Date-Sweetened Walnut Loaf
This excellent teacake, full of dates and topped with roasted walnuts, is often served thinly sliced at English tea tables. The English drink their tea all day long, even with their meals, and a cup of steaming hot tea with milk is often the first thing you are offered when you visit their homes. But there is nothing better than the formal tea hour, when you stop your day at four o’clock to enjoy a freshly brewed cup, delectable cakes and biscuits, and a visit with friends. This cake tastes wonderful toasted and served with butter or made with dried fruits such as prunes or raisins.
Serves8
Cooking MethodBaking
CostModerate
Total Timeunder 4 hours
Make Ahead RecipeYes
Kid FriendlyYes
Recipe CourseDessert
Dietary ConsiderationHalal, High Fiber, Kosher, Peanut Free, Soy Free, Vegetarian
MealBrunch, Tea
MoodBlue
Taste and TextureFruity, Nutty, Savory, Sweet
Type of DishBread, Dessert, Quickbreads
Ingredients
- Butter and flour for preparing pan
- 1 pound (500 g) dates, pitted
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup (250 ml) boiling-hot water
- 2 cups (300 g) all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/3 cup (75 g) light brown or raw sugar
- 1 cup (150 g) chopped walnuts, divided
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 3 tablespoons (45 g) unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C).
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Lightly butter and dust with flour all sides of a 9 x 5 x 3-inch (23 x 13 x 6-cm) loaf pan.
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Chop dates with 2 tablespoons flour to make them easier to chop.
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Combine the baking soda and hot water. Pour the water mixture over the chopped dates in a bowl. Set aside to cool slightly.
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In a medium mixing bowl, mix flour, salt, sugar, and ½ cup (75 g) walnuts.
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Mix in egg and butter with dates. Stir into flour mixture until batter is soft and sticky.
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Pour batter into loaf pan. Sprinkle remaining nuts on top.
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Bake, uncovered, 2 hours or until brown and a knife inserted comes out clean.
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Let cool in pan.
-
Take cake out of pan and store in a tightly fitted container or wrap with plastic wrap. This loaf gets better the next day.
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Slice thinly and enjoy with a cup of tea.
Mind Refresher
Stand straight, relax, and breathe normally. As you chop the dates, think to yourself, “I am chopping the poisons of my mind, which contribute to my hopes and fears.”
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2008 Sharon Louise Crayton
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Jpbland59 2196587
Mar 12, 2018
I was wondering in the recipe Date-sweetened Walnut Cake there is an ingredient 1 cup 250ml of boiling water. Yet in the directions there is no mention of it. What is it used for? James
Editor Kaitlin
Mar 13, 2018
Hi Jpbland59 2196587, There was an error in the recipe but we have updated it above. Please see step 4 for what to do with the baking soda and water. Happy baking! --Kaitlin, Cookstr Editor
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