Classic Moist Date Nut Bread

Written by
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Diana Rattray
Updated 01/08/20
Date nut bread on wooden cutting board

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
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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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 recipe features walnuts, though pecans are nice as well. Since it's a quick bread, no yeast or kneading is required and it's ready to eat in just over an hour.

Not only is this bread delicious, but it also freezes well, too. Freeze the whole loaf or spread cream cheese between two thin slices and freeze the "sandwiches" to enjoy later. It's also delicious with orange cream cheese or orange-flavored butter.

Ingredients

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

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. Heat the oven to 350 F.

    Date nut bread ingredients
    The Spruce

  2. Grease a 9x5x3 inch loaf pan.

    Greased loaf pan
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  3. In a medium bowl, pour the boiling water over the chopped dates. Add the butter and set aside.

    Soaked dates
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  4. In a large bowl, beat the sugar, brown sugar, and egg with a mixer until light.

    Beaten sugar and eggs
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  5. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.

    Flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl
    The Spruce

  6. Add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture, alternating with the date and water mixture.

    Date nut bread dough
    The Spruce 

  7. Stir in the chopped nuts with a spoon.

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

    Date nut bread batter in a bread pan
    The Spruce

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

    Date nut bread
    The Spruce 

  10. Serve and enjoy!

Tip

  • Use butter, shortening, or cooking oil to grease the loaf pan. Sop up any oil puddles that form and ensure there are no clumps of butter or shortening. Wiping with a paper towel helps ensure an even coating so your bread doesn't stick.
  • As with any quick bread, you do not want to overmix the batter. The final mixing should be just long enough to ensure the ingredients are incorporated.
  • Don't delay after mixing the batter. The liquids will activate the baking powder's first round of leavening—most baking powder is double-acting, and the second round takes place in the oven. Work efficiently to get the batter into the oven as quickly as possible.

Recipe Variations

  • 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.
  • Instead of walnuts, use chopped pecans.
  • If you're concerned about tree nut allergies among your guests, skip the nuts entirely. You can also bake a second nut-free loaf.
  • Sprinkle the quick bread batter with a cinnamon-sugar blend just before it goes into the oven.