Another day, another baking session this morning, this time for an old favourite of mine: Date loaf. I love this recipe because it’s so simple, I have even varied it from the original recipe so that now I use a food processor for the dates which is even easier. This makes 2 loaves and has no eggs in it so good for anyone with allergies.
Date Loaf (makes 2 loaves)
1 packet pitted dates (chopped or thrown in the food processor)
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups boiling water
120 grams butter
3.5 cups self raising flour
2 teaspoons vanilla essence
2 teaspoons baking powder
1. Throw a packet of pitted dates into a food processor and pulse until roughly chopped
2. Place it in a bowl with the butter cut into cubes, the brown sugar and vanilla essence
3. Add the boiling water over the top and give it a good mix until the butter melts and the dates have separated (they can ball together in the food processor)
4. Sift in the flour and baking powder and give it a good mix
5. Transfer into some lined loaf dishes (I literally throw a piece of baking paper into it that’s it) I’m never going to win awards with my lining skills! Put in a 180 degree oven for 30 mins (test with a skewer as each oven is different).
6. Transfer to a wire rack to cool then serve warm in slices with butter and hot tea!
[gmc_recipe 16286]
You can freeze that second loaf, although they never last long enough for that around here!
Do you like some date loaf with your butter like me?
Yummmmmmmmmmmmmm! Your kitchen must smell divine!
Always a winner Ruth!
I add dried apricots and walnuts to mine.
Oh YUM!
So did I! 🙂
I’ve made this a bunch of times and I adore it. Soon I’ll be doing a batch for my Stock Up The Freezer Before The Baby Arrives cook-a-thon. Pretty sure they’ll be the first things to go!
Love that the recipe has no eggs, not sure why but I feel it makes it easier and budget friendly.
Excellent!
This is very similar to the sticky date pudding recipe I use – just serve warm with caramel sauce and icecream!
I love sticky date pudd!
Fabulous! Thank you Beth! I am not a baker but I wish I was. The girls are dairy, wheat and egg intolerant so this is prefect for us! I made a half quantity to see how it turned out with gluten free flour! Best thing I have cooked in ages! Liked by all, easy to make and looked like a ‘real’ one! Thank you!
The best! Thanks for letting me know Sam 🙂
Even I, a non baker, whack your date loaf out with gay abandon as it’s so easy…and even better since I disovered you can buy pre cut and shaped paper loaf tin liners at my local kitchenware store. I’d add a photo but I can’t see how too, so look for Tala Loaf Liners. They are the bomb!
yum sounds good! could you tell me your food processor brand and if you are happy with it please? i am on the lookout for one. Thank you.
I actually just blew mine up! It was a Kenwood (just a small one) that lasted well for about 10 years. So I’m on the look out too!
That’s a bummer though ten years is a good run out of it these days! A friend said ones with metal blades are the best!
Hi Beth – I gave your date loaf a crack (I’m sure there is a pun in there somewhere) for a school bake sale. Was super worried as, let’s face it, it’s not the prettiest thing in the world, and I was picturing it sitting on it’s lonesome at the end of the day, all the brownies and cupcakes being bought. You can imagine my delight when it was snapped up within 10 minutes – hurrah! Ugly date loaf for the win. Thank you!
I took this to tennis and everyone asked for the recipe – so glad it made 2 and I had another one waiting at home 🙂