Date Nut Bread and Cream Cheese

[Michael S]

I grew up eating these sandwiches. If I am not mistaken the brand name of the bread was Dromedary. It was a fixture on the Chock Full O'Nuts menu. The last time I saw it on a menu was also in NY at The Bagel on West 4th St. They no longer have it however. I was wondering if anyone knew of a bakery big or small that still makes date nut bread, or a restaurant that still serves these heavenly sandwiches. Thanks!!

[Gene]

The date nut bread used to be available in supermarkets ( canned ) but I can't remember the brand.

[Angie]

Thanks so much for the Dromedary info. I live in Nashville TN and had looked in several stores because datenut bread and cream cheese sandwiches were "requested" for a family get together. I too recalled it was Dromedary but all of the store managers told me they did not carry it any longer. Thanks again, my Kroger deli does carry a date nut bread that is ok, but not like the memories of the Dromedary.

[Estelle]

Hi, I've been looking for recipes for Date Nut Bread just like I used to have in New York at Chock Full O' Nuts. I will try Dromidary link. If you ever come up with a recipe that tastes like what we remember please forward to me.
Thanks, Estelle

[janet czepiel]

Dromedary date & nut roll is available from the Vermont Country Store. I too have been looking for a long time, especially around the holidays. It was a great treat then, my Mom loved it. We used to get it canned at any grocery store. I just received my Vermont Store catalog & low & behold they have it!!

[Loren Bradford]

Hello, I looked on the Vermont store site and they don't seem to carry date nut roll right now. Have you found it somewhere else??? Desperate!!

[coll]

I've been on a kick lately with date nut bread and cream cheese. Cannot find Thomas brand, which was the standard in New York city area, but have been buying Nuemanns brand, usually in the deli section at supermarkets, it's not bad. Maybe a tad drier. It's made in Illinois, so I assume it's widely available.

[ajs42548]

Your situation is the same as mine. As a kid I loved Thomas date nut bread with cream cheese. I can only find Nuemanns brand now. It's round vs. the rectangular shape of Thomas.

[misssbarefooted]

where have u found this i live in fla and have searched high and low that is the eaxt kind i want the round one do they have a web site maybe i can order it

[jillian68]

Vermont Country Store does have the date and nut bread, but it's made exclusively for them - no brand name like "Dromedary" on the can. - Just type in "date and nut bread" in the search box and voila! But, be warned - not cheap! $13.90 for two cans that are 8 oz. each - and you must buy as a set of two! Hope this helps.

[Pat Bushnaq]

I've bought date nut bread in a can in the past but can't find it now. I live in South Kansas City Missouri. Please tell me where I can find this. Thank you. Pat

[Pat Bushnaq]

I've bought date nut bread in a can in the past but can't find it now. I live in South Kansas City Missouri. Please tell me where I can find this. Thank you. Pat

[glo]

If you are still looking. It is no longer made as per a website called Hometown favorites (they have a long list of items no longer made.)

[Nancy Berry]

If you go to the link below and slide down to
-
Dromedary
Home Use Date Nut Roll/Cake Mixes
-
you'll find info about either the Dromedary Date Bread boxed mix or the Dromedary Date Nut Roll (a canned bread.)

These were the base for my mom's date bread/cream cheese sandwiches and they are still available in retail markets.

Link: http://www.spiceadvice.com/product_gu...

[Carla Feller]

Is the canned date nut roll still available? Thank you for your time. Carla

[Claire]

I'm miserable without this product. We must revive it!

[Jill Rovitzky Black]

Thomas, the English muffin people, distribute a very good fresh, not canned, date nut loaf in supermarkets, but only from around Thanksgiving until New Years or so.

[jarona]

The Thomas' brand was delicious. I also remember the top of the date nut bread having a very moist almost crust like texture. Yum. I waxing nostalgic for Date Nut Bread and Cream Cheese!

[ruth arcone]

What I remember is a really dark, moist, almost gooey date-nut bread. I have been looking for a recipe for years, but the only ones I can find are all basically the same, calling for soaking the dates in boiling water. They produce a light, dry quick bread type bread.
Does anyone have a recipe for the other kind?

