The Better Baker: Date Nut Bread Dessert

My hubby's bestest buddy, Dennis, is not much of a sweet eater. I always giggle when I watch him eat a meal...he'll eat dessert, if it isn't too sweet, but he'll save something salty to eat afterwards as he doesn't want that sweet flavor left in his mouth.

WHAT? I'm just the opposite...I love that long lasting sweet flavor...

Anyway - Dennis and his dear wife Becky live in FL much of the year (always thrilled for the time we get with them when we go to FL during the winter months) and then they love to travel a few months out of the year.

A few years ago, we met up with them Amish Country...Shipshewana, Indiana,
....just over an hour from our home here in Ohio. We went to dinner at a Mennonite/Amish restaurant with a food buffet.

Dennis tasted a dessert there and was so pleased with it. I asked
the waitress if she could tell me what it was...guess what...

It was broken up date nut bread, mixed with Cool Whip!

I re-created this recipe and decided to name it after Dennis...

so I give you...Dennis's Favorite DATE NUT BREAD DESSERT...
found on page 107 in my second cookbook...
Love at First Bite
(on sale for only $10 plus S & H)

DATE NUT BREAD DESSERT

Bread: 2-1/2 c. chopped dates
1/4 c. butter
1 - 2 tsp. instant coffee
1 c. boiling water
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1 - 2 tsp. molasses
1 egg
1-1/2 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp. EACH baking soda, baking powder, salt
1 c. chopped walnuts or pecans, optional
1 (12 ozs) tub frozen whipped topping, thawed

Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour 1 - 9" loaf pan. In medium bowl, combine dates and butter. Add coffee to boiling water and pour over dates and butter. Let stand until cool.

When dates have cooled, stir mixture to break up any clumps. Mix in brown sugar, molasses and egg; combine well.

In large bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and nuts; stir into date mixture and mix just until blended. Pour into prepared pan.

Bake about 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. When bread has completely cooled, break up into a large bowl (by hand) and stir in thawed whipped topping. Refrigerate at least an hour before serving.