Recipe: Orange, Pistachio & Date Bread

Orange, Pistachio & Date Bread

Rich in the flavors of the Middle East—dates, nuts and citrus—a small slice of this moist, dense loaf adds a semi-sweet counterpart to a savory meal, like turkey and dressing. This bread also makes a warmly satisfying holiday breakfast, toasted and served with cream cheese.

Yield: one 9x5-inch loaf.

Ingredients:

1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup milk
1/3 cup orange juice
Grated zest of 1 orange
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup chopped pitted dates
1/2 cup coarsely chopped shelled pistachios

Place a rack in the lower third of oven. Heat oven to 350F degrees. Lightly grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan.

Mix the all-purpose flour, wheat flour, baking powder and salt together in one bowl. In another bowl, mix the milk, orange juice, zest and vanilla.

Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in the eggws. Gradually beat in the flour mixture and milk mixture using low speed or by hand, alternating in 3 parts. Stop when the batter has just come together—do not overbeat. Fold in the dates and pistachios.

Pour the batter into the pan and bake about 70 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack 10 minutes. Unmold and set loaf on rack to cool completely. Can be stored well wrapped and refrigerated for 2 days before serving.

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