This delicious and easy to make spiced Pear, Date and Walnut Loaf is studded with sweet dates and crunchy walnuts. Enjoy a slice for breakfast, as a snack or dessert!
Place a rack in the middle section of your oven and preheat oven to 350°F.
Line a loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the longest of two opposite sides (this will make it easy to lift the loaf out). Or butter and flour the pan.
Add 1/2 cup boiled water over the chopped dates. Add baking soda and let sit 15 to 30 minutes.
Peel and core the pears, then grate them. Set aside.
In a medium sized bowl, combine and whisk together the flours, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.
In a small bowl, beat sugar, eggs, oil and vanilla extract. Add the grated pears and the dates (along with their liquid) and stir until combined. Add the wet ingredients to the dry, stir the mixture until evenly incorporated and then add the chopped walnuts and mix in.
Scrape the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for approximately 55 to 60 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.
Place pan on rack for 10 minutes to cool before lifting loaf out of pan. Serve warm or cooled. Loaf can be kept at room temperature for a few days.
Notes
Toasting the walnuts will add to the texture and the flavour of your loaf. You can toast walnuts in a 350ºF oven for about 10 minutes or until fragrant, let cool and chop coarsely.