Name: Date and walnut loaf
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 10
Ingredients: 250 gram pitted dates; 1 cup (250ml) boiling water; 90 gram butter, melted, plus extra butter, to serve; 3/4 cup (165g) caster sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 egg, lightly beaten; 1 1/2 cup (225g) self-raising flour; 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda; 1 teaspoon mixed spice; 1 pinch salt; 1/2 cup (60g) chopped walnuts, plus 2 tbsp extra

Date and walnut loaf

Best served drizzled with butter!

Skip to Recipe

Serves 10

Prep

15M

Cook

45M

Total

Packed full of dates and crunchy walnut pieces, this dense, date and walnut loaf is perfect served warm, spread with butter for an easy morning or afternoon tea treat.

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Ingredients

250 gram pitted dates

1 cup (250ml) boiling water

90 gram butter, melted, plus extra butter, to serve

3/4 cup (165g) caster sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 1/2 cup (225g) self-raising flour

1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

1 teaspoon mixed spice

1 pinch salt

1/2 cup (60g) chopped walnuts, plus 2 tbsp extra

Method

Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Grease and line a 21cm x 11cm loaf pan.

Place dates in a large heatproof bowl. Pour over boiling water. Cover with a plate. Stand 5 minutes, until dates soften.

Stir in melted butter and sugar until well combined. Stir in vanilla and egg.

Sift together flour, bicarbonate of soda, mixed spice and a little salt. Fold into date mixture. Fold through walnuts. Spoon mixture into prepared pan and scatter over extra walnuts. Bake 45 minutes, until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Cool in pan 2 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack. Slice and serve with extra butter.

This dish is suitable to freeze.
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