Fig and Date Bread

Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 55 min
Servings: 12
Yield: 12 servings

Description

This fig bread recipe is sweet, dark, and hearty. I like it for breakfast or with afternoon coffee or tea. Try it thinly sliced and topped with cream cheese and a scattering of chopped dates.

Ingredients

1 cup chopped pitted dates
1 cup chopped dried figs
1/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into chunks
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 large eggs
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

1 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease an 8x4-inch baking pan.
2 Combine dates, figs, butter, and baking soda in a medium bowl. Pour in boiling water, stir well, and let stand for 15 minutes.
3 Beat sugar, walnuts, and eggs into date mixture.
4 Whisk both flours, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl. Stir flour mixture into date mixture just until blended. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
5 Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean, 55 to 65 minutes.
6 Remove from the oven and cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.