Blogmas #22 Date Nut Bread recipe

 Blogmas #22  Date Nut Bread recipe 

• 1 cup chopped dates
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup boiling water
• 4 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans
• Simply place the dates in a bowl.
• dates
• Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of baking soda over the dates.
• Pour 1 cup of boiling water over the dates.
• Allow the dates to soak while you finish the rest of the recipe.
• With a mixer, cream the butter, and sugar together on medium-high speed.  Add the egg and mix on medium speed until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.  Using a strainer, strain the water from the dates into the mixing bowl and mix it in.
• Add the flour and mix just long enough to almost incorporate all the flour.  Add the dates and nuts and mix on low speed just to incorporate.  Don’t over mix.
• Transfer batter to a greased loaf pan and bake at 325 degrees for 55 to 60 minutes until a toothpick test comes out clean.
• Run a sharp knife around the edges of the pan, and allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Invert the bread onto a wire rack to finish cooling.