When I first started using my super blender, the first thing I made was a honey and date loaf. I was looking for an alternative to cake and a substitute for fruit bread.
As per all things that I tend to do, I started with a basic recipe and tweaked it to suit my needs. The result is pretty good I think - and with how fast it disappears in my house, I don't think I am alone.
So I thought I would share this favourite with you :-)
Gluten Free Honey and Date Loaf
Ingredients
- 3 cups almond meal - this almond meal is from the almond milk so it still has moisture content.
- 3 cups buckwheat flour
- 4 tablespoons chia seed – soaked in 1/2 cup of water for about 15 mins - if using dry almond meal, you may need to add more water
- ¾ cup sunflower seeds (optional) or organic sunflower seeds
- ½ cup pepita seeds (optional)
- ½ cup pine nuts (optional)
- 3 big handfuls of dates or organic dates
- 1 handful of cranberries (optional) or organic cranberries
- 1 handful of crystallised ginger (optional – you can add more or less to taste)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 3 teaspoons GF baking powder (optional)
- 3 eggs
- ¼ cup coconut oil (or your oil of choice)
- Water – this varies depending on the dryness of the almond meal. I don’t use a lot as the almond meal is straight from making milk and therefore is still quite wet.
Method
- Preheat oven to 160 degrees
- Grease paper and spray containers you wish to use.
- This loaf will not rise a great deal so a baking dish is fine
- Mix almond meal, buckwheat, eggs, chia mix, baking powder and honey in bowl
- Toast off seeds – to whatever toastiness you desire. I do in frypan with oil until you get that nice toasted seed smell
- Blend up seeds, dates and cranberries until mushy – I use a Thermochef – but any good blender should work
- Mix in with flour blend – this is where the amount of water is determined. You want it to be well mixed but not too wet. I tip it all out on the bench and knead it together. Do not let it get too wet or it won’t cook properly. But obviously too dry and it will be yuk!
- Pour into container, bake in over for about 45 – 55 mins. Check at 45 and if knife goes in and comes out clean it’s cooked.
Personally - I don’t use a recipe, I just make it up as I go, so I am going off memory here. So I hope it makes sense. :-)
NB: all ingredients, except the eggs and your everyday honey, are available from earthyliving.com.au