Walnut Date Spread Recipes

DATE-AND-WALNUT BARS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 325, and line a 13-by-18-inch sheet pan with parchment paper. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl until well mixed and no lumps remain. Tip about 1/2 cup of the flour mixture into a medium bowl; add the dates, and toss well to coat, breaking up the dates as you go. Set aside.
• In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter with both sugars just until smoothly incorporated, about 2 minutes on medium speed. Add the eggs in 3 batches, mixing well each time and scraping down the sides of the bowl and the paddle between additions.
• Add the flour mixture and date mixture, and mix gently on low just until incorporated. Remove the bowl from the mixer, and use a spatula to fold in the walnuts. Transfer the mixture to the parchment-lined sheet pan, and use an offset spatula to spread it in an even layer, pushing it into the edges and corners and smoothing the surface. Bake until brown and set, about 45 minutes.
• Cool completely in the pan, then remove and cut into squares. Serve right away, or store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

WALNUT-PEPPER SPREAD

Steps:

• Pulse the toasted walnuts, olive oil, walnut oil, lemon juice, honey, salt and red pepper flakes in a food processor. Transfer to a bowl; mix in the roasted red pepper and parsley.

WALNUT DATE SPREAD

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine dates and nuts; cover and process until finely chopped. While processor is running, add orange juice until blended.

WALNUT DATE BALLS

Steps:

• Process walnuts, dates, coconut, sesame oil, sea salt, and vanilla extract together in a food processor until combined. Roll date mixture into bite-size balls; refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.

DATE AND WALNUT SPREAD

Steps:

• In a small bowl beat together the neufchatel cheese, powdered sugar and spices.
• In a food processor finely chop the walnuts. Add chopped nuts to cream cheese mixture then finely chop the dates. Add in dates and stir with a rubber spatula until blended.
• Place mixture into a custard cup, cover and refrigerator until chilled. Serve with bagels and quick breads for a delicious treat.

DATE-AND-WALNUT SANDWICH COOKIES

Steps:

• Combine dates, water, and cinnamon in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently, until dates break down to a soft paste, about 3 minutes. Let cool slightly in pan, then stir in walnuts.
• Divide date mixture among 4 cookies. Top each with another cookie, and dust with confectioners' sugar if using. Serve immediately.

WALNUT DATE BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the dates, water and butter; let stand for 5 minutes. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, walnuts, baking soda and salt. In a small bowl, combine the eggs, vanilla and date mixture. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. , Pour into two greased 8x4-in. loaf pans. Bake at 375° for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cover loosely with foil if top browns to quickly. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

DATE & WALNUT LOAF

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter a 2lb loaf tin (ours was 22 x 10cm and 6cm deep) and line with baking parchment. Put the butter, dates and bicarbonate of soda (which helps break down the dates) in a large bowl and add 150ml boiling water. Give it a stir so the butter melts, and leave to stand for around 20 mins until the dates have softened.
• Whisk in the sugar until smooth, then gradually whisk in the eggs until combined. Beat in the baking powder, flour and a pinch of sea salt until there are no lumps of flour left and it's smooth. Fold in three-quarters of the walnuts, then pour into the prepared tin. Sprinkle the remaining walnuts over the top.
• Bake for 20 mins, then turn the oven down to 170C/150C fan/gas 3 and cook for another 45-50 mins until golden brown and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave the cake to cool in the tin for 15 mins, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. Lightly dust with the icing sugar and serve in slices. Freeze whole or cut into slices, then place in an airtight container or divide between reusable freezer bags. Can be frozen for up to three months. Defrost thoroughly overnight.

DATE AND WALNUT COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line one or more baking sheets with parchment. Place flour in a bowl and whisk in the salt, cinnamon and cloves. Set aside.
• Cream butter and brown sugar together by hand or in an electric mixer. Beat in eggs. The mixture will not be smooth. Dissolve the baking soda in 1 tablespoon hot water and stir it in. Stir in the dates and nuts. The batter will be heavy and not easy to mix. Work in the flour mixture, about a third at a time. If your electric mixer has a dough hook, use it for working in the flour.
• Scoop heaping teaspoons of batter onto prepared baking sheet or sheets, making craggy mounds about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Space them about 1 1/2 inches apart; the cookies will not spread very much. (Alternatively, for neater cookies, you can roll the batter into balls between your palms, then lightly press them down with the back of a spoon or the tines of a fork.) Allow to sit at room temperature 30 minutes to 1 hour before baking. Depending on the size of your oven and your baking sheets, you can form the cookies ready to bake on sheets of parchment paper on your countertop, then transfer them to baking sheets in shifts.
• Bake 15 to 20 minutes, until nicely browned. Let cool, then dust with sifted confectioners' sugar. If you plan to freeze some of the cookies, do not dust them with confectioners' sugar; wait until after they thaw.

DATE-NUT SANDWICH SPREAD

Steps:

• 1. Finely chop the dates either by hand. (use a wet knife-it makes slicing easier!) Or, place coarsely chopped dates in a food processor fitted with a steel blade.
• 2. Stir together the softened cream cheese and nuts by hand or add it to the food processor (along with the spice, if using. If using a food processor, process with the PULSE on/off function. Process the mixture until everything is combined and the dates are as finely chopped as possible.
• 3. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.