Vintage Recipe Grandmothers Date Bread

GRANDMA'S DATE-NUT BREAD

Steps:

• Put raisins in a bowl. Pour boiling water over raisins; soak until raisins have flavored the water, about 20 minutes. Drain raisins, reserving the water. Discard raisins.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a loaf pan with butter.
• Bring reserved water to a boil in a small saucepan. Measure 3/4 cup boiling water into a bowl. Stir baking soda into water.
• Put dates and prunes in a large bowl. Pour baking soda-water over dates and prunes; add unsalted butter and stir until melted. Stir sugar and vanilla extract into the fruit mixture; let cool to room temperature.
• Stir egg into the fruit mixture to evenly coat. Mix flour and salt together in a small bowl; add to fruit mixture and stir. Fold walnuts into the mixture and pour into the prepared loaf pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 50 to 65 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.

VINTAGE RECIPE: GRANDMOTHER'S DATE BREAD

Steps:

• Pour 1 cup water into a small pot and bring to a boil.
• Once boiling, stir in dates, soda, and butter.
• Reduce heat, and simmer until dates are very soft, about 20 minutes.
• Use a fork to mash date mixture into a paste. It does not need to be perfectly smooth. Set aside to cool.
• Combine flour, baking powder and raisins in a separate bowl.
• When dates have cooled, stir in beaten egg and ½ cup hot water.
• Add flour to date mixture and stir until combined.
• Pour into well-greased 6.5" x 4" x 2" loaf pan and bake at 325 degrees for 45 - 60 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
• Turn out onto a wire rack to cool.
• A standard-sized loaf pan can also be used, but will create a flat loaf. Bake for 35 - 40 minutes.

OLD-FASHIONED DATE BARS

Steps:

• Grease 8-inch square baking pan; set aside.
• Combine water, 1/4 cup brown sugar and dates in 1-quart saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, 4-5 minutes or until mixture thickens and comes to a boil. Cool at least 30 minutes.
• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Combine all crust ingredients in bowl. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Reserve 1 cup.
• Press remaining crumbs into prepared pan. Spoon filling over crust; sprinkle with reserved crumbs. Bake 30-35 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely. Cut into bars.

DATE NUT CAKE- PROJECT VINTAGE RECIPES

Steps:

• Place chopped dates in a large bowl and sprinkle with baking soda.
• Pour boiling water over the dates and let sit until cool.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and both sugars and then add the beaten eggs.
• Mix until creamy.
• Sift the flours with the teaspoon of cinnamon and then slowly add to the butter mixture until all is incorporated.
• Add vanilla, dates (with water) and chopped nuts and stir until blended.
• Pour into two 9 inch greased and floured cake pans and bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Cool on wire racks.
• Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.
• This can also be served topped with fresh whipped cream.