Nana's Date and Nut Bread
Of all my grandmother’s recipes, this one was her most enduring. Nana baked this quick bread for many family celebrations over many decades. In remembrance of my late grandmother, I made this bread for my wedding (yes - I catered my own wedding) - and it brought me great joy to witness David enjoying it as much as I always have.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup chopped dates
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 3/4 cups sifted flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup sugar
- I egg
- 2/3 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
- Grease and flour a loaf pan.
- Sprinkle soda on chopped dates and boiling water and let stand 10 minutes.
- Sift flour, baking powder and salt together.
- In separate bowl cream together the butter and sugar and then add the egg. Beat well.
- Add the dry ingredients to the butter and sugar alternately with the date mixture, being careful not to overmix.
- Add the nuts and vanilla. Mix again.
- Pour into the loaf pan coming up no more than ¾ of the way to the top rim.
- Bake for 1 1/4 hours at 325 degrees, or until knife comes out clean.
Notes
Makes nice sandwiches with sweetened, softened cream cheese.