pieces. Thanks for the lovely recipe.

    Reply
  2. Jamey
    Jamey says:

    Good day! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a group
    of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the same niche.
    Your blog provided us valuable information to work
    on. You have done a extraordinary job!

    Reply

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