I’ve been to my fair share of fetes, bake sales and markets and one of the first things I go for, besides fudge of course, is a date loaf. I don’t normally have dates in my pantry. Occasionally I’ll buy them but they’ll stay in there forever, unused. The trouble also with buying a whole ‘normal’ sized date loaf is that I’m usually the only one that eats it and even though I can cut it into slices and freeze it, it won’t get eaten for such a long time and I’ll forget about it. And also, how much date loaf can a girl really eat on her own? I wanted to contribute to my children’s school fete and decided to make smaller, individual date loaves using my mini loaf pan.
Dates do last a long time in the pantry. They are so sweet and add a nearly caramel-like consistency and taste to baked goods. Some people like them, some people don’t. I do but in saying that I only like them used in sweet baked goods. I don’t like using dried fruit in savoury dishes.
This recipe is very, very easy and it’s probably the one I’d use if I were to make individual Sticky Date Puddings. I’d probably use a Texas muffin sized pan.
Don’t even get me started on the batter. It smells absolutely gorgeous and I have to try hard to resist not eating it all before being baked. This is such an easy recipe and makes a lovely light cake. This recipe deserves a place at any good bake sale as well as in lunch boxes or served for morning or afternoon tea.
Don’t forget the butter!
Mini Date Loaves
Ingredients
- 1 cup dates chopped
- 1 cup brown sugar lightly packed
- 60 g butter
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 3/4 cup self-raising flour
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 2 tsp vanilla essence
Instructions
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Heat oven to 170 deg C (375 deg F).
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Mix chopped dates and sugar in a bowl and then add butter.
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Pour in boiling water, stirring until butter has melted completely.
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Add flour and then bicarbonate of soda, mixing well.
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Add vanilla.
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Bake in a greased (or lined) mini loaf pan approximately 25 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.
Recipe Notes
Suitable to freeze.
Can be made as a whole loaf.
Can be made in a Texas muffin pan and served with Caramel Sauce for a Sticky Date Pudding.
yum, we love a good sticky date pudding here!
You can’t beat it can you Cate xx
Hello Anne,
Your mini date loaves look so yummy.
Thanks for sharing the recipe with us at Cooking and Crafting with J & J.
Enjoy the weekend.
Julie xo
Thank you Julie. Hope you’re enjoying your weekend too.
Anne xx
Oh my mother would LOVE these!
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
My Mum used to love a good old date loaf too Jess. Thanks xx
This is delicious I love these cute little loaves, thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop, pinning and tweeting.
Thank you Swathi.
Anne xx
Hi Anne,
We would just love y our Mini Date Loaves, they look delicious. Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Thanks Miz Helen!
Anne xx