Ingredients
- ¾ pound pitted dates
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 ½ cups boiling water
- 1 ½ cups, plus 3 tablespoons, flour
- ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature, plus butter for greasing a pan
- 1 ¼ cups sugar
- 2 small eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups coarsely chopped or broken walnuts, preferably black walnuts although English walnuts may be used, preferably toasted (see note)
- Nutritional Information
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)
693 calories; 24 grams fat; 4 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 4 grams monounsaturated fat; 14 grams polyunsaturated fat; 115 grams carbohydrates; 6 grams dietary fiber; 80 grams sugars; 10 grams protein; 57 milligrams cholesterol; 337 milligrams sodium
Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.
One loaf
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- If the dates are not already chopped, chop them coarsely. There should be about two and one-half cups. Put the dates in a mixing bowl.
- Combine the baking soda and boiling water. Blend. Pour the hot mixture over the dates.
- Sift together the flour and spices and set aside.
- Put the two tablespoons of butter and the sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and blend. Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
- Start beating on low speed while alternately adding the flour mixture and dates with their liquid. Add the walnuts and blend well.
- Butter the inside of a standard size loaf pan measuring 9 by 5 by 2 3/4 inches. Pour in the batter and place in the oven. Bake about one hour and 10 minutes or until a straw or thin wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
- To toast the walnuts, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Scatter the nuts over a baking sheet and bake until they are crisp and lightly brown, about 10 minutes.
1 hour 30 minutes
Dining and Cooking