[finewineserver]

This recipe was handed down by my grandmother. It also calls for soaking the dates in boiling water, but the result is a dark, moist loaf. Not at all as you describe.

1 C dates cut in pieces 3/4 C boiling water
3/4 C brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla
1 egg 1 1/2 C regular flour
1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda
1/2 C walnuts - broken
Sprinkle dates with baking soda & pour boiling water over them. Let stand until cool.
Beat egg, add sugar & vanilla gradually.
Combine w/date mixture
Add sifted dry ingredients & nuts & beat until mixed.
Pour in a buttered loaf pan & bake in slow oven (250-300 degrees) for one hour until firm & brown. Let stand one day before cutting.

[mshpook]

this is so much like a recipe i used to make for date nut bread that produced the most moist and delicious loaf. I don't remember my instructions stating to let this stand for one day before cutting --- i don't think i could have waited that long!

[Chad54]

I made your recipe and it's quite tasty. Thank you. The one I remember is like the one described above by Ruth Arcone.-"dark, moist, and almost gooey." I used to get it at Alexander's market in southern California, but my parents were from Hoboken so that would seem to tie in with all the East Coasters here.

[othervoice]

For many years, this was my Mother's signature dish. She did make it from scratch at times, but usually she used the Dromedary Box Mix. I remember her soaking the dates in boiling water and she always added walnuts.
This was then cooked in a large loaf pan. Always very moist, dark and gooey. Thanks for bringing up such a favorite memory. Those sandwhiches were awesome.

[KA 1948]

I, too, was remembering enjoying VandeKamps Date Nut Bread and found a recipe that I tried;
I was thrilled with how it tasted like the one I remember. Especially when I spread it with cream cheese! Yum!

3/4 cup boiling water
1 1/2 cup chopped dates (fresh)
1 T. butter
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup dark molasses
2 large eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a medium bowl, pour water over the dates and butter. Stir and let the mixture sit until lukewarm
Puree 1/3 of the mixture in a food processor or blender to make a paste,
then stir it back into the date mixture.
Add the brown sugar, molasses and eggs. Stir until everything is thoroughly combined.

In a separate large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt
Make a well in the center and pour in the date mixture. Mix until all the ingredients are combined.
Pour the batter into a greased 9x5" loaf pan.

Bake for 50 minutes; loaf is done when the top has risen and a cake tester inserted in the center will have some dates clinging to it but no batter.
Remove the bread from the oven and cool it on a rack for 10 minutes before turning it out of the pan to finish cooling.

Found this on cdkitchen
Recipe ID: 40454

MSG URL: http://www.recipelink.com/msgid/1429447

[sionnac]

Kathy John's near UConn, Storrs, Connecticut (old-fashioned soda fountain & ice cream parlour) used to serve delicious ones. Our family used to go, must have been the late 70's last time I was there, so.... They had a penny-candy shop then too. If you're nearby try & see: 643 Middle Turnpike, Storrs, 06268, 860-429-0362.

[Eileen]

I ate this wonderful date and nut bread in a can for years and for the past years i have not been able to find it anyplace in any store - can someone tell me if it is still made and/or where i can find it?

[kiwi]

available at hometownfavorites.com and only $3.49 a can.

[JIM Farris]

Did you locate the Date bread in a can form?
You can get a mix from Edge 1-800-373-3726
But, like you the canned format is the one I remember as the best.

[Nancy Berry]

You can buy the Dromedary Date Nut Rolls (that's the name of the bread in a can) online from The Vermont Country Store.

Here's the link:

Link: http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/pr...

[sls]

No you cannot get this at the Vermonth store. Got an answer and they say they do not have it but would search as well
Dated 1/11/05

[Nancy Berry]

Note that my message is almost 2 years old. Thanks for the update.

[betty mclaughlin]

someone on the good old days board is talking about a date nut bread in a can, but she said it came in a maroon colored can and it was NOT dromedary. Do you know of any other kinds. betty

[Jeremy Newel]

I think S & W used to make that kind of canned bread, but that was a long time ago. Have no idea if they still make it.

[john platt]

does anyone know whaere i can find this? who makes it?

