Recipe - Date Walnut Sweet Bread

Winter is a great time for baking warm, hearty breads. Quick breads are especially easy and simple, since all they require is baking powder (or soda), similar to mixing up a cake batter. So you can have warm tasty bread for breakfast in no time! Here is a tasty one - make ahead for a quick breakfast the next day. You can also put into muffin tins and make as muffins - just cut the cooking time down to about 20-30 minutes.

If you want them less sweet, you can cut the sugar about in half - the dates are very sweet anyway, so they'll still be plenty sweet and flavorful.

Date Walnut Sweet Bread

Image via WikipediaIngredients:
1 cup chopped dates
1 cup boiling water
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a loaf pan.
• In a heat-resistant bowl, put the dates, boiling water, and oil, stir gently and let sit for 10 minutes.
• To the bowl (do NOT drain off liquid) add the brown sugar, egg, and vanilla extract, stir to combine well.
• In a separate bowl, stir together the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, and salt) then sprinkle in date mixture, stirring as you do to combine, but do not over-mix.
• Add walnuts and fold in with big spatula.
• Turn the batter into your prepared loaf pan and bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees for 60 to 65 minutes or until top is lightly golden brown.
• Remove and cool in loaf pan on countertop for 5 to 10 minutes, then slide out onto cooling rack.
• Slice and serve warm with fresh butter, or cover with a towel when cool, and slice for a quick breakfast or snack the next day.