Date Nut Bread

There are two types of people in this world: those who appreciate a good slice of old-fashioned date nut bread and those who clearly had a childhood devoid of joy.

Table of Contents

• 🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
• 🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
• 📖 Make it your own: yummy variations
• 🔪 Step-by-step guide: instructions for success
• 💭 Insider tips: things to know
• 🥫 Leftover love: how to store and reheat date nut bread
• 👩‍🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
• 📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
• 🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose date nut bread
• 📞 Wrapping it up: the last word
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

I don’t know about you, but one whiff of this baking in the oven, and I’m instantly transported to my grandmother’s kitchen—where the scent of warm cinnamon, toasted nuts, and sticky-sweet dates wrapped around me like a cozy hug. Of course, she also firmly believed that date nut bread must be served with a thick smear of cream cheese and a cup of coffee strong enough to wake the dead. And you know what? She was absolutely right.

Of course she was.

This vintage classic is moist (don’t fight me on the word), subtly sweet, and packed with nutty goodness. It’s the kind of nostalgic, no-fuss recipe that belongs in every kitchen, whether you’re an old soul or just someone who knows that dates and nuts deserve more love.

So, let’s make a loaf that tastes like a trip down memory lane—minus the questionable 1970s wallpaper and the fear of grandma’s wooden spoon. 🍞✨

Save this recipe by clicking on the ❤️ heart on the right-hand side of the screen or in the recipe card.

🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite

• With old-fashioned, comforting flavor, this date nut bread recipe combines sweet dates with savory pecans into a tasty loaf.
• Serve date nut bread for breakfast, dessert, a midday snack, or grab a sweet slice after dinner—the choice is yours!
• Soak the dates in boiling water and melted butter for 15 minutes to get ‘em nice and soft.

Date nut bread is a little slice of home-cooked heaven—soft, chewy dates, crunchy pecans, and the right level of sweetness will make you go back for seconds…or thirds.

Eat it plain, slather it with cream cheese or butter, or drizzle on some honey if you’re feeling fancy!

🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need

This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.

📖 Make it your own: yummy variations

1. If you don’t like pecans, you can use chopped walnuts instead. I still recommend toasting ‘em, though!
2. Substitute half of the granulated sugar with packed light brown sugar for a touch of caramel flavor.
3. Make this date nut bread extra rich and decadent by adding half a cup of dark chopped chocolate chips!
4. Turn your quick bread into bite-sized treats—this recipe will make about a dozen date nut muffins.

🔪 Step-by-step guide: instructions for success

This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page. Click on the image to see it full size.

💭 Insider tips: things to know

1. To toast pecans, place ‘em in a single layer on a lined baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F for 7-10 minutes. Stir halfway through so they toast evenly.
2. Don’t skip the soaking step—it’s crucial to softening the dates!
3. Use room-temperature eggs so they don’t scramble when you stir them into the warm date mixture.
4. Mix the batter until just combined. Overmix it, and you’ll get tough bread!

🥫 Leftover love: how to store and reheat date nut bread

Wrap leftover date nut bread in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place it in an airtight container. It will stay fresh at room temperature for two to three days.

For longer storage, wrap individual slices in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Then, place the wrapped slices in a freezer bag or airtight container and freeze for up to three months. Let frozen bread thaw overnight in the fridge or at room temperature for an hour or so.

Reheat a slice of date nut bread in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or lightly toast it in a toaster oven. Otherwise, wrap it in foil and bake it at 300 degrees F for 10-15 minutes.

👩‍🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs

Have other questions? Ask me in the comments!

📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love

🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose date nut bread

Leftovers? Let's transform them into something new. Here are some fun ideas:

• Make cream cheese sandwiches with leftover date nut bread. You could even add lunch meat for some protein.
• Toast the bread and use it as crostini for a savory appetizer dip.
• Cut date nut bread into cubes, bake until toasty, and enjoy as fancy homemade croutons on top of a wintery salad.
• Make date nut bread pudding for dessert or French toast for brunch.

📞 Wrapping it up: the last word

This, along with the fruitcake recipe, is part of a small group of faded and frayed recipe cards of my mother's that I cherish.

Even before I was old enough to read a calendar I could tell Christmas was on its way because the smell of my mother's date nut bread would waft through the house almost weekly.

Spread with a thick layer of cream cheese, it was the perfect afternoon snack while we listened to Bing Crosby sing Christmas songs on the radio.

I hope you give this a try and it makes years of great memories for your family, too.

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.

If you love this recipe please comment below and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe