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Date Loaf

I used to drop in on my Mom for coffee and there was always something good to eat in her kitchen or freezer. This recipe was one of her favorites and it is one of mine too. I make them in her two small old style bread pans. This loaf freezes well up to 3 months.
1/2 lb chopped dates
2 cups brown sugar
2 tsp baking soda
2 cups boiling water
Stir first 3 ingredients together in a glass bowl and pour boiling water over it. Stir well and let stand for 10 minutes.
In a separate bowl beat together:
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
Add 3 cups white flour
Add the softened date mixture.
Stir together until all the flour is incorporated.
Divide mixture into 2 greased loaf pans.
Bake for 1 hour at 300 until tooth pick inserted in centre of loaf comes out clean. Leave in pans for 5 minutes and turn out onto cooling rack.

22 comments:

  1. Beautiful! This is going on my to-do-someday list. Thank you for sharing.

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  2. Kathy, I will think about your mom too when I make it.

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  3. I haven't made date loaf in ages...but now I just might. I already had date squares these week...and am quite enjoying the dates.

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  4. Perfect timing Kathy...I was just this afternoon looking to use up some of my leftover Christmas dates and browsing through recipes that were unfamiliar to me. Good to come here and get a 'tried and true' recipe. Thanks for sharing.

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  5. Being as I am a Mennonite as well, I sure enjoy looking at your blog from time to time! I love cooking too and your recipes are simply fantastic! Keep it coming!
    Chrissandra

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  6. Scratch and sniff.... I think this one sounds really yummy. I love your recipes and this blog!

    Thanks for all of the great recipes!

    Jamie
    www.oktxok.blogspot.com

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  7. Oh I could go for a nice thick slice with chilled butter. . my favorite .. .
    I can see your mom in my memories. . and the time I had lunch at her place while she was working at Eatons. ..she told us to go to her place with our kiddies.. .for leftover casserole and squares. . .such a dear lady.

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  8. Ooh date bread..I must bake that soon. Thanks for the recipe Kathy..but now I must go buy dates!

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  9. I never thought about freezing bread...
    That's great!

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  10. it's in the oven now....and smells so homey.....our kids are all coming home from a weekend away so i wanted to welcome them back......

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  11. just double checking with you.....
    is there really NO FAT added to the recipe,probably since the dates are so moist.

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  12. You are right Charlotte...no fat in this recipe. I always take a second look at this recipe when I make it as it does seem odd...but believe me it is a keeper! Kathy

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  13. OK girls, I was not impressed with how it turned out (which by the way looked nothing like the picture). It's extremely dense, really chewy and not like one expects a loaf to be. What did I do wrong?

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  14. I wanted to respond to the person who had dissapointing results with this recipe. It is not a light and fluffy type of a loaf, but abit heavier than a cake type. It should be very moist though. I did double check the recipe I posted to make sure I had not omitted any thing. I make this often and get alot of requests for the recipe. I do hope you have better sucess if you try it again. Maybe you were expecting a light cake type loaf. Keep baking. Kathy

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  15. I want to respond to the person who had trouble with this recipe. I did double check the recipe and it is right. This is not a cake type of loaf. It is dense but very moist. I hope you try it agian and have success. I know how frustrating it is to have a recipe not turn out. We all have that happen now and then. Kathy

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  16. In the oven as I type...cant wait to nite in!! Thanks for sharing!

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  17. why is the color so pale, is the sugar supposed to be brown?

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  18. Anonymous, I need to apologize to you and possibly others for the error in this recipe. The sugar is brown. It's always so disappointing when a recipe does not turn out, and it seems like such a waste of time and ingredients. I hope you try it again and have great success.
    Thanks for visiting us here on our blog. We value each reader and comment.
    Happy baking. Kathy

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  19. Hi Kathy, I'm afraid I had difficulties with this recipe too. I made it as shown but mine did not rise at all. Is it supposed to be like a regular quick bread loaf. I didn't expect a cake-like product but one that would be more muffin like with some density. I did use baking powder and then read the comments that someone thought it should be baking soda. Would that make a difference? I'm stumped

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    Replies
    1. Not sure what happened to your loaf. I've had some people say it turns out so well and others that have not had success. I'm stumped too. It's always disappointed when you use all those ingredients and look forward to something delicious from the oven.

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  20. This looks yummy. I just bought one at Sittlers bakery in Conestoga outside of St . Jacobs Ontario. I was hoping to find a similar recipe and this looks just like the one I bought. Can't wait to try. Thanks

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