Date Pecan Tea Bread

Name: Date Pecan Tea Bread
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 1 h 5 min
Total time: 1 h 25 min
Yield: 1 loaf (16 pieces) and 1/2 cup spread.
Ingredients: 2-1/2 cups chopped dates; 1-1/2 cups boiling water; 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda; 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour; 1/4 teaspoon each ground cloves, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg; 2 tablespoons butter, softened; 1-1/4 cups sugar; 1 large egg, room temperature; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1-1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans; SPREAD:; 3 ounces cream cheese, softened; 2 tablespoons chopped dates; 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped pecans; 1 tablespoon 2% milk

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 20 min. Bake: 65 min. + cooling YIELD: 1 loaf (16 pieces) and 1/2 cup spread.

Packed with dates and pecans, this sweet bread is excellent on its own and even better topped with the chunky cream cheese spread. We enjoy it during the holiday season, but also for after-school and late-night snacks. —Carole Resnick, Cleveland, Ohio

Ingredients

2-1/2 cups chopped dates
1-1/2 cups boiling water
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon each ground cloves, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1-1/4 cups sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans
SPREAD:
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons chopped dates
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped pecans
1 tablespoon 2% milk

Directions

1. Place dates in a large bowl. Combine boiling water and baking soda; pour over dates. In a small bowl, combine the flour, cloves, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg.
2. In another large bowl, beat butter and sugar until crumbly. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add flour mixture alternately with date mixture. Stir in pecans.
3. Pour into a greased and floured 9x5-in. loaf pan. Bake at 350° until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 65-75 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to wire rack to cool completely.
4. In a small bowl, combine spread ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Serve with bread.

Nutrition Facts

1 piece with 1-1/2 teaspoons spread: 312 calories, 13g fat (3g saturated fat), 23mg cholesterol, 154mg sodium, 50g carbohydrate (35g sugars, 4g fiber), 4g protein.