[marti]

Think Cross & Blackwell used to make one.

[Betty]

Does anyone know where Cross and Blackwell Date Nut Bread in a can be purchased? I would be so grateful for any info on this. Thanks

[blondie36]

See my other post. The Crosse & Blackwell Date Nut Bread is no longer made. However, if you are willing to do a little simple baking, you can have it again. : )

The Dromedary and S&W canned breads taste nothing like the Crosse & Blackwell. Don't bother.

[Ray Schank]

Where can you find this date nut bread or the company who makes the bread.

Ray!!!!! Thank you !!!! in advance

[Nancy Keith]

I want to say dromedary date nut bread and or B&M date nut bread in the can were two brands of the date nut bread. One of the companys also make mince meat in a jar and the hard sauce to go with it. I too can not find the the canned date nut bread bread which cut such nice circles and when spread with cream cheese made a special lunch treat and great afternoon tea snack. It would be great if some company would bring it back to the grocery stores.

[brenda]

Hi,
Was just looking through a Vermont Country store brochure. They have the Dromedary date nut roll in the can, if that's what you're talking about.
Hope this helps.
Brenda

[mawtrey]

I did some research and Cross and Blackwell sold their date nut bread line to Nestle in the 90s. Nestle stopped selling it in the mid 90s. I have sent Nestle an email asking them to reconsider. It was fabulous!

[ajrisser]

I grew up[ savoring Cross & Blackwell Date & Nut Roll in the 1950's & 60's. Have casually searched for it for years. Found this board to have interesting, if disappointing, information on the demise of on of my favorite luxuary foods. Did you ever hear anything back from Nestle?

[blondie36]

My mom and I loved the Crosse & Blackwell Date Nut Bread in the can. It is definitely discontinued. She still misses it, so for the holidays last year I decided to try a recipe I found online. Amazingly, it tastes just like the original! She was ecstatic and savored every bite. So guess what I will be making a batch of tomorrow for Mother's Day ...

Here's the recipe: http://www.recipegoldmine.com/namebra...

I did not have cans so I used mini loaf pans instead; otherwise, I followed the recipe as written. Chop up whole dates yourself. The chopped dates from the grocery store have tiny, very sharp pieces of pit mixed in (I learned this the hard way!).

Enjoy!

[X19Mark]

Hi,

Can you please post the date nut bread recipe that makes date nut bread (dark dark brown, moist and chewy) like the Crosse & Blackwell Date Nut Bread (in the round cans) that I and my sisters loved (date nut bread with cream cheese sandwiches) in the 1950s and 1960s? Your recipe hypertext link has gone bad, unfortunately.

Mark

[X19Mark]

Hi again,

Unfortunately, the hypertext link to the date nut bread recipe that Blondie36 praised went bad some time in 2007 (presumably RecipeGoldmine.com shut down then). Fortunately, I was able to dig that exact web page up by using the Internet Archive's wonderful Wayback Machine!! I've attached a screenshot (done with Linux) of the recipe's web page. I can't wait to try this recipe out (actually, ask my mother to try it out for me)! I'll keep you all posted... Enjoy!!

[Sam D.]

Here is the correct link for the recipe for Crosse & Blackwell Date Nut Bread:
http://www.recipegoldmine.com/namebra...

The web page was probably revised/relocated but the recipe IS there.

If you are going to make this according to the recipe, you'll need to have some 15 oz. cans on hand because those are the baking vessels the recipe calls for.

[X19Mark]

Hi,

Thank you very much for your help. Note that I posted the recipe here on May 21, 2008.

You just reminded me, though, to TEST this recipe out!!

In the meantime, I'm going to try to find out where this recipe came from and how authentic it is!

Mark

[X19Mark]

Hi again!

Here's the "Crosse & Blackwell" Date Nut Bread recipe!

Let me know what you think!

Mark

[Fleur]

VCS does not have it, but thanks for the link. I found the Brown Bread in a can I have been looking for for ages.

[Sharuf]

I just clicked onto Vermont Country Store and they have date nut roll under canned foods. It's eleven bucks for 2 8-oz cans. I've done business with VCS and I like them.

