Best Nonnies Date Nut Bread Recipes

MOIST DATE NUT BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees F). Grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
• In a medium bowl, combine the dates and butter. Pour boiling water over them, and let stand until cool.
• When the dates have cooled, stir the mixture to break up any clumps. Mix in the brown sugar and egg until well blended. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; stir into the date mixture until just blended. Stir in walnuts. Pour into the prepared pan.
• Bake for 50 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean.

NOT-SO-HEAVY DATE-NUT BREAD

Steps:

• Lightly butter and flour a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan. Put a rack in the middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Put the dates in a medium bowl and cover with hot water. Soak for 15 minutes and drain.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together both of the flours, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
• In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or with an electric hand-held mixer, combine half the dates, butter, and brown sugar and mix on low speed until just incorporated. Raise the speed to high and mix until light and fluffy, about 10 minutes. (Occasionally turn the mixer off, and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.)
• Add the eggs one at time, mixing well after each addition.
• Mixing on low speed, add the flour in 3 parts to the butter mixture, alternating with the milk in 2 parts, until just combined. Raise the speed to medium and mix briefly until a smooth batter is formed. Add the remaining dates and walnuts and mix until just incorporated.
• Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Bake, turning the pan halfway through, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Remove from the oven and cool slightly. Remove the bread from the pan and cool on a rack completely before serving.

GREAT NANA'S SECRET INGREDIENT DATE NUT BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 8x4 inch loaf pans, or line with parchment paper.
• Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a bowl, and set aside. In a large bowl, mix together the sugar and shortening. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Toss the walnuts and dates with the dry ingredients, and stir into the sugar mixture alternately with the hot coffee. Divide the batter evenly between the two loaf pans.
• Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

DATE NUT SPICE BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the bottom of an 8 1/2 by 4 1/2 by 2 1/2-inch loaf pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper, then butter and flour the pan.
• Combine the dates and orange liqueur in a small bowl and set aside for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and brown sugar together on medium speed for 1 minute. Scrape down the bowl. With the mixer on low, add the egg, vanilla, and orange zest. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. With the mixer still on low, add the flour mixture alternately with the orange juice to the creamed mixture, beating only until combined. By hand, stir in the dates with their liquid, and the pecans.
• Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.
• Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the cream cheese, sugar, and orange zest on medium speed until just combined.
• Slice the bread and serve with the orange cream cheese on the side for spreading.