1 ½cupsprepared hot coffee or espressoI make espresso with Medaglia D'Oro dried espresso
1 ½teaspoonbaking soda
1 ¾cupall-purpose flour
1teaspooncinnamon
⅛teaspoonnutmeg
¼teaspoonsalt
½cupbutter
¾cupbrown sugar
½cupgranulated sugar
1largeegg
1tablespoonvanilla
1cupwalnutstoasted and coarsely chopped
For the Coffee Glaze
2tablespoonshot water
½teaspoonsinstant espressosee link above for my favorite dried product
2cupspowdered sugar
3tablespoonsmelted butter
1teaspoonvanilla
½cupwalnutstoasted and coarsely chopped (optional)
Instructions
To Make the Date Coffee Cake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, combine the dates, hot coffee or espresso, and baking soda. Set aside.
In a small bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
Using a mixer beat the butter and sugars together.
Beat in egg and vanilla.
Strain date mixture and set dates aside. Add the liquid from the date mixture alternately with the flour mixture (about three times) to the ingredients in the bowl; ending with the liquid. Scrape bowl well and beat just til smooth.
Fold in the dates and toasted walnuts.
Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan with butter or baking spray. Cut parchment paper to fit the bottom and sides of the pan and spray the parchment.
Pour the batter into the greased and parchment paper-lined loaf pan.
Bake for 55-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
Cool for 20 minutes before removing from pan; peel off parchment and put on a wire rack to cool completely.
To Make the Coffee Glaze
Combine the hot water with the dry espresso and stir until blended.
In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, melted butter, vanilla, and espresso. If it needs to be thinner, add 1/2 tsp of hot water at a time to get desired consistency.
Drizzle the Espresso glaze over the cooled bread and scatter the chopped walnuts on top. Let cool until the glaze sets before cutting.