Medjool Date and Walnut Bread and Recipe Contest
Quick breads are just that, quickly prepared, no yeast for rising time, just stir and bake. Like banana bread, date and nut breads are extremely versatile and I bake these types of breads often to have on hand for snacking and meals. I always reduce the sugar and replace butter for applesauce to make healthier versions of what could be sugary, buttery or oily quick breads…or is that dessert?
I am always changing around the spices I use and dropping in additional surprises, like mini chocolate chips, coconut, pecans instead of walnuts or pistachios or almonds. If I have a good base recipe, interchanging like items always seems to work well. To state the obvious, changing out nuts for nuts, dried fruit for dried fruit, spices for spices. Additional items are added in ¼ cup amounts, no more than two additions.
Along with the versatility of ingredients, serving ideas are endless as I shared in my banana bread recipe. As this bread is fairly dense and not overly sweet, a quick dip in egg for French toast is a heavenly treat for breakfast topped with chunky sautéed peaches or apples and syrup.
Toasted into cubes, date and nut croutons are amazing with a fall salad of spinach, pears, pancetta, gorgonzola and balsamic dressing. Truly a winning combination!
And speaking of winning, Caroline at Sweet Caroline’s Cooking recently posted a Swanson’s health product review through which I found out about their Blogger Recipe Contest.
Swanson Health Products sells a full range of discounted organic foods, vitamins and supplements, natural skin care, and so much more. To enter the contest, bloggers create an original, healthy recipe using at least four ingredients that can be purchased at Swanson’s. Winners are chosen based on healthy, unique recipes and most popular. So my dear friends, if you like this recipe, please share me, like me, twitter me and leave a comment! And, if you’re so inclined, enter your own healthy recipe! Thank you from my healthy heart!
Medjool Date and Walnut Bread
1 cup pitted dates, coarsely chopped
¾ cup boiling water
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 egg (1 tb. ground flax seed and 3 tb. water soaked for 5 minutes)
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ tablespoons dark rum (or freshly squeezed orange juice)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray or lightly grease a 9×5×3 loaf pan. Combine dates, date sugar and boiling water in a small bowl. Allow to sit and cool for about 10-15 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl and set aside. In another smaller bowl mix together the applesauce, flax egg, vanilla and rum until combined well. Add both the applesauce mixture, followed by the date mixture into the large bowl of dry ingredients, combine well. Stir in the walnuts. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for approximately 45-50 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick test comes out clean.
For serving with a spread I like to prepare flavored butters or cream cheeses by simply mixing in an all fruit jam like orange marmalade or pumpkin puree with a favorite spice, like nutmeg or cinnamon in softened butter or cream cheese. The spread will last 2-3 days in the refrigerator.
spicegirlfla
I love being in the kitchen. Early mornings, soft music, a hot espresso. Easing into the preparation of delicious meals. Glancing through cookbooks, gathering inspiration and planning my day. I look forward to the cycles of the seasons, the pleasures of tasting and savoring and sharing this with those dear to me. Weekends are special to me as my week days are often rushed, but still I create the ambiance, light the candles, set the table and uncork the wine.
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53 Comments
Ben (@SwansonBlogBen)
That bread sounds and looks amazing! Nice work, Linda!
Caroline
Thank you so much for the shout out, Linda!! I actually didn’t even know about this blogger recipe challenge they host–too cool. You concocted a fabulous recipe, I could eat that entire loaf! I’m actually finishing up my post for today, so I will definitely include a link to your page/post. 🙂 xx
spicegirlfla
Thanks Caroline! I had to bring this in to work so I wouldn’t sliver it to death!!
ambrosiana
This is such as scrumptious recipe! I love dates and walnuts on bread! I will include it next time I invite people for brunch at home!
Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide
I’m with Caroline, I could eat that whole loaf. I like how low in sugar it is.
Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide
Oh and sharing the link now on Facebook.
spicegirlfla
Thank you so much!!
sprint2thetable
Wow this looks good! I bookmarked it to try. Do you think it would work with palm sugar rather than date sugar? I’ve never worked with date sugar, but have a whole bag of palm.
spicegirlfla
You can certainly replace the date sugar with any other. I’ve not tried agave, as in liquid format, but I’ve used raw/turbinado sugar and brown.
gardenfreshtomatoes
sounds really good – love the idea of turning it into croutons for salad!
Ginger
This would be a great breakfast or snack, it looks so yummy!
spicegirlfla
It’s really low in sugar so it honestly does work well for breakfast!
Debbie
As one of Spicegirlfla’s work colleagues and official taste testers, I can assure you this bread is delicious!
spicegirlfla
I love my taste testers!! Thanks Debbie! There will always be more on the way!!
ceciliag
Oh dates, I like anything with dates, i really should try this one.. c
Food, Flowers, Herbs and Life!