[ambrose]

Wow, a six year old thread!

According to the Chock Full O' Nuts website, the date nut bread and cream cheese sandwiches are still available at the few remaining Chock cafes.

http://www.chockfullonuts.com/cafe/pr...

[veganish]

I was surprised to see the heading of this thread--where I live, date nut bread is available year 'round in the dairy section of the supermarket.

[fkahuna]

I couldn't pass this by. My grandmother used to make a dark malty nut loaf not unlike the Thomas' loaf. I'm in Florida and when I asked at the local Thomas outlet, they thought I had been beamed down from the "Enterprise". Glad to see that it's not a serious senior moment.

[shindiganna]

had one this morning...delicious!

[HillJ]

link to the Chock Classic (date nut bread with cream cheese)
http://www.hungrybrowser.com/phaedrus...
scroll down for recipe

[phelana]

Man, that is a flash from my childhood past. Yes, Dromedary is correct. The walnut and dates combined with the lovely cheese from our local Jewish deli in Worcester, MA.

ahhhhhhhhhhh

[raennshadow]

From Cincinnati [1950s] to Baltimore [1960s] to Seattle area [1970s], I found Crosse and Blackwell and then Dromedary date-nut bread in a can until the 1990s. As Thanksgiving approached this year, I googled and found thist site [disappointing to see that neither are available anymore. Years ago when I lived in the Badlands of South Dakota and had a one two burner propane stove, I used a pressure cooker and an electric skillet to cook all our food [no stove or refrigerator; we lived in the back room of a school house where my husband taught]. I had this recipe, and was surprised how much it tasted like the canned varioty I grew up with. It still works today..but not as easy as opening a can of good ol' Crosse and Blackwell.
from the book [circa 1940s] Sears Roebuck and Company:
Maid of Honor [Our Own Trademark] Our Best Quality Pressure Cooker and Canner
page 81
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/8 teaspoon soda
I tablespoon fat
1/4 cup dates, chopped
1/2 cup sour milk
1/2 cup white flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup nut meats
1/2 cup sweet milk
1 egg
Mix and sift the dry ingredients. Add nut meats and dates dredged in flour. beat egg, add milk and shortening. Combine the two mixes adn pour into greased inset pans or molds filling them within one inch of the top. Cover with waxed paper.
Place pan on rack, Have 1 1/2 quarts of water in cooker. Steam with pressure gauge removed for 15 minutes. Set pressure gauge in place and cook for 40 minutes at 15 pounds pressure.
The sparseness and small amounts of nuts and dates of the ingredients attests to this
was wartime...WW II
I have a Presto Cooker recipe book which has the Boston Brown Bread Recipe, and somewhere I had/have a Mirro pressure Cooker book which had both.
raennshadow in Hoquiam, Washington

[rexsreine]

Oh my. Haven't thought about these kind of sandwiches in years. My mother made them with steamed brown bread (with raisins) that been cooked in small cans. But she had variation on the cream cheese. She used to whip up a block with a little vanilla and sugar, then fold in chopped dates and walnuts. She cut the sandwiches in quarters and let them sit overnight, well-wrapped, in the refrigerator. She often served these at her fifties-style card parties. I thought they were better than a piece of cake or a candy bar. Wish I could figure out a lower carb way to make that steamed bread...

[laudadio]

I know exactly what you all mean. I grew up in Brooklyn and loved the loaf I could buy and put cream cheese on. I did buy the canned product from Vermont Stores. OK in a pinch when I have to have it but of course it does not compare with the fresh, store, loaf in cellophane we used to buy. If anyone finds a site that you can order a fresh product, ??

[coll]

I found out last year that Thomas sells their date nut bread only at this time of year, I was so excited to see it but it costs close to $5 for one loaf! Anyway that's what I grew up on.

[dmazment]

Here is the original date nut bread recipe from the back of a package/box of dromedary dates. I've been making this recipe for over 40 years.

Old-Fashioned Date and Nut Bread

3/4 cup water
1/4 cup shortening
1 pkg. (8-oz.) Dromedary Chopped Dates or Dromedary Pitted Dates, snipped
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and flour a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan.

