Date Nut Bread with Whipped Maple Butter

This Date Nut Bread is reminiscent of my grandmother's and great-grandmother's Date Bread.  This is a gluten-free version that is just as good and has a caramel-like flavour.  The sweet aroma of this bread baking in the oven will fill your whole house!

Ingredients

1 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped

1 1/4 cups dates, pitted and chopped

1 cup boiling water

2 tablespoons butter, softened

3/4 cup coconut sugar

1 egg, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup gluten-free flour blend (such as Namaste Foods - Perfect Flour Blend)

1/2 cup potato starch

1/4 cup almond flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

pinch of sea salt

1.  Preheat the oven to 350 F.  Grease 3 small loaf pans.  

2.  In a small saucepan, cook nuts, dates and water together until well blended.  Cool.

3.  In a small bowl, combine dry ingredients together. 

4.  In a large bowl, cream the butter and coconut sugar.  Stir in the egg and vanilla.  Stir in about 1/3 of the dry ingredients into the butter mixture.  Add the cooled date and nut mixture to the butter mixture.  Blend well.  Add the rest of the dry ingredients and mix until well blended.  

5.  Pour batter into prepared pans.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.  Serve warm with whipped maple butter.

6.  To make the whipped maple butter:

Whip 1/2 cup softened butter with 3 tablespoons maple syrup and a pinch of salt (with beaters or in a mixer) until it has a light and fluffy appearance.  Chill in a ramekin until ready to serve.