Walnut Date Bread
A sweet combination of pitted, chopped dates and walnuts adds wonderful texture to this soft, homemade bread.<br>
Ingredients
- 1 cup (240 ml) hot water
- 2 ¼ cups (300 ) dates, pitted, chopped
- 4 Tablespoons (55 g) unsalted butter
- 1 ½ cups (125 g) walnuts
- 2 large (2 large) eggs
- ½ teaspoon (5 teaspoons) vanilla extract
- 1 cup (125 g) whole wheat flour
- 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
- 165 (0.75 cup) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) baking powder
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) baking soda
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) salt, optional
Directions
- In a large mixing bowl add dates and butter pour hot water over them. Let stand about 30 minutes.
- Heat oven to 160°C (325°F) with rack in middle position. Lightly grease loaf pan; set aside.
- Place walnuts into the Vitamix container and secure lid.
- Select Variable 1.
- Start the machine and slowly increase speed to Variable 3 and blend for 10 to 15 seconds or just until the walnuts are coarsely chopped. Do not over process.
- Remove chopped nuts; set aside.
- Place the flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, optional into the same Vitamix container and secure lid.
- Select Variable 1.
- Start the machine and slowly increase speed to Variable 6 and blend for 15 seconds. Combine with chopped nuts in a medium bowl.
- Stir eggs and vanilla into the cooled date mixture, and then stir into the flour/nut mixture just until combined. Do not over mix.
- Spread evenly in loaf pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean, about 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes.
- Cool bread in pan on a wire rack for 25 minutes, then turn out onto rack and cool completely.