In small saucepan, bring water and shortening to a boil; pour over dates in a medium bowl. Allow mixture to stand 15 minutes.

Stir to blend. Add nuts, eggs and vanilla.

In small bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Stir into date mixture until blended. Do not overmix. Pour into pan.

Bake 65-70 minutes or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Loosen edges with spatula; turn out on wire rack to cool completely.

Makes one loaf
Source: Dromedary

[beelzebozo]

i put on ten pounds last summer eating date nut bread with nutella. that, and ina garten's pecan squares with chocolate were the chief culprits :(

i've lost it since though. BEWARE, chowhounders--those are some calorie packin' snackaroos

[scubadoo97]

I have good memories of my mom making this in a coffee can. Great combination of flavors

[VermontCountryStore]

We are glad to let you know that our canned Date Nut Bread is available at www.vermontcountrystore.com. It is in stock and is item H2548 and sells for $12.90 for a set of two cans. Hope that helps!

[ClearEye]

You can still buy large quantities of the Dromedary Date-Nut Bread mix here: http://www.foodservicedirect.com/prod...

My impression from other posters is that at least in the past this made the traditional dark, gooey loaf.

The supermarket brand that used to be sold that was similar to what the Chock Full o' Nuts coffeeshops used to serve was "Thomas'". It has been confirmed to be out of production, so, unfortunately, Googling would be a waste of time.

[coll]

I used to see it every Christmas, but since they were bought out by some big conglomerate, I'm not surprised. Well we still have our memories.

[ClearEye]

Maybe you could convince your favorite local bakery that making some up from a recipe like finewineserver's above (maybe with fewer expensive walnuts) would be good business. Or they could try the Dromedary mix. Given how many people are responding with longing, it would probably pay off. Bakeries can deal with items with a short shelf life which would cause financial loss for supermarkets.

[KA 1948]

In California in the 1950's thru 1980s Van deKamp bakery ( in grocery stores) made a delicious Date Nut Loaf in the Bakery section of the defunct Mayfair market. My mom and aunt were from the Boston area... and this was an east coast staple in our homes. it was a great snack and special breakfast with a smear of cream cheese. oh yum .. with a nice cuppa coffee or tea.

in the late 1990;s Van deKamp was bought out by Ralph's markets ( Southern CA area)
ant the Van de Kamp bakery goods line was streamlined.

About 7 yrs ago I wrote to Ralps regarding their Van de Kamp Date Nut Bread.. they informed me they no longer made it. fast forward 6 months from my contact and they
started producing a Date Nut loaf... that was noting like the dark, moist and flavorful product of the 1950s and 60's pity..

the new product is a very light/white cake version with nuts and a few dates... not at all flavorful.......

So that you who have put the recipes on this bulletin board.. the Dromedary Date package recipe.. and grandma's .. and the woman who has made the recipe for 40 years

Tomorrow I will attempt the recipe.. run down to the grocery store and ge a pack of Philly cream cheese..... and if all goes well will have a wonderful breakfast this weekend and
satisfy a long ago memory of mornings snacking on this delicacy
Regards.. Karen A. La Mesa, CA ( San Diego County )

[coll]

I love when this thread pops up from time to time, it's how I found Chowhound in the first place (2001!) My favorite home made school lunch was Thomas date nut bread with cream cheese. I tried a recipe I found once but it was not gooey like I expected: however a place upstate by my Mom's make one that's even better. So I know it's possible, just have to find the secret. Probably in the amount of dates, I think the one I tried had instant coffee for the color but that doesn't seem right. Maybe molassas, but no recipe calls for it.The one I bought upstate also had tons of big nuts in it which won major bonus points with me.

