Make a loaf of Date Nut Bread (using pecans or walnuts) to enjoy for breakfast or a snack! It’s easy to make, and tastes delicious!
Today I want to share a recipe for date nut loaf bread that I received as part of a treasured gift from a dear friend of over 50 years. Here’s the quick backstory.
Our friend Jon’s wife Debi very unexpectedly passed away two years ago, and we were deeply saddened. The cookbook I got this recipe from was a favorite of hers, because it featured the recipes and artwork of renowned author and illustrator Tasha Tudor.
We love corgis so much (our corgi Cooper passed away a year ago very unexpectedly), and Tasha Tudor was wildly famous for her artwork featuring these adorable little dogs. Our friend Debi knew how much we LOVE corgis and always enjoyed our little Cooper whenever she was at our house.
When Debi passed away, Jon gave me her beautiful cookbook and said Debbie would want me to have it, so it is very special to me. That is how I discovered this delicious recipe for date nut bread. I share it today in her memory and in honor of our lifelong friends Jon and Debi. Here’s how to make it.
Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page
Make The Batter
Place chopped dates and granulated sugar in a large bowl. Pour boiling water over them and stir until the sugar has completely dissolved.
Let this date/sugar/water mixture sit until it has cooled (about 6-7 minutes). Don’t skip this step, because the boiling water softens and reconstitutes (or plumps up) the dried dates.
Once the date mixture has cooled, add the remaining ingredients (butter, egg, baking soda, flour, salt and chopped nuts) to the bowl.
Stir well until they’re fully combined. The batter will be fairly thick in texture, and is now ready to be turned into a delicious loaf of date nut bread!
Bake The Date Nut Bread
Generously grease (or spray) the bottom and sides of a 8½” x 4½” loaf pan. Pour the batter into the pan and spread it out evenly.
Bake at 350°F. for 45-50 minutes (check it at 45 minutes). Test for doneness by inserting a toothpick down into the top of the loaf. If the toothpick comes out free of batter, the bread is done.*Making small mini loaves? They should be done around the 35-40 minute mark.
When done, the date nut bread should be browned on top, as well. Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool for about 10 minutes before removing the bread from the pan.
Time To Enjoy A Slice Of This Delicious Bread
Run a butter knife around the edges of the loaf, and then invert the pan (turn it upside down) to release the loaf from the pan. Place the bread on a wire rack to continue cooling.
Once the loaf has cooled (enough to be only slightly warm), slice and serve it! We typically get 10 slices out of a large loaf of date nut bread.
Serve the bread as is, or add a little bit of softened butter to a slice of the warm bread. YUM! The sweetness from the dates and the pecans (or walnuts) combine to make this a great tasting treat for breakfast or an afternoon snack.
I hope you have the opportunity to try this recipe for date nut bread, and trust you’ll enjoy it as much as we do. This bread freezes well, so maybe make a second loaf for another time. I don’t think you’ll regret it, because it is so good!
Thank you so much for stopping by, and I invite you to come back soon for more family-friendly recipes. Take care, may God bless you… and have a GREAT day!
Looking For More SWEET BREAD Recipes?
You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have lots of sweet, delicious bread recipes to check out, including:
Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!
I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc..
Would you like to join our growing list of subscribers?
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use.
You can submit your e-mail address there, to be added to my mailing list.
Find Me On Social Media:
Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks
Recipe adapted from: “The Tasha Tudor Cookbook”, page 35, published in 1993 by Little, Brown and Company
↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓
Make a loaf of Date Nut Bread (using pecans or walnuts) to enjoy for breakfast or a snack! It's easy to make, and tastes delicious!
- 1 cup chopped dried dates
- ¾ cup boiling water
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1¾ cup all purpose flour
- ¼ cup butter (softened) = ½ stick
- ½ cup chopped pecans *or walnuts
- 1 large egg beaten
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 350℉. Grease or spray bottom and sides of a 8½" x 4½" loaf pan.
Place dates and sugar in a large bowl. Pour boiling water over them; stir until sugar has dissolved. Let mixture sit until it has cooled (6-7 minutes). Don't skip this step, because the boiling water softens/reconstitutes the dried dates.
Add all remaining ingredients into the bowl. Stir well until fully combined. Spread batter evenly in the prepared loaf pan.
Bake at 350°F. for 45-50 minutes (check it at 45 minutes). Test for doneness by inserting a toothpick deep into the top of the loaf. If the toothpick comes out free of batter, it's done. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes before removing bread from pan. NOTE: If making small mini loaves , they should be done around the 35-40 minute mark.
After 10 minutes, run a butter knife around the edges of the loaf, and then invert pan upside down to release the bread. Cool bread on a wire rack before slicing and serving.
Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!