Cheddar Date Nut Loaf
Submitted by JennieGreen
Sweet-savory quick bread with chopped dates, shredded cheddar, and walnuts baked into a moist loaf. Slice it thin for tea time or toast it with butter. Even better the next day.
YIELD
1 loafPREP
30 minCOOK
60 minREADY
100 minDate nut bread meets cheddar cheese, and the combination makes more sense than you’d think. The dates bring caramel-like sweetness, the cheddar adds a salty, tangy edge, and the walnuts bring crunch to hold it all together.
Boiling water softens the dates and melts the butter into them before everything gets folded into a simple batter. No mixer needed, just a bowl and a spoon.
The recipe even tells you the secret: let it sit overnight before slicing. The flavors meld, the crumb tightens up, and every slice holds together with that perfect balance of sweet, savory, and nutty.
Spread it with cream cheese or butter, or eat it plain with a strong cup of tea or coffee.
Pro Tips
- Chop the dates finely so they distribute evenly through the batter. Big chunks sink to the bottom.
- Mix until just combined. Overworking quick bread batter develops the gluten and makes it tough instead of tender.
- Wrap the cooled loaf tightly and let it rest overnight at room temperature. The texture and flavor genuinely improve with time.
Ingredients
Directions
Preheat the oven to 325℉ (160℃).
Place the dates and butter in a small bowl and pour the boiling water over them.
Let stand for 5 minutes.
Stir the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
Add the date mixture, egg, cheddar and nuts.
Mix until just blended and spoon the mixture into a well greased 9 X 5-inch loaf pan.
Let stand for 20 minutes.
Bake for 50 to 60 minutes in the preheated oven or until a wooden pick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean.
Turn out onto a rack and cool before slicing.
NOTE: The flavor improves is the bread stands overnight before serving.
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