[KA 1948]

The best date-nut bread I ever had was made by the old Van de Kamp bakeries.
Unfortunately, that old chain died and sold their name to a company that doesn't make the same recipe. After many trials, I came up with the following recipe that comes very close to the original. It's heavy, moist, with a mild date flavor and a shiny, sweet gloss that forms naturally as the loaf cools. I hope you like it. (I have to admit that I haven't converted the quantities in this recipe to grams yet.)
4 oz. moist, fresh, pitted dates chopped up as fine as possible.
1 cup water
1 cup packed  dark brown sugar
4 tbsp melted butter
1 beaten egg
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp real vanilla extract
1/2 cup walnut peices
1 & 1/3 cup unbleached flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
  Combine the dates and water in a pan and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and use a hand blender to puree the mixture. Return to low heat and add the sugar and butter. Stir until the sugar melts. Remove from heat. Temper the beaten egg with some of the warm mixture, then whisk in the egg to the rest of the mixture being careful not to overheat and scramble the egg. (You may want to let the hot mixture cool 15 minutes to make sure this doesn't happen.) Add the salt and walnut pieces. Mix the flour and baking powder, then stir this into the warm mixture. Use a two-pronged fork for this and only mix until the batter is smooth. (Note: the heating routine can be skipped if a food processor is used to puree the dates and water.) Pour into a greased, 8 x 4 inch glass bread pan and bake for 50 - 60 minutes in a 325 degree (F) oven. A toothpick should come out clean when inserted into the middle of the loaf. Remove from the oven and cover immediately and tightly with aluminum foil for at least one hour before slicing. This bread is great slathered in butter while still warm.
  Covering the bottom and sides of the pan with aluminum foil, then scratching out the foil from the center of the bottom, will help prevent the sides of the loaf from burning before the inside is completely done.

[coll]

Thank you so much, I just decided I am going to make date nut bread this holiday season. Might have to try soaking the dates in Kahlua mentioned below too: That would make it festive!

[KA 1948]

www.facebook.com/search/?q=van+de+kam...

a small group on face book...."fans of Van De Kamp bakery" of Los Angelus

[KA 1948]

i found this one on anoth4er web site.. goondess there are so many people looking for the old dark moist date nut recipe... I have found two different ones that i am gonna try next weekend

remembering enjoying VandeKamps Date Nut Bread and found a recipe that I tried;
I was thrilled with how it tasted like the one I remember. Especially when I spread it with cream cheese! Yum!

3/4 cup boiling water
1 1/2 cup chopped dates (fresh)
1 T. butter
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup dark molasses
2 large eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a medium bowl, pour water over the dates and butter. Stir and let the mixture sit until lukewarm
Puree 1/3 of the mixture in a food processor or blender to make a paste,
then stir it back into the date mixture.
Add the brown sugar, molasses and eggs. Stir until everything is thoroughly combined.

In a separate large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt
Make a well in the center and pour in the date mixture. Mix until all the ingredients are combined.
Pour the batter into a greased 9x5" loaf pan.

Bake for 50 minutes; loaf is done when the top has risen and a cake tester inserted in the center will have some dates clinging to it but no batter.
Remove the bread from the oven and cool it on a rack for 10 minutes before turning it out of the pan to finish cooling.

Found this on cdkitchen
Recipe ID: 40454

MSG URL: http://www.recipelink.com/msgid/1429447

[KA 1948]

very dark/black date nut bread..

Choc n Mollasses Date nut bread

4 oz. moist, fresh, pitted dates chopped up as fine as possible.
1 cup water
2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 large eggs
1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 cup plain low-fat yogurt ? Buttermilk? Sour milk?​
1/2 cup blackstrap molasses-- ¼ cup / plus bitter 2 pieced melted swet chocolate
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup raisins (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees with a rack in the middle. Spray a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with pan spray, and line the bottom with parchment. Spray the parchment.
2. Sift together the flours, baking powder, ginger, salt and baking soda.
3.In a large bowl, beat together the eggs, brown sugar, yogurt, milk? molasses and canola oil. Whisk fold into flour mixture without beating too much, and fold in the raisins. Date slurry
4. Combine the dates and water in a pan and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and use a hand blender to puree the mixture. Return to low heat and add the sugar and butter. Stir until the sugar melts. Remove from heat. Temper the beaten egg with some of the warm mixture, then whisk in the egg to the rest of the mixture being careful not to overheat and scramble the egg. (You may want to let the hot mixture cool 15 minutes to make sure this doesn't happen.) Add the salt and walnut pieces.
Scrape all of the batter into the bread pan, and place in the oven on the middle rack. Bake 50 minutes or until a tester inserted into the middle comes out clean. Remove from the heat, and cool in the pan on a rack for 15 minutes,
Remove from the pan and allow to cool completely. Wrap tightly in plastic when cooled.
Yield: One 9 x 5-inch loaf, about 15 slices

