Not So Heavy Date Nut Bread Food

DATE NUT SPICE BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the bottom of an 8 1/2 by 4 1/2 by 2 1/2-inch loaf pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper, then butter and flour the pan.
• Combine the dates and orange liqueur in a small bowl and set aside for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and brown sugar together on medium speed for 1 minute. Scrape down the bowl. With the mixer on low, add the egg, vanilla, and orange zest. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. With the mixer still on low, add the flour mixture alternately with the orange juice to the creamed mixture, beating only until combined. By hand, stir in the dates with their liquid, and the pecans.
• Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.
• Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the cream cheese, sugar, and orange zest on medium speed until just combined.
• Slice the bread and serve with the orange cream cheese on the side for spreading.

MOIST DATE NUT BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees F). Grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
• In a medium bowl, combine the dates and butter. Pour boiling water over them, and let stand until cool.
• When the dates have cooled, stir the mixture to break up any clumps. Mix in the brown sugar and egg until well blended. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; stir into the date mixture until just blended. Stir in walnuts. Pour into the prepared pan.
• Bake for 50 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean.

CANNED ORANGE DATE NUT BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a small bowl mix together the dates, pecans, and orange zest; then toss with 2 tablespoons of flour to coat.
• In another bowl, whisk together the remaining 2 cups flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
• In a standing mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, cream the butter until light and fluffy. Add the sugar and continue to mix; then add the egg and mix until incorporated. Working in 3 batches, alternately add the flour mixture and orange juice, mixing well after each
• addition. Stir in the flour-coated nut mixture.
• Spoon the batter into the cans, filling them 3/4 full. Transfer the cans to a sheet pan and bake until puffed, golden brown, and firm, about 50 minutes. Let the bread cool in the cans for 5 minutes before unmolding, or let them cool completely in the cans and wrap as a gift.

OLD-FASHIONED DATE NUT BREAD

Steps:

• You will need two 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 metal loaf pans. For glass loaf pans of the same size, reduce the oven temperature for baking by 25 degrees F. *See Note 2 below for information on using other pan sizes.
• Preheat oven to 350F (regular bake/not fan assisted).
• Grease the loaf pans lightly, then line with parchment paper, covering the bottom and the long sides and extending over the edges a couple of inches, to use as handles to remove the loaves later.
• Soak the dates: Add the chopped dates to a medium bowl. Pour boiling water overtop and stir in baking soda. baking soda. Let stand 10-15 minutes, to both soften the dates and to allow the liquid to cool before adding to the batter..
• Combine the dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together, the flour, baking powder, salt and chopped walnuts or pecans. Set aside.
• Make the batter: In a large bowl with an electric mixer or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and brown sugar, until light, about 2 minutes. Add the beaten eggs, vanilla and molasses. Beat until well combined, scraping down the bowl a couple of times, as needed. *Do a quick check of the date mixture and make sure it isn't hot. A little warm is fine, but not hot, as you don't want to cook the egg in the batter. Add the date mixture (with any liquid in the bowl) and mix in on low speed (so it doesn't splash), until combined.
• Add the flour mixture to the batter and mix in on low speed, mixing just until combined. Divide batter between prepared loaf pans.
• Bake the loaves in 350F oven for 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 hours or until tester inserted in the centre of the loaf comes out clean. Note that baking times will vary, depending on oven and baking pans used. Check regularly after 1 hour of baking and start testing when it looks like it is nearing done.
• Remove from oven and allow to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then lift out of the pan and remove to a wire rack, carefully removing the parchment paper. Allow to cool almost completely before slicing.

DATE BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray.
• Place the dates in a small bowl and sprinkle with the salt and baking soda. Pour the boiling water over the mixture and allow it to sit until it cools.
• Meanwhile, in the bowl of a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or in a large bowl using a handheld mixer (or a whisk and a lot of elbow grease), beat the sugar and butter until creamy. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until well combined, about 1 minute. Using a rubber spatula, stir in the date mixture (water and all) and then fold in the flour. The batter will be very stiff.
• Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan and, using a rubber spatula, smooth out the top so the loaf is even. Bake until the loaf is dark golden brown, a toothpick tests clean when inserted into the center of the loaf, and the bread is firm to the touch, about 40 minutes. Let the bread cool completely on a wire rack before turning it out of the pan and slicing it. Leftovers can be stored in a plastic bag at room temperature for up to 3 days (if the slices get a bit dry, you can revive them in a toaster oven or regular oven set at 300 degrees F for a few minutes before serving).

DATE NUT BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350.
• Grease an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 3 inch loaf pan.
• Put the dates, walnuts, baking soda, salt and shortening in a bowl. Pour the boiling water over and stir. Let the mixture stand for 15 minutes.
• Using a fork, beat the eggs and sugar together in a bowl. Add the flours and stir; the batter will be too stiff to mix well. Add the date mixture and mix briskly until the batter is well blended. Spoon into the loaf pan and bake 40 to 50 minutes. Check the loaf often; it is done when a few moist crumbs cling to a straw inserted in the middle of the loaf. The bread will continue to bake after it is removed from the oven. Do not overbake, or the loaf will be dry.
• When the loaf is done, slide a knife around the edges of the pan and turn the loaf onto a rack to cool completely. This bread freezes well.