Fig and Date Nut Bread is an easy quick bread recipe that takes just a few minutes to mix together. This sweet bread is delicious for breakfast, a quick snack or even dessert!
Looking for more easy quick bread recipes? Try my Chocolate Pumpkin Bread or this Easy One Bowl Banana Bread Recipe.
This Is One Of My Favorite Quick Bread Recipes
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Hope you had a terrific night ringing in 2013!
I know, I know. I have posted 3 days in a row. Are you tired of me, yet? 😛
I had to make this Fig, Date and Nut Loaf, or as we call it, Turte. It’s for my dear friend, Lora, The Cake Duchess, and her bread-baby, #TwelveLoaves.
Lora started Twelve Loaves to inspire us all to start baking bread at home. Of course it’s easier to just stop at the store and get a loaf, but nothing tastes better than homemade. Nothing. I wish I could be like my Baba and start kneading that dough day in and day out, but I’m not. I would rather make macarons or brownies.
But quick breads are a different thing, entirely. I make them all the time.
I made this delicious Loaf for my baby’s first tooth. You see, in our culture everything is celebrated with food. Then again, that’s in every culture, right?
In this case, for a baby’s first tooth, the Mommy has to make a sweet bread called, Turte (Toor-teh). That Turte symbolizes The New Testament —a gift of God to humankind—with the symbolism of wheat. Others also believe that the Turte will bring good luck, strong teeth, and the baby will grow to be a nice, sweet individual. 😀
Interesting, isn’t it? I love it!
I hope you have a few minutes to whip up this sweet bread; it takes about 10 minutes to prep, the rest is up to the oven.
In the meantime, scroll to the bottom of this post and visit all the talented #TwelveLoaves participants!
ENJOY!
Fig and Date Nut Bread
Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped pitted dates
- 1 cup chopped dried figs
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Grease and flour a loaf pan; shake off excess flour. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine dates, figs, butter, and baking soda; pour in the boiling water, stir until combined and set aside for 15 minutes.
- Using a whisk, beat sugar, walnuts, and eggs into the date mixture; set aside.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Add flour mixture to the date mixture and whisk until incorporated.
- Transfer batter to previously prepared loaf pan.
- Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.
- Remove from oven and place the loaf pan over a wire rack; let stand 15 minutes.
- Turn over the pan and turn out the bread; let cool completely.
- Cut and serve.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
Delicious. I was a little concerned since there was no vanilla or spice of any kind but wanted figs and dates so I forged ahead. Baked, cooled and wrapped in plastic over night. Made it for some Lebanese friends who love dates. Big hit. Of course I was sure I had walnuts but I had pecans. Getting walnuts today to make this again for Thanksgiving. Thanks for sharing.
I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
This bread looks amazing. I was going to make this afternoon, but I suddenly realized there is no eggs in this. Could this be a typo?
Such a variety of good things in this loaf. Comforting cooking at its best.
This bread looks so good, I love the date & orange combo!! 🙂
What a precious and sweet tradition, Kate! And, of course, dates are nature’s candy. Just lovely! Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Orange and date: I want to try that.
Your tradition for the baby’s first tooth is really amazing. I’ve never heard of it. So poetic.
Those are the cutest bread molds. This bread sounds delicious. Happy New Year!
Great looking loaf…thank you for posting! I’d love to eat more dates, and need more recipes like this one to get them into my diet.:-) thank you!
This loaf look so good, Kate! I love oranges with dates!
That is some fantastic looking bread!
Wow, I love the meaning behind this bread. . so lovely!!! And it looks fabulous too. . love it! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
What a wonderful tradition and one that they whole family can enjoy. Thanks for sharing the special occasion for which you baked this bread!
How sweet to make this for your baby’s first tooth! I remember those days so well… all the milestones. The orange and date nut loaves look perfect! Happy New Years Day 🙂
What a neat tradition and the bread looks delicious!
What a delicious looking bread. I really like cultural significance of it too. Those connections are so important.
That looks yummy!
I like traditions, and any bread with dates in it…! This is a wonderful recipe.
What a beautiful tradition!