This looks so very good! Like the addition of flaxseed – I need to do that more often! Perhaps I will have time to make this tonight! Absolutely excellent!
spicegirlfla
Thanks! I wanted to mention too that your post for the Date and Nut Cake is awesome. Here’s the link for others to check it out – http://foodflowersherbsandlife.wordpress.com/2011/09/10/date-and-nut-cake/
Food, Flowers, Herbs and Life!
Thank you for adding my link! Two great date bread/cake recipes!
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Karen Parker
Yum! Another winner to be sure. Keep em coming.
Georgia
I love date nut bread, this one sounds especially great! I cannot wait to try it!
sportsglutton
I like the inclusion of dates in the recipe. My wife is hooked on suing them and turn me around to the idea as well with a few of her sweet treats. Well done. 🙂
Kay aka Babygirl
Of course I’m not a huge bread person, but I think this Date and Walnut bread recipe would be wonderful to make for my mom. Thanks for sharing this
Kristy
Fabulous Linda! I love the sound of this bread and wish I had a piece tonight. I’ll make sure to share a link for you! Good luck. 🙂
spicegirlfla
Thank you Kristy!
ChgoJohn
Your date-nut bread sounds delicious, Linda, and I can’t wait to try your suggestions for spreads. And I just happen to have some jam lying around. Who knew?
spicegirlfla
I wish my jams were homemade..maybe next year I’ll get on the bandwagon with the rest of you!!
JamieAnne
This looks like a great recipe! Well done!
yummychunklet
Yum! I love the taste of walnuts and dates in a sweet quick bread. This looks really delicious.
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Tandy
My hubby does not eat dates and so I change my date bread recipe to have other ingredients 🙂
Aimee@clevermuffin
Oh I love this – and I love the idea of switching out the butter for apple sauce and lowering the amount of sugar. Big fan of doing that to snacks.
Charles
I love loaf/bread type cakes. I don’t do a lot of cooking with dates but really should because they’re wonderful. Fabulous, moist and delicious looking loaf, thanks for sharing!
Jessica Maher (@kbelleicious)
This bread looks amazing! I had no idea about this contest. Wish I had time to enter but in the mean time I will definitely be cheering you on. The dates and walnuts together is a winning combo!
Sissi
I also am one of those who put less sugar in recipes (I usually cut it in two and sometimes it’s still too sweet to my taste), and substitute butter with some other ingredients…
Your walnut bread looks fantastic and so easy!
forgottenbeast
WOW, that looks good–if you can’t win with this amazing-looking bread, then I just don’t know! Next time I have a craving for dessert-but-healthy bread, juuust might give this a go. But sub raisins for dates. Because I’m cheap.
Karen
Quick breads are so nice to serve at breakfast when you want something a little sweet but not overly sweet. Your bread would make a big hit in our house. I love the idea of making some croutons out of it.
Geni - Sweet and Crumby
How healthy and fabulous! Medjool dates are soooooo divine. I also have never worked with date sugar. I am so intrigued. I am now on to Tweet and “like”.
thefooddoctor
I love Date and walnut bread! but I never thought there could be other ways to eat it than with a cup of tea..now I have all these options that I must try!
I’m sharing this on facebook Linda and I will include a link in my next post
Good luck
spicegirlfla
Thank you for sharing this. As much as I love the bread “as is”, I’m always looking for different ways to serve and enjoy it!
Maris (in Good Taste)
This looks like a winner to me!
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Kelly
Yeah, I love nuts in loaves!! (and, if I had to pick, I’d say walnuts are my favourite). Paired with the full flavour of dates, this is one beautiful and tasty looking bread. You’ve made so many smart ingredient choices – particularly appreciate the low sugar and love the sautéed chunky peach topping idea – whoa! Great recipe Linda.
Gina!
YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!! 😀
Marexo
This bread looks like something my Nanny would serve to me, topped with a big spread of cold cream cheese. Yum!
foodlady
looks awesome!
smartfoodandfit
Linda, this bread sounds wonderful. I like how you make your recipes nutrient dense. I love using dates in my recipes, not only is it a natural sweetener but it’s also good for you too like dietary fiber and B vitamins. I am going to make this bread this week, I have all the ingredients except for the date sugar but I’m sure I can find a substitute. Thanks for letting us know about the blogger contest, I’ll have to take a look at it if my crazy schedule allows for it!
thekalechronicles
You probably know that you can also substitute yogurt for oil in quick bread recipes, volume per volume — I like using it better than applesauce. — Sharyn
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Ben (@SwansonBlogBen)
Hi Linda! Please email me at blogs@swansonhealth.com ASAP! Why, you ask? Because you’re one of our 4 winners! I look forward to hearing from you!
spicegirlfla
How exciting!! Thank you so much!!!
Patricia
the first time I made this bread I used dried cherries and toasted walnuts. It was totally fabulous. I made it again yesterday with the dates and toasted walnuts and now I can’t tell you which I like best. I am definitely keeping this recipe as my new quick bread favorite.
spicegirlfla
Thank you so much for leaving me a comment and letting me know how much you enjoyed this! I truly appreciate it and am so glad you found a favorite quick bread!