Date Nut Loaf
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2 cups dates, pitted and chopped
1 cup water
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon Irish honey liqueur
1 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon rum extract
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts
Preheat oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Grease and flour a 9x5 loaf tin and line the bottom with baking parchment paper. Set aside.
In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the water and chopped dates and bring to a boil. Stir in the butter and sugar until melted. Remove from heat, stir in the baking soda and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Then gently stir in the Irish honey liqueur.
Place the date mixture into a large mixing bowl. Blend in the flour, the beaten egg and rum extract. Stir in the chopped walnuts. Then pour batter into the prepared tin.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 50 to 60 minutes, checking the loaf at 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean. Allow to cool for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.
Hope everyone had a lovely weekend like us! - JD