Date Nut Candy Recipes

GREAT-GRANDMA CATHY'S DATE LOAF CANDY

Steps:

• Stir sugar, milk, and butter together in a saucepan; bring to a boil without stirring once the boiling begins. Heat until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a rigid ball or until the mixture reaches 250 degrees F (120 degrees C), about 20 minutes. Immediately remove saucepan from heat and stir dates, pecans, and vanilla into the milk mixture.
• Thoroughly wet a piece of cheesecloth and lay out onto a flat work surface. Pour the candy mixture into the middle of the cloth and roll the cloth around it to shape into a log.
• Refrigerate until hard, 8 hours to overnight. Remove log from cloth and slice.

DATE-NUT BALLS

Steps:

• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir dates and white sugar in the melted butter until thick and golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and stir in crispy rice cereal and pecans. Let mixture cool until easily handled, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Form mixture into small balls using your hands.
• Pour confectioners' sugar into a resealable bag; add date-nut balls and lightly shake bag until balls are coated.

DATE LOAF CANDIES

Steps:

• In a medium sauce pan, mix sugar, dates, butter and milk.
• Cook for 10 - 15 minutes.
• Remove from heat and add walnuts, and vanilla.
• Beat until it thickens.
• Pour onto a cleaned dish towel (NOT TERRY CLOTH). Make sure the towel is wet but not soaking wet--little over damp. Roll it lengthwise and put into fridge until it has completely cooled.
• Unroll the wrap and slice.

DATE NUT CANDY

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Shape into 3/4-in. balls; place on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until firm. , In a microwave, melt candy coating; stir until smooth. Dip balls in coating and place on waxed paper to harden.

DATE NUT ROLL

Steps:

• Mix the sugar and vanilla in a medium saucepan on medium heat.
• Boil gently until mixture reaches 240 degrees.
• Take off the heat, and add rest of ingredients, stir well.
• The mixture will thicken as it cools.
• Pour onto dampened cloth or waxed paper forming a log.
• Allow to cool or refrigerate.
• If desired, coat with chopped nuts or powdered sugar and slice.

DATE AND WALNUT BUNDT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, then both coat inside of a 12-cup Bundt pan with cooking spray & sprinkle with flour.
• FOR THE CAKE ~ Combine dates & water in medium bowl, then stir in baking soda.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder & selt.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat together butter & brown sugar until smooth, about 3 minutes.
• Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Beat in vanilla & orange zest.
• At low speed, beat in flour mixture until just combined.
• Stir in walnuts & dates (with the liquid included).
• Spread into prepared Bundt pan & bake 45-55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool on wire rack 10 minutes.
• FOR THE SAUCE ~ Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, bring cream & 1 1/2 cups of brown sugar to a boil, then reduce heat & simmer 5 minutes.
• Set aside & reserve 1 cup of sauce to brush over cake, then continue simmering remaining sauce for 10 more minutes to thicken.
• Stir in orange zest.
• After cooling for 10 minutes, invert cake onto wire rack.
• Poke holes all over with either a toothpick or a larger pick (I use a meat themometer!).
• Brush reserved cup of sauce over top of cake, then cool at least 45 minutes. [NOTE: Cake can be made up to 3 days ahead ~ Just cover & store at room temperature, while refrigerating the sauce.].
• When ready to serve, warm the sauce & enjoy!

CHRISTMAS DATE NUT CANDY

Steps:

• 1. Bring Sugar, Butter and Milk to rolling/bubbling boil.
• 2. Add dates, crushing against sides of pan (Tough!)
• 3. Cook to Soft Ball stage. (Drop tiny bit in glass of cold water. When forms a soft ball - NOT hard - Remove from heat and BEAT until thick and pour-able.
• 4. Work fast here. Pour a long roll onto wet towel near long side, leaving space at each end. Fold ends in, and roll to other side. Put each roll in freezer
• 5. Slice frozen (or close to it), and serve.