This Gluten-Free Date Nut Bread is moist and perfectly sweet. Serve this yummy bread at tea-time or as a satisfying dessert. This quick bread is also great for holiday parties or as an edible gift.

a slice of date nut bread

If you love quick-breads like banana bread or zucchini bread then you will love this date nut bread! Dates are sweet, sticky, and rich and taste more like candy than fruit.

Tasty walnuts and sticky dates get stirred into a sweet batter for an undeniably delicious gluten-free date bread.

Just be sure to make it when you have some friends over lest you eat the entire loaf. It’s just that good. It makes a wonderful Christmas gift, but I enjoy this recipe year-round.

Contents hide
1 Why You Need This Recipe
2 Key Ingredients
3 Recipe Steps
4 Recipe Tips & Substitutions
5 Recipe FAQs
6 Don’t Miss These Gluten-Free Bread Recipes!
7 Gluten-Free Date Nut Bread

Why You Need This Recipe

  • You can’t even tell this moist, delicious loaf is gluten-free!
  • Quick-breads are easy to freeze. You can slice it up and freeze it or freeze the whole loaf for later.
  • Although I can’t resist a gluten-free date cake any time of year, it’s perfect for holiday gatherings.

Key Ingredients

ingredients for gluten-free date cake

Gluten-free baking flour – Not all gluten-free baking flours are created equal. Some taste much better than others, which is why I recommend Bob’s Red Mill’s 1:1 All-Purpose Gluten-Free Flour. It has a delicious taste and texture. It’s best to use a gluten-free flour that contains xanthan gum since it’s necessary for binding.

Brown sugar – Brown sugar sweetens up the batter, but you can use coconut sugar in its place for a healthier alternative.

Baking powder – Baking powder is a mixture of baking soda, cream of tartar, and sometimes cornstarch. The baking soda reacts with the acid (cream of tartar) and creates tiny air bubbles to cause the batter to rise. 

Cinnamon – Who can resist cinnamon? It’s warmth and flavor make any quick-bread delicious!

Dates – Dates are a sweet fruit with a caramel-like flavor that are dried. They’re natural sweetness makes them perfect for baked goods and treats. I usually find them in the produce area with other dried fruit and snacks.

Walnuts – If you don’t like walnuts, you can leave them out. Or you can use pecans instead.

Eggs – Eggs are essential for binding. If you want to make this a vegan date nut bread, you can try chia eggs. I haven’t tested it with chia eggs yet so let us know in the comments if you do!

Applesauce – Applesauce adds moisture and natural sweetness.

Plant milk – I used unsweetened almond milk, but you can use any plant milk you prefer. Just be sure it’s unsweetened since the brown sugar will make the batter plenty sweet.

Coconut oil – Coconut oil acts similarly to butter or canola oil in baked goods. It keeps the bread moist and tender.

Recipe Steps

how to make gluten-free date cake

Step One

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

As always, please do see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.

Step Two

In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients then add the chopped dates and walnuts. Stir with a spatula and set aside.

Step Three

In a small bowl, combine the wet ingredients and whisk until smooth.

Step Four

Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Add the melted coconut oil and stir until a batter forms.

Pour the batter into the greased baking dish and bake for one hour or until the bread turns golden brown. Remove the bread from the pan and place on a cooling rack.

Enjoy warm! Refrigerate any leftovers for up to 7 days.

a loaf of gluten-free date bread

Recipe Tips & Substitutions

  • The applesauce helps reduce the amount of oil needed in this recipe. If you don’t want to use applesauce, you can leave it out and increase the amount of oil to ½ cup.
  • You can double or even triple this recipe if you want to make several loaves at one time.
  • To freeze the bread, bake it and let it cool completely. Wrap it in plastic wrap and place in a ziptop bag in the freezer for up to 2 months. Defrost in the refrigerator.

Recipe FAQs

Can I freeze this gluten-free date and walnut loaf?

Yes! Gluten-free quick-breads freeze well. Wait until it’s completely cool, wrap it in saran wrap, and place in a large zip-top bag or freezer-safe container. Alternatively, you can cut it into slices first then carefully place them into a freezer-safe bag. This works perfect if you plan to eat one slice at a time. Use within 3 months for the best taste and texture.

Can I use pecans instead of walnuts?

Yes! Pecans work great too!

Are dates healthy?

Dates are packed full of nutrients. They’re high in fiber and disease-fighting antioxidants. They’re naturally very sweet which makes them a great way to sweeten breads, bars, and treats. That being said they are still high in sugar which means they should be consumed in moderation and as part of a healthy diet.

two slices of date walnut bread

Don’t Miss These Gluten-Free Bread Recipes!

Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Cornbread Recipe

Gluten-Free Zucchini Bread

Dairy-Free Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips

Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Bread

I hope you make this recipe! If you do, please leave a comment and a starred review below.

And, consider following me on social media so we can stay connected. I’m on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!

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a slice of date nut bread

Gluten-Free Date Nut Bread

★★★★★

5 from 7 reviews
Print Recipe

This Gluten-Free Date Nut Bread is moist and perfectly sweet. Serve this dessert bread at tea-time or as a satisfying dessert. This bread is also great for holiday parties or as an edible gift.

  • Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 cup gluten-free baking flour (I used Bob’s 1-to-1 Gluten-Free Baking Flour)
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar or coconut sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup pitted and chopped Medjool dates (about 5 large dates)
  • 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts or sunflower seeds
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten (vegans can substitute with two chia eggs)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk or your favorite plant milk
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Spray a 1.5-quart loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and ground cinnamon. Use a whisk to stir together. Then, add the chopped dates and walnuts and use a spatula to stir together. Set the bowl aside
  3. In a small bowl, combine the eggs, vanilla extract, applesauce, and almond milk. Whisk together until smooth.
  4. Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Add the melted coconut oil and stir to combine.
  5. Pour the batter into the baking dish and place in the oven for one hour, or until the bread turns golden brown. Remove the bread carefully from the dish and place onto a cooling rack.
  6. Serve warm or at room temperature. Refrigerate any leftovers and serve within 7 days.

Equipment

Notes

  1. The applesauce helps reduce the amount of oil needed in this recipe. If you don’t want to use applesauce, you can leave it out and increase the amount of oil to ½ cup.
  2. You can double or even triple this recipe if you want to make several loaves at one time.
  3. To freeze the bread, bake it and let it cool completely. Wrap it in plastic wrap and place in a ziptop bag in the freezer for up to 2 months. Defrost in the refrigerator.

Keywords: gluten free date cake, gluten free walnut loaf, gluten free date and walnut loaf

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