Autumn Dates Night Bread Recipes

AUTUMN "DATES" NIGHT BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour an 8 1/2- by 4 1/2-inch loaf pan and line the bottom with parchment paper. Bring 1/2 cup water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add the dates and set aside until cool. Drain.
• Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt onto a piece of parchment paper. Set aside.
• In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and brown sugar on high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs and sour cream and beat to combine, scraping the bowl down. Add the rum and vanilla and beat to combine. Add the flour mixture on low speed until just combined. Add the milk, increase the speed to medium, and beat until just smooth, about 15 seconds. Add the drained dates and the nuts and stir just until distributed.
• Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes. Cool in the pan on a rack for 15 minutes, then unmold and cool completely before slicing.

DATE BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray.
• Place the dates in a small bowl and sprinkle with the salt and baking soda. Pour the boiling water over the mixture and allow it to sit until it cools.
• Meanwhile, in the bowl of a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or in a large bowl using a handheld mixer (or a whisk and a lot of elbow grease), beat the sugar and butter until creamy. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until well combined, about 1 minute. Using a rubber spatula, stir in the date mixture (water and all) and then fold in the flour. The batter will be very stiff.
• Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan and, using a rubber spatula, smooth out the top so the loaf is even. Bake until the loaf is dark golden brown, a toothpick tests clean when inserted into the center of the loaf, and the bread is firm to the touch, about 40 minutes. Let the bread cool completely on a wire rack before turning it out of the pan and slicing it. Leftovers can be stored in a plastic bag at room temperature for up to 3 days (if the slices get a bit dry, you can revive them in a toaster oven or regular oven set at 300 degrees F for a few minutes before serving).