This bread originated in Scotland and also is considered a traditional English treat. The first recorded recipe dates to 1939. The bread commonly appears during the holidays and is a moist, lightly sweet bread that can serve as dessert or a snack. It remains quite popular in tea rooms in Scotland. Date bread can be served plain or with toppings like ice cream, whipped cream, or caramel sauce. Many recipes include chopped walnuts. The bread arrived in the United States through immigrants from Scotland and England.
Recipe Servings: 1
Prep Time
5 minutes
+ 1 hour resting
+ 1 hour resting
Cook Time
45 minutes
Total Time
1 hour 50 minutes
Vegetarian
Vegan
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Kosher
Halal
Ingredients
1 cup chopped dates
1 cup boiling water
1 tsp baking soda
1 Tbsp butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
¼ tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Place dates, boiling water, baking soda and butter in a large bowl and stir until butter is melted.
- Set aside for 60 minutes.
- Beat sugar, egg, walnuts (if using) and vanilla into the date mixture.
- Sift in flour and baking powder and stir until combined.
- Pour mixture into greased loaf pan and bake 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
- Leave bread in pan about 10 minutes before turning onto a cooling rack.
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