Date Loaf

This is an incredible tasting date loaf! It was so good that I have made it twice in one week and gained a few pounds. I will work it off in the next few days. I took three recipes and modified it to perfection.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups finely sliced dates
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 cup boiling water
4 teaspoons butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
1 cup walnuts, finely chopped
1 teaspoon vanilla essence

Caramel syrup:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon butter

Preheat the oven to 350* Butter a 5 x 9 inch baking pan (3 inches deep).

Batter:
Sprinkle the bicarbonate of soda over the dates. Add the boiling water and mix. Add the butter and walnuts and mix. Tip: *If you have a blender it is easier to add the dates with bicarbonate of soda, boiling water, butter and walnuts  to the blender and blend on a low speed.
Mix the sugar and egg together and add to the date mixture. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt over the date mixture. Add the vanilla essence and mix.
Turn the batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading evenly. Bake the loaf on the middle rack of the preheated oven for one hour or until done and a testing skewer comes out clean when inserted into the centre of the loaf.

Caramel syrup:
Slowly bring the brown sugar, cream and butter to the boil and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes.

Turn out the date loaf onto a wire rack and slowly pour over the caramel syrup. Leave to cool before serving with some heavy whipping cream.

Enjoy every bite of this delicious sweet treat!

All images taken by me.