Classic Moist Date Nut Bread

By Diana Rattray

Updated 11/22/18

The Spruce
  • Total: 70 mins
  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 55 mins
  • Yield: 8 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
408 Calories
15g Fat
62g Carbs
8g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8 servings
Amount per serving
Calories 408
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 15g 20%
Saturated Fat 4g 22%
Cholesterol 121mg 40%
Sodium 742mg 32%
Total Carbohydrate 62g 23%
Dietary Fiber 4g 15%
Protein 8g
Calcium 210mg 16%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This moist date nut bread makes a wonderful breakfast or brunch bread. The bread may be made with chopped walnuts or pecans.

This bread freezes well, too. Try spreading cream cheese between two thin slices and freeze the "sandwiches" to enjoy later. Or spread the bread with orange cream cheese (see variations) or an orange-flavored butter.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup water (boiling)
  • 8 ounces dates (chopped)
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (10 1/4 ounces)
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Date nut bread ingredients
     The Spruce

  2. Heat the oven to 350 F.

  3. Grease a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan.

    Greased loaf pan
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  4. Pour the boiling water over the chopped dates in a medium bowl; add the butter and set aside.

    Dates soaked in boiled water and butter
    The Spruce

  5. With a mixer, beat sugars and egg until light.

    Beaten sugar and eggs
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  6. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.

    Flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl
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  7. Add to the sugar mixture, alternating with the date and water mixture.

    Date nut bread dough
    The Spruce 

  8. Stir in chopped nuts.

    Nuts in date nut bread batter
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  9. Pour into the loaf pan.

    Date nut bread batter in a bread pan
     The Spruce

  10. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

    Date nut bread
    The Spruce 

  11. Serve and enjoy!

Tips

  • For more quick breads, see this list of our favorite quick breads, including pineapple, zucchini, pumpkin, and apple breads.
  • Make an easy cream cheese spread to complement the date bread. In a mixing bowl, beat 4 ounces of softened cream cheese with 1 1/2 teaspoons of finely grated orange zest, 3 tablespoons of confectioners' sugar, and a few drops of vanilla. 

Recipe Variations

  • Instead of walnuts, use chopped pecans in the recipe.
  • Sprinkle the quick bread batter with a cinnamon-sugar blend just before it goes into the oven.