[coll]

And I just decided this morning to make date nut bread plus some homemade pumpkin muffins for the Thanksgiving feast. With chocolate and/or Kahlua as additives, how can it come out bad? And I'll have some for breakfast the next morning too, always have plenty of cream cheese around that weekend. Thanks so much!

[SharkM]

Has anyone tried this recipe? It seems to be just what I am looking for, but I am concerned about the blackstrap molasses — that is a really strong flavor.

[rainey]

This made me nostalgic for DNG & CC too so I had to go find a recipe. This bread is supposed to be sturdy enough to spread cream cheese on. http://www.bakeorbreak.com/recipes/20...

[coll]

Soak dates in Kahlua? Sounds like a winner to me!

[rainey]

Yes, don't they sound like wonderful complements?!

[honeybea]

brown sugar, molasses, cinnamon, ginger, coffee, kahlua, chocolate, vanilla... so many versions; so many ways to try to get that dense slightly spicy dark sticky date nut bread I remember. I'm so excited! I've been checking this site for years trying find a recipe and now I can have some fun and see what I come up with... thank you everyone.

[pumpkin donut]

Happy Holidays All. What's the difference between date nut bread & brown bread (in a can such as B&M's)? Also, has anyone tried this recipe? http://blogs1.marthastewart.com/radio...
Thanks so much. I need to make a bunch for a party.

[coll]

The picture looks like date nut bread from my childhood (although ours was Thomas) but the recipe seems a little off. I just made some for Thanksgiving, I combined about 5 recipes and it came out pretty good. This recipe has many of the same components as mine, I like the idea of orange peel. I used cinnamon and ginger as extra flavoring, and soaked the dates in Kahlua too. But where's the sugar, all recipes I saw called for 1 cup of brown sugar, or a mix of that and molassas. And none called for any type of milk.

[pumpkin donut]

Thanks coll.

[coll]

I just saw there is brown sugar mentioned, but it's on the same line as the flour for some reason, easy to miss. Anyway mine is still a work in progress, but it wasn't bad considering. Definitely servable.

[pamelakrest]

I also love date nut bread smeared with cream cheese and I personally love the '' Neuman's'' brand of date nut bread. It's nice and dense and mmm so moist. You can only find it at Christmas in the stores, I get mine at Krogers in the deli area of the store. You can usually find it in loaf form or in a round larger size. I also found the link to the main factory : http://neumanbakery.net/products.php
I hope this helps
Pam

[coll]

I buy Neumanns too sometimes, my deli dept has it all year round, but it is not as gooey and dense as the old time small loaves. Better than nothing though!

[theringoone]

Ok , I have found your date nut bread, here in CA. It is made by,DU-PARS, a restaurant & Bakery in Oxnard California, since1938. Now, the reason why I know and remember date nut bread is because my mother used to by it in the 60's, and this was one of her snacks that she would prepare, and believe, me it was something to die for, and extremely simple to make. Back then it was Dromedary in a can, and I happen to own a very old one, never opened, ( see photo of one can that I still have with the key on it. Take the date nut bread and slice it into any size you like, remember these are appetizers or snacks. Take Philadelphia whipped or solid cream cheese, and pour Grenadine syrup into the cream chess and whip both ingredients until the combination is fully stirred together. Refrigerate the two for about an hour until cold, and spread it over the date nut bread, and enjoy! It is as great combination! If you look close, you can see the key mounted on top of the can in the picture of the FRONT of the can. The second picture is the back of the can with two different recipes.

[ambrose]

Yes, I know this is a really old thread but I thought the following information would be of interest to those living in the New York City region.

