Baking · serves 2

Date and Walnut Loaf

No refined sugar. The dates do everything, and it keeps for a week.

60 min Easy Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 2 cups dates, pitted and chopped
  • 1 cup hot milk or water
  • 1.5 cups atta
  • 1/2 cup oil or butter
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 cup walnuts
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/4 cup jaggery (optional)

Method

  1. Soak the chopped dates in hot milk for 20 minutes, then blend half and leave half chunky.
  2. The soda goes into the warm date mixture and will fizz. That's correct.
  3. Stir in oil and vanilla, then fold in the flour, baking powder and walnuts.
  4. Batter into a lined loaf tin.
  5. 180°C for 45 minutes. It browns fast because of the dates, so foil it at 30 minutes.
  6. Cool completely. Better on day two.

Questions people ask about Date and Walnut Loaf

How long does Date and Walnut Loaf take?

About 60 minutes from starting to sitting down, and it is straightforward. A good part of that is unattended, so you can get on with something else once it is going.

What can I use instead of atta in Date and Walnut Loaf?

Use plain flour, though the dough will be softer and need less water.

Can I make Date and Walnut Loaf ahead of time?

Yes, and it is better for it. Cool it fully, refrigerate for up to three days, and reheat gently with a splash of water. The flavours settle overnight.

Is Date and Walnut Loaf vegetarian?

Yes, it is vegetarian. It is not vegan as written because it contains dairy; swap the dairy for a plant alternative and the rest of the method is unchanged.

Do I need an oven for Date and Walnut Loaf?

Yes, this one needs an oven. If you do not have one, look at the no-oven filter on the baking page: eleven of the bakes here are built for a cooker, a pan or the fridge.

What do you serve with Date and Walnut Loaf?

On its own, warm, with tea or coffee. Baking is chemistry, so scale it by weight rather than by eye: double every quantity, use a tin with roughly double the area, and expect to add ten minutes or so. Judge it by the skewer, not the clock.

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