This is my mother’s recipe, a bread she always made at Thanksgiving and Christmas to be used for tea sandwiches with a cream cheese filling. But it may also be eaten on its own like a cake. Because it is so delicious yet simple to put together, it makes a great food gift or potluck contribution. Substitute raisins for dates, if you wish.
Original recipe makes 1 loaf
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups chopped pitted dates
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups boiling water
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chopped walnuts
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PREP
15 mins
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COOK
1 hr
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READY IN
1 hr 25 mins
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease and flour 9×5 inch loaf pan.
- Place the dates, sugar, salt, and butter into a bowl, and pour in the boiling water. Stir together and set aside to cool. Once cool, mix in the egg.
- Stir the flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar together in a bowl. Pour the raisin mixture over the flour mixture, and stir together until thoroughly combined. Mix in the vanilla extract and, if desired, walnuts. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
- Bake in preheated oven until knife inserted in center comes out clean, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes before turning out onto a rack to cool completely. Wrap in aluminum foil and store in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
Calories: 353 kcal
Carbohydrates: 65.1 g
Cholesterol: 23 mg
Fat: 9.1 g
Fiber: 3.2 g
Protein: 5.5 g
Sodium: 320 mg
