Oatmeal Date Nut Bread

This oatmeal date nut bread is a great way to start your day. It’s kind of like having a bowl of oatmeal that you slice.

This post was updated with newer photos on May 5, 2020.

About this Oatmeal Date Nut Bread

The middle of the summer might seem like an odd time to be thinking of a warm quick-bread, but we’re in the mountains right now serving as park hosts at a state park. It can get chilly overnight and our days start early. I wanted to make something that we could slice and have with our coffee before we head out the door to do our “chores”. We’ve even spread a little peanut butter on it to add some protein.

Whatever time of the year you make this oatmeal date nut bread, try to savor it – not just gobble it down before you dash out the door. But either way, this bread is there for you when you’re in a hurry or when you have the time to enjoy it with a cup of coffee or tea.

Ingredients

I already had these ingredients on hand, so when I wanted to put together a quick healthy breakfast bread, I just pulled these things out of the pantry and fridge.

• Oatmeal and all-purpose flour – dry ingredients.
• Dates – give this recipe its sweet flavor.
• Walnuts – provide flavor and texture.
• Egg – helps bind the ingredients.
• Buttermilk – adds moisture.
• Honey – adds sweetness.
• Cinnamon – my favorite spice for breakfast bread.
• Shortening – ensures that the bread is flaky, not hard.
• Baking powder and baking soda – helps the dough rise.

Did you know that walnuts provide several health benefits? I always knew they were good for you, but when I read this article I learned more about why eating walnuts is such a good thing.

Making Oatmeal Date Nut Bread

Step 1: Soak the Oatmeal in the Buttermilk

• Put the oatmeal in a large mixing bowl and add the buttermilk to it.
• Let that sit for 10 minutes to give the oatmeal time to absorb the buttermilk.

Step 2: Prepare other ingredients

Here’s what you can be doing while the oatmeal is sitting in the buttermilk:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a small mixing bowl.
• Slice the dates into pieces and either chop the walnuts into pieces or break them apart by hand. (I usually break them apart by hand.)
• Grease two loaf pans (or four small loaf pans if you want smaller loaves).

Step 3: Mix the ingredients

After the oatmeal has spent 10 minutes soaking up the buttermilk:

• Beat the egg.
• Add the egg and the honey to the oatmeal buttermilk mixture.
• Use a big spoon to combine the wet ingredients.
• Stir in the dry ingredients and mix the batter thoroughly.
• Add the melted shortening, stirring as you go, and then fold in the nuts and dates.

Step 4: Transfer to baking pans and bake

• Transfer the mixture into the loaf pans or a muffin pan.
• Bake the loaves in a 350-degree oven for about 30 minutes.

Serving Oatmeal Date Nut Bread

This oatmeal date nut bread doesn’t rise as much as some other quick-breads, so the loaves might not be as tall and puffy as you would have expected. But that’s okay; the bread is dense and very satisfying. The honey and the dates provide just the right amount of sweetness, and the walnuts add a nutty crunch to each bite.

We wanted a bread that we could slice so we made loaves, but you can use this recipe for muffins, or make little loaves instead of large ones. The picture below shows some muffins. They are just as yummy as the loaves and they’re made to travel to work or school.

If something fresh from the oven sounds good to you, try my mellow muffins, fruit nut muffins, or crunchy-top coffee cake.

Oatmeal Date Nut Bread

This oatmeal date nut bread is a great way to start your day. It’s like a bowl of oatmeal that you slice. It’s great with a cup of coffee or tea.

Print Pin Rate

Course: Breakfast

Keyword: date nut bread, oatmeal date nut bread

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 2

Author: Julia

Ingredients

1x2x3x

• 1 cup of oatmeal
• 1 cup of buttermilk
• ¼ cup of honey
• 1 egg
• ½ cup sliced dates
• ½ cup walnuts
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup of flour
• 3 teaspoons of baking powder
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ cup melted shortening

Instructions

• Put the oatmeal in a large mixing bowl and add the buttermilk to it. Let that sit for 10 minutes to give the oatmeal time to absorb the buttermilk.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a small mixing bowl.
• Slice the dates into pieces and either chop the walnuts into pieces or break them apart by hand.
• Grease two loaf pans (or four small loaf pans if you want smaller loaves).
• Beat the egg.
• Add the beaten egg and the honey to the oatmeal buttermilk mixture.
• Use a large spoon to mix the wet ingredients.
• Stir in the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.
• Add the melted shortening followed by the nuts and dates.
• Stir the batter to mix all the ingredients and transfer it into the loaf pans.
• Bake the loaves for about 30 minutes.

Notes

• A slice is about 1/2 inch thick. If you cut thicker slices, the calorie value will be higher.
• Use two eggs if you want the bread to stay together better when it’s sliced. 
• Let the bread cool before slicing.
• This recipe makes about two loaves.