Dates are soaked in boiling water and baking soda to soften them before being added to the batter. The dates give this bread a moist, rich taste.

Recipe Adapted from The America’s Test Kitchen Family Cookbook

Ingredients:

Batter:

1 cup boiling water

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 cups pitted dates, coarsely chopped

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

2/3 cup buttermilk, chilled

¾ cup firmly packed dark brown sugar

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1 large egg

1cup toasted walnuts or pecans, coarsely chopped

Note: See Baking How To's for how to toast nuts.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease and flour one 9x5 inch loaf pan. Or, lightly grease pan, then line with parchment paper.
   
   Batter:
   
2. In a medium bowl, combine boiling water, baking soda, and dates. Cover and set aside about 30 minutes or until the dates have softened and the water is lukewarm.
   
   
3. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
   
   
4. In a large bowl, combine buttermilk, brown sugar, melted butter, and egg; whisk together until well blended. Add flour mixture; stir just until blended. Stir in nuts.  
   
   
5. Pour batter in the loaf pan. Bake 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove pan from oven and let cool about 15 minutes. Grabbing the top edges of the parchment paper, lift bread from loaf pans and place on wire racks to finish cooling. Remove parchment paper and discard.
   
   Makes 1 loaf
   
   TheBakingPan.com