Date-Nut Loaf

This week’s Tuesdays with Dorie recipe was selected by Mary of Popsicles and Sandy Feet. She chose the Date-Nut Loaf. This is exactly what it sounds like: a quick bread with dates and nuts. You can get the complete recipe on Mary’s blog, and this is one that you’ll really want to get because this bread is so good. Some of the other Tuesdays with Dorie bloggers weren’t sure about using dates, so check out the TWD site to check out the links with all the variations of this recipe.

I love dates and I have a big supply on hand from Shields Date Garden in Indio, California. You don’t hear about dates being used that often, and to me, date-nut loaf strikes me as an old fashioned recipe. This loaf is a bit different, in that you add some cream cheese into the batter. I think that adds to the bread, making it very tender. I used pecans in this instead of walnuts.

Dorie suggests making this and allowing the flavors to come together for a day or so if possible. I did bake mine a wrapped it for almost 2 days before cutting. It wasn’t dry at all, probably thanks to the cream cheese. It smelled so good, almost like candy! The chopped up dates kind of melt into the bread, so that you get these beautiful pockets of sweetness. The dates are so soft and they are just great. I love the buttery flavor of the dates contrasted with the crunch of the nuts. This is great just sliced and I toasted a piece and I think that was even better. Ok, I toasted 2 pieces since the first one got really burned. I must do a better job watching the toaster! This bread is just the best thing ever. Sometimes old fashioned recipes have been around for a long time for a good reason.

Recipe from Baking from My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan, page 228