Well, I finally tried making this loaf because my grandma was always telling me how great it was and I kept thinking, “but it’s date loaf, how could it be?”
It has since changed every notion I ever had about date nut bread. In fact, it is the best date nut bread I have ever had! Although, I have to admit that I’ve tweaked the recipe ever so slightly because, well, I just can’t help myself.
6 generations later:
I used pecans because I think they give it a nice flavour, but walnuts can be substituted. But it’s the fresh lemon juice that really makes this loaf sing! And butter of course- butter always makes everything better. The point is that this loaf is made with real ingredients – the same ingredients that were around 6 generations ago. It is so comforting to know that my own grandma’s great grandma was cooking the very same recipe over a century ago- it’s such a special connection to the past.
So simple, but beyond delicious…testimony to the fact that this easy date loaf recipe has lived on for 6 generations! And you don’t even have to love dates to love this light and fluffy old fashioned date nut bread.
And if you still want to take carrot loaf to the party as well, here is a fantastic Healthy Carrot Loaf Recipe:
Why not try another delicious bread recipe?
Blueberry Cornbread
Date Nut Loaf
Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped and pitted dates
- 1 cup boiling water
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup chopped pecans (you can subsitute walnuts)
- 3 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and spray loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- Combine dates, butter and boiling water. Cool.
- Sift flour and baking soda together
- Add sugar, egg and nuts to the date mixture
- Add vanilla, then flour mixture.
- Add lemon juice last and stir until combined
- Pour into a prepared loaf pan and bake for approximately 50- 60 minutes in preheated oven (or until cake tester or toothpick comes out clean and loaf is lightly browned on the outside) . Cool on a cooling rack.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe is part of The Country Cook’s Weekend Potluck!
Sue Slaght says
May 20, 2016 at 10:30 pmI LOVE the title of this post Terri. As creative as the recipe. 🙂
Food Meanderings says
May 20, 2016 at 10:38 pmThanks Sue- haha.. I guess that’s just how I have thought of it all these yrs!
nowelparsons says
May 25, 2016 at 9:08 amDate load is very nostalgic for me, it conjures up the memory of all the delicious comfort food that my grandmother baked. MMmmmmm I think I’ll pick up some dates the next time at Co-op !
Food Meanderings says
May 25, 2016 at 7:11 pmGlad that it brings up such good memories for you, Nowel! Enjoy…
Bernice says
September 8, 2017 at 9:31 amTerri, thank you so much for sharing this treasured (time tested) family recipe! I’ve never had date loaf, can you believe it?! I’ve never been a fan of date squares (matrimonial squares) probably because they are so messy haha! but I do love dates! Date and prunes…sometimes I think I’m twice my age, lol.
PS> this loaf is definitely NOT ugly! Love it!
Terri Gilson says
September 8, 2017 at 9:16 pmHi Bernice- thanks! I hated date squares too, until I tried my grandma’s recipe. That’s what convinced me to try this.
Haha.. I hear ya’ – love dates and prunes as well!
Shareba says
September 8, 2017 at 10:31 pmDate nut loaf actually sounds really delicious to me, lol. I love dates! I want to have a slice of this with a hot cup of tea 🙂
Terri Gilson says
September 9, 2017 at 8:26 amHi Shareba- Thanks! If you love dates, then you’ll love it for sure – it’s super easy to make 🙂
Susanne says
January 27, 2018 at 8:09 pmThis is a super recipe!! Made it for a coffee break at the club I go to and there wasn’t any to left to bring home. I cut the sugar to 1/2 cup and it was still plenty sweet enough. Thanks for posting this Terri.
Terri Gilson says
January 27, 2018 at 9:09 pmI’m so happy to hear it was a hit, Susanne! I will try cutting the sugar too!-always a bonus to cut sugar!