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Monday, February 14, 2011

Valentines "Date" Nut Bread & Sweet Cream Cheese Spread




Get it?! "Date" nut bread? Like on a date? Or going on dates? Or the fruit, dates?! It's applicable for valentines day because, it's got date in the title and is a super comfort food that single people of the world would rather have then any frilly chocolates anyway. So there!


Hah, this is my 100th post on Clutzy Cooking! Clearly, off to a great start there with my crazy coming full out. 


Anyway. This recipe was adored by my Grandpa Moylan. My dad is also rather obsessed with this recipe and, when my grandpa passed away and my family stopped making it, he waited for the years to pass until he thought it'd be "okay" for him to ask for my mom to make it for him.

Eventually, this bread became legend. This infamously delicious, dense, bread that we USED to have but, that passed away with my grandfather, never to be seen again.

Once it became legendary, we couldn't make it for him. It was too big of a deal! Too much pressure. If you made it and it wasn't as he remembered it, now a decade later, it would probably fall short of the infamous recipe he recalled.

Then last Thanksgiving, my Aunt Maureen made a batch and brought it to our house for the holiday. My dad lit up like a Christmas tree and had slice after slice. It was apparently all he remembered and more.

So! I had to make it myself. It's rather intricate but, it's simple flavors are a hit with everyone who tries it. Well worth the effort. You can make anyone who claims to hate dates a HUGE fan.

FYI: This is an extremely moist, dense bread, and I think I always end up cooking it a bit longer than I thought I would. As I mentioned, there are a lot of steps, but they are necessary evils for this to come out perfectly.

Plus, it's still a cinch. Make and enjoy! And once again, Happy Valentines :)

Grandma's date nut bread:

8 oz package chopped dates
1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 cups boiling water

Pour boiling water over the dates and soda, then let it cool.

In the meantime, mix:
2 cups sugar
1 tsp melted butter
1 beaten egg
ADD the dates and the water to the mixture.

Mix :
2 1/4 cups flour
and 1 tsp of salt
ADD to the rest.

Then add:
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup of nuts (I use walnuts)

Pour into well greased loaf pan. Let stand 20 minutes before baking.
Bake at 350 degrees 60 to 70 minutes till done. Check with toothpick
Small pan loaves work great with this, cook for 35 to 40 minutes.
Cool completely before removing from pan.

*BONUS RECIPE!* Sweet Cream Cheese Spread:
This doesn't even really count as a recipe, it's just a spread we like to make for date nut, pumpkin, and zucchini bread at my house.
Seen above smeared on the slices of date nut bread.
-1 package cream cheese
-1/3 c powdered sugar
Whip together til smooth.

16 comments:

  1. It looks and sounds wonderful.

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  2. Must try this date nut bread, sounds delicious!!

    Thanks for your lovely comment on my blog :)

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  3. I LOVE date nut bread!!! I'm going to have to try this recipe SOON. In fact, I think I have some dates in the pantry....

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  4. Ooooohhhh, looks delicious! I love nutty, dried fruit-filled bread. There's a mexican bakery down the street that makes a bread similar to this, and they soak it in syrup for a while too. It's pretty addicting. This sounds much better though, adding cream cheese frosting to that bread is genius.

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  5. Your blog is adorable! I haven't had date nut bread since I was a kid and my mom made it. Will have to try this!

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  6. What a sweet story! And the bread sounds delectable - especially with the cream cheese frosting!

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  7. What an interesting recipe! The food scientist in me wonders what the hot water bath does to change the leaven in this recipe.

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  8. I love the story of your grandpa and how nice to rescue the tradition of baking it. I could almost imagine your dad's face looking at the bread. Love dates, but never have then in a bread. Thanks fro sharing the recipe.

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  9. this looks like carrot cake's cooler older brother! um... delish!

    just found your blog today! LOVING it to pieces! <3

    xoXOxo
    Jenn @ Peas & Crayons

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  10. Meaghan, thank you so much for visiting my blog today and leaving a comment. I'm so glad you did as I get to visit you now and check out your yummy recipes. I am a HUGE date lover and my Mom used to make date bread all the time when I was growing up. It really sounds wonderful!

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  11. I love date bread, but haven't made it in ages -- thanks for prompting me! Happily following ... :)

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  12. Thanks for sharing a family recipe! I love dates, and I love how perfect this is for a Valentine's "date" ;-) Congrats on your 100th post!

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  13. What a great story about this bread. :) I'm definitely going to have to try it now! Thanks for sharing.

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  14. What a great recipe. I love dense and moist breads, particularly with dates in it!

    Ps. Congrats on your 100th post.

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  15. I have a great love for quick breads, Meg, so you hit my sweet spot on this one! I've never made one with dates, so I'm stoked to try this out!!

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