Back to Edmonds for another quick bread. This seemed pleasingly simple to make and sounded appealing, so I figured I'd give it a go. I think it'd be really interesting to try the apricot variant at some point too. I feel like I might want to swap out some of the other ingredients if using apricots though. Hmm... maybe I'll make a few notes on that below. This date version came out pretty nice. I think I'd probably double the vanilla next time though and bring it up to 1/2 tsp. rather than 1/4 tsp. Adding some other spices might not go amiss either. I might try tossing in 1/2 tsp. of mixed spice next time as well. Not that it's not tasty as is. It just feels like it's missing something.

Date Loaf

Slightly adapted from Edmonds Cookery Book

Ingredients

• 1 c. chopped dates
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 Tbsp. salted butter
• 1 c. boiling water
• 1 c. brown sugar
• 1 c. chopped walnuts
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 c. soft (plain/standard/cake) flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. mixed spice (optional)

Directions

1. Combine dates, baking soda, butter, and boiling water. Stir until well-combined and butter has melted. Set aside for an hour.
2. Add sugar, walnuts, egg, and vanilla to date mixture and beat well.
3. Sift in flour, baking powder, and mixed spice (if using). Stir until just blended.
4. Pour into greased and floured loaf tin.
5. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 45-60 minutes.
6. Cool in tin for 10 minutes before turning out.

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Variations

Apricot Loaf

Edmonds just suggests making apricot loaf by substituting apricots for the dates in the date loaf recipe. I think that would be fine, but I feel like dates go much better with brown sugar than apricots. Initially I was thinking of just using granulated sugar, but then it occurred to me that honey might go particularly well. Honey is sweeter than granulated sugar though and I think granulated sugar already tastes sweeter than brown sugar, so I think considerably less honey should be used in this recipe. Honey also browns faster, so it may need to be cooked for longer at a lower temperature.

Ingredients

• 1 c. slivered dried apricots
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 Tbsp. salted butter
• 1 c. scalded milk
• 1/2 c. honey
• 1 c. slivered almonds
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 c. soft (plain/standard/cake) flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder

Bake at 325°F (160°C) for 60-75 minutes.

Vegan

Ingredients

• 1 c. chopped dates
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 Tbsp. oil or margerine
• 1 c. boiling water
• 1 c. brown sugar
• 1 c. chopped walnuts
• 1 flax egg
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 c. soft (plain/standard/cake) flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. mixed spice (optional)