Mummy's Tea Bread

This is my mother's recipe, a bread she always made at Thanksgiving and Christmas to be used for tea sandwiches with a cream cheese filling. But it may also be eaten on its own like a cake. Because it is so delicious yet simple to put together, it makes a great food gift or potluck contribution. Substitute raisins for dates, if you wish.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 60 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins
• Calories: 353 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 ½ cups white sugar
• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup chopped walnuts (Optional)
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 ½ cups boiling water
• 1 ½ cups chopped pitted dates

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease and flour 9x5 inch loaf pan.

Step 2

Place the dates, sugar, salt, and butter into a bowl, and pour in the boiling water. Stir together and set aside to cool. Once cool, mix in the egg.

Step 3

Stir the flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar together in a bowl. Pour the raisin mixture over the flour mixture, and stir together until thoroughly combined. Mix in the vanilla extract and, if desired, walnuts. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.

Step 4

Bake in preheated oven until knife inserted in center comes out clean, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes before turning out onto a rack to cool completely. Wrap in aluminum foil and store in the refrigerator.