Simply scrumptious and so easy to make, Date Nut Bread is a classic quick bread that’s very nostalgic. Sweet, moist, and full of nuts—it’s the perfect winter recipe! You can make it ahead, freeze leftover slices, or give it away as a gift. The options are deliciously endless.
Table of Contents
- 🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
- 🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
- 📖 Make it your own: yummy variations
- 🔪 Step-by-step guide: instructions for success
- 💭 Insider tips: things to know
- 🥫 Leftover love: how to store and reheat date nut bread
- 👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
- 📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
- 🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose date nut bread
- 📞 Wrapping it up: the last word
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Save this recipe by clicking on the ❤️ heart on the right-hand side of the screen or in the recipe card.
🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
- With old-fashioned, comforting flavor, this date nut bread recipe combines sweet dates with savory pecans into a tasty loaf.
- Serve date nut bread for breakfast, dessert, a midday snack, or grab a sweet slice after dinner—the choice is yours!
- Soak the dates in boiling water and melted butter for 15 minutes to get ‘em nice and soft.
Date nut bread is a little slice of home-cooked heaven—soft, chewy dates, crunchy pecans, and the right level of sweetness will make you go back for seconds…or thirds.
Eat it plain, slather it with cream cheese or butter, or drizzle on some honey if you’re feeling fancy!
🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
📖 Make it your own: yummy variations
- If you don’t like pecans, you can use chopped walnuts instead. I still recommend toasting ‘em, though!
- Substitute half of the granulated sugar with packed light brown sugar for a touch of caramel flavor.
- Make this date nut bread extra rich and decadent by adding half a cup of dark chopped chocolate chips!
- Turn your quick bread into bite-sized treats—this recipe will make about a dozen date nut muffins.
🔪 Step-by-step guide: instructions for success
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page. Click on the image to see it full size.
Combine the diced dates and salt in a large bowl.
Pour melted butter and boiling water over the date mixture.
Stir in the chopped pecans and beaten eggs, then the flour mixture.
Spread batter into prepared 9x5 loaf pan and bake.
💭 Insider tips: things to know
- To toast pecans, place ‘em in a single layer on a lined baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F for 7-10 minutes. Stir halfway through so they toast evenly.
- Don’t skip the soaking step—it’s crucial to softening the dates!
- Use room-temperature eggs so they don’t scramble when you stir them into the warm date mixture.
- Mix the batter until just combined. Overmix it, and you’ll get tough bread!
Marye's Tip o' the day
If you can’t find diced dates, chop up whole ones. Coat the pieces in a little flour as you chop them so they don’t stick together. Floured date pieces are also less likely to sink to the bottom of the bread batter.
🥫 Leftover love: how to store and reheat date nut bread
Wrap leftover date nut bread in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place it in an airtight container. It will stay fresh at room temperature for two to three days.
For longer storage, wrap individual slices in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Then, place the wrapped slices in a freezer bag or airtight container and freeze for up to three months. Let frozen bread thaw overnight in the fridge or at room temperature for an hour or so.
Reheat a slice of date nut bread in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or lightly toast it in a toaster oven. Otherwise, wrap it in foil and bake it at 300 degrees F for 10-15 minutes.
🤫 Marye's secret for zhuzhing it up -
Pipe a pretty layer of whipped cream cheese frosting on top of the cooled loaf with a light dusting of cinnamon sugar for a little extra flavorful flair!
zhuzh: verb. To make something more interesting or attractive
👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
Have other questions? Ask me in the comments!
Dromedary date nut bread is a sweet slice of classic Americana.
Dromedary was a popular brand of dates in the mid-20th century when I was growing up, and a date nut bread recipe was printed right on the package.
The recipe was featured in all sorts of cookbooks and magazines. It was one of my Mom’s favorite quick bread recipes—and mine, too!
Sure thing! Pecans are king here in Texas, but walnuts will work, too. Just don’t forget to toast ‘em! Toasting nuts really amps up their flavor and gives a crunchier texture.
The center of the bread should measure 200 degrees F, or a toothpick inserted in the center should come out with just a few moist crumbs clinging to it. That’s how you know it’s done!
Slather a warm slice of date nut bread with salted butter or cream cheese, or drizzle some honey, maple syrup, or chocolate sauce.
It’s also great with fruit preserves, nut butter, and even savory cheeses and cured meats on a charcuterie board. And don’t forget to pair it with a hot mug of coffee, spiced tea, or hot cocoa!
⏲️ Marye's time saving hacks -
Prepare the batter, pop it in the fridge for up to 24 hours, then let it sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes before baking. Or you can freeze the batter in the loaf pan for up to 3 months and bake it straight out of the freezer—just add 10-15 minutes to the baking time.
📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose date nut bread
Leftovers? Let's transform them into something new. Here are some fun ideas:
- Make cream cheese sandwiches with leftover date nut bread. You could even add lunch meat for some protein.
- Toast the bread and use it as crostini for a savory appetizer dip.
- Cut date nut bread into cubes, bake until toasty, and enjoy as fancy homemade croutons on top of a wintery salad.
- Make date nut bread pudding for dessert or French toast for brunch.
📞 Wrapping it up: the last word
This, along with the fruitcake recipe, is part of a small group of faded and frayed recipe cards of my mother's that I cherish.
Even before I was old enough to read a calendar I could tell Christmas was on its way because the smell of my mother's date nut bread would waft through the house almost weekly.
Spread with a thick layer of cream cheese, it was the perfect afternoon snack while we listened to Bing Crosby sing Christmas songs on the radio.
I hope you give this a try and it makes years of great memories for your family, too.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please comment below and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Date Nut Bread
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- ¾ cup pecans, toasted and chopped
- 1 cup chopped dates, 8-ounces
- 1-½ teaspoons baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ cup butter
- ¾ cup boiling water
- 2 eggs, slightly beaten
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup sugar
- 1-½ cups flour
Instructions
- Combine dates and salt in a medium mixing bowl.
- Grease and flour a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan. Set aside.
- Mix the butter with the boiling water and pour over the dates.
- Let stand for 15 minutes.
- Stir and add the nuts, eggs, and vanilla.
- In small bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
- Stir into date mixture until blended. Do not overmix.
- Pour into prepared pan.
- Bake 1 hour or until an instant read thermometer reads 200F, or a cake tester comes out with just a few crumbs clinging to it. Cool
- Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes then remove from pan and cool completely.
Notes
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- Get diced dates but if you can't find them you can dust dates with flour as you chop them to keep them from sticking together.
- To toast pecans, place ‘em in a single layer on a lined baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F for 7-10 minutes. Stir halfway through so they toast evenly.
-
- Don’t skip the soaking step—it’s crucial to softening the dates!
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
Janet says
The recipe lists Kosher salt once in the ingredients, yet salt is called for twice in the Instructions. Once in Instruction #1 and again in the 6th. I really love Date Nut Bread and want to use your recipe. So what's with the salt, Marye, dear?