Ingredients
- 1 1/2 heaping cups dates (about 40 medium dates), pitted and roughly chopped
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 4 large eggs, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup whole milk, room temperature
- 1 heaping cup walnut pieces, roughly chopped
Directions
Lightly butter and flour a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan. Put a rack in the middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Put the dates in a medium bowl and cover with hot water. Soak for 15 minutes and drain.
In a medium bowl, whisk together both of the flours, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or with an electric hand-held mixer, combine half the dates, butter, and brown sugar and mix on low speed until just incorporated. Raise the speed to high and mix until light and fluffy, about 10 minutes. (Occasionally turn the mixer off, and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.)
Add the eggs one at time, mixing well after each addition.
Mixing on low speed, add the flour in 3 parts to the butter mixture, alternating with the milk in 2 parts, until just combined. Raise the speed to medium and mix briefly until a smooth batter is formed. Add the remaining dates and walnuts and mix until just incorporated.
Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Bake, turning the pan halfway through, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove from the oven and cool slightly.
Remove the bread from the pan and cool on a rack completely before serving.
- Copyright 2001 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved
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By vickygg
on December 22, 2011
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Not worth the time and energy to prepare. Too much butter. No spices or vanilla extract. Need to mix with mixer for 10 minutes. Very bland taste. There are easier recipes out there where you can make this bread without all the butter, eggs and time. Thought because it was a Food Network recipe it would be "yum" but no so for my tastebuds.
By Kya Kyan
Westwood, NJ
on February 03, 2011
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I did not have whole wheat flour, so I used 3 cups of all purpose flour. I also used 2 cups of chopped dried dates that I did soak in hot water. I also did not have walnuts, so I substituted pecans instead. Overall the bread was good in texture and easy to make. However, it could use some added spices, such as cinnamon or nutmeg or both. I do not know if using all white flour changed the baking time, but I had to lower the temperature 45 minutes into the baking to 325 degrees. I turned the pan around like the instructions said and then I had it in the oven for only another 20 minutes and it was done. I would try making it again with the addition of some spices. It was very easy and came out of the pan easily and sliced up easily.
By chopp
Fairfax, VA
on January 27, 2007
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Tastes great with cream cheese. My hubby gives it a 3 on taste and 5 on everything else. From my point of view it was easy to prepare. Would be good for a holiday brunch. I think the next time I make it I'll add some type of spice.
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