Gingerbread Date Loaf

Zucchini bread in the summer, pumpkin bread in the fall, gingerbread bread in the winter?  I think that sounds just delightful and maybe I’ll work on a spring bread too.  Lemon poppyseed perhaps? I digress.  Make this one first….

This is considered a quick bread.  The ingredient list doesn’t make it sound quick, but quick breads have a method where you mix the wet ingredients, then the dry ingredients, then you bake.  The method is technically called the muffin method.  The reason these types of breads are called quick breads is because they do not use year to help them leaven, making it possible for this bread to be made quickly.  Imagine that.  How many times did I say quick in this paragraph?

Moving on.  I’ve really gotten into gingerbread lately.  I wish my husband was though because I need help eating all of these things.  Ok, that’s a lie.  I really don’t need help but I would like help so that I control myself. This is what they mean when they say the holidays are indulging, right?  I feel like I’ve taken it to a whole other level.  Whoops.

This recipe was inspired by the Joy of Cooking cookbook.  I adapted this date loaf to make it a gingerbread loaf, made it vegan by removing the eggs, then added an orange glaze and I must say, it worked beautifully.

Did you know that date sugar is the most nutritious form of sugar on the market?  That’s because it is a date that is dried and then ground up. Whole foods always trump processes foods.  Second to date sugar is molasses and I’ve got both of those in this recipe. I’m not saying this makes it healthy, I am just saying it makes it healthier than white sugar. Don’t go eating the entire loaf, although you may want to.

Ok, ok, time to go and make this recipe.  You’re going to love it.

If you do make this, please share it!  I would love to see how it turned out.  Please be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe below.  Feel free to take me on Instagram and Facebook @plantiful_grub.  Enjoy!

Print Recipe

Gingerbread Date Loaf

This Gingerbread Date Loaf screams Christmas. Give it as a gift or serve it at your next holiday event.

Prep Time

20 minutes

Cook Time

65 minutes

Servings

loaf

Ingredients

Loaf

• 1 cup pitted dates packed, non medjool dates work best for this recipe
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 2/3 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 whole banana mashed and extra ripe
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups walnuts chopped

Orange Icing

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons orange juice or enough to get it the consistency you prefer
• 1 tablespoon orange zest

Prep Time 20 minutes Cook Time 65 minutes Servings loaf Ingredients Loaf 1 cup pitted dates packed, non medjool dates work best for this recipe 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 cup boiling water 1 2/3 cup all purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1 tablespoon ground ginger 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 1 whole banana mashed and extra ripe 1/4 cup vegetable oil 3/4 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup molasses 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 2 cups walnuts chopped Orange Icing 1 cup powdered sugar 2 tablespoons orange juice or enough to get it the consistency you prefer 1 tablespoon orange zest

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit.
2. Start by pitting your dates if not already done so and chop into thirds. Pack these into a 1 cup measure and then add them to a bowl. Top with the baking soda and 1 cup of boiling water and let that sit while preparing everything else.
3. In another bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking powder, ground ginger, cinnamon and clove. Whisk until everything is combined. If anything is clumpy, be sure to run it through a sieve to make sure it is all smooth.
4. In another bowl, combine the mashed banana, vegetable oil, brown sugar, molasses, and vanilla and mix until thoroughly combined. To this, add the date mixture and mix well. This will look soupy.
5. Lastly, add the flour mixture to the bowl with the liquid ingredients. slowly fold in the dry ingredients just until incorporated. When everything is mixed, add the chopped walnuts and combine one last time.
6. In a greased loaf pan, pour the batter in and bake for 65 minutes at 350 degrees. For extra easy removal, throw in a piece of parchment too. Do NOT open the oven while the loaf is cooking. It will rise slowly. At the end of the 65 minutes, test the inside of the loaf making sure the toothpick comes out clean. It's very important to let this cool before cutting into it. Cooling will allow it to set up more so that it is more sturdy.
7. To serve, mix up the orange icing and serve on the bread. Enjoy!