According to an article in the NY Times, Chock Full o'Nuts has opened an old style Chock restaurant on 23rd Street between Fifth and Sixth. They will apparently serve TWO versions of their famous nutty sandwich. One will be Neufchatel cheese and walnuts on whole wheat raisin bread while the other will be cream cheese on date nut bread. The cream cheese will be whipped, which did not exist back in the day.

The people who are operating the new restaurant are also building another in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and have the rights to develop fifty more restaurants over the next fifteen years.

[MamaRo]

As an update, I wanted to serve date nut bread and cream cheese sandwiches for a holiday party this year (12/2010) and couldn't find any premade versions in the 8 grocery stores I went to in Connecticut. I emailed Neuman Bakery Specialties, Inc., (based in Illinois) and they told me that currently Harris Teeter stores carry date nut bread, but it was also possible to order directly from them for delivery. It's too late for me for this year, but it's good to know for NEXT Christmas. Hope this helps a future date nut bread and cream cheese addict.

[ski_gpsy]

Hey! After reading this delicious memory evoking thread about the wonderful Dromedary canned Date Nut roll of my childhood, I found that Vermont Country Store, which USED to carry Dromedary Date Nut, has developed their own canned Date Nut Roll due to popular request. They offer two 8 oz cans for $13.90 plus tax and s&h.

http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/pr...

Am calling in my order first thing tomorrow! Will let you know...

[Steel1]

Don't bother. After wanting to purchase the product for Vermont CS (for several years), I finally did. Big mistake. It's awful. It's a dry as sawdust and tasteless. You can't pu8t cream cheese on it as it falls apart. It' more like spread the cream cheese on a plate and sprinkle to crumbs on to of the cream cheese. Ugh. Vermont CS refunded the purchase price. I am going to try one fo the recipes post here.

Steel Sandy

[ski_gpsy]

Okay, here's my verdict on the Vermont Country Store canned Date Nut Roll that I ordered;

I served it in bite sized pieces with whipped cream cheese as a pre-lunch nibble along with some other hors de oeuvres at a luncheon for my 87year old mother and eight of her equally elderly girlfriends. I eagerly waited for them to recognize the old bygone favorite and comment, but no one did.

While the Vermont Country Store version is perfectly acceptable and tasty in my opinion, it is not Dromedary. Dromedary was dense and moist and darkly heavy, whereas VCS is lighter, with good Date flavor, big chunks of Dates and nuts, but lacking that mysterious depth and dark moistness (maybe molasses?) that made Dromedary the amazing childhood special "treat-in-a-can".

My opinion; Had I never had the heavy, dense moist Dromedary of my youth, I would have thoroughly enjoyed the new VCS version. And I will use the other can I got from VCS (comes in a two-pack) to start a new canned Date Nut bread slathered with cream cheese tradition for my family. As Ina says "How bad can that be?".

[Heatherb]

My grandmother used to make her own date nut bread. Then she'd make little cream cheese sandwiches out of it and bring it to parties. HUGE hit.

I would say you are best off making it yourself if you can find a good recipe - I think it must be fairly easy because my grandmother was no great shakes in the kitchen. And I know it freezes very well. You can make a few loves and just pull them out as needed.

[gershwin]

https://order.store.yahoo.net/sunrise...
Email: [e-mail]
Also have Date Swirl Cookies, which I haven't had since childhood.
Can't vouch for quality yet, as I just discovered it.

[laudadio]

Guess what? I found fresh Date Nut Loafs (two sizes) at Shop Rite on Rt 3 in West Chester PA. Next to the dairy stuff like cream cheese. Could not believe it!

[ski_gpsy]

laudadio, Were the Date Nut loaves in a can? If so, do you remember who made 'em?

[theringoone]

Hi Ski! The original Date Nut Breads sold in food stores , was Dramedary. I have one canned unopened probably from the early 60's, with the attached key on top. Try this with date nut bread,
Take whipped cream cheese, and take it out of the container. Add ( to taste), Marashino Cherry sauce ( liquid), to the cream cheese. I believe you can by the syrup alone in a bottle, or you can also use the bigger bottle of whatever they use in bars for drinks . Use a fork to blend the syrup into cream cheese to taste.,....all red and sweet, just forget the name for now. That stuff on date nut bread is to die for! Have fun ski!, its great!