Date and Coconut Bread

👨‍🍳 Method

To assemble

1. 1
   Preheat the oven to 175°C (345°F) and grease Loaf pan.

   ⚙ Preheating the OvenOven

   💡Put things in the oven only once it's reached temperature, after the heating light has gone off: an oven that hasn't reached temperature changes baking times, and the bake burns outside or stays underbaked.
2. 2
   Chop the dates into small pieces.

   KnifeCutting board
3. 3
   Pour the hot milk over the dates and let stand 10 minutes, until softened.

   Bowl
4. 4
   Beat the eggs and sugar to a smooth batter.

   Whisk
5. 5
   Add the oil and vanilla extract and the dates with their soaking liquid and mix.
6. 6
   Sift the flour, whole wheat flour and baking powder, combine with the cinnamon, add to the wet mixture along with the coconut and Fold gently, just until no dry flour remains.

   ⚙ FoldingSilicone spatula

   💡Fold in the flour only until there are no pockets of dry flour: overmixing develops gluten, and the cake comes out dense.

   💡Fold with a spatula, in broad strokes from the bottom up, and stop when there's no dry flour: vigorous mixing of a batter with flour develops gluten.
7. 7
   Pour into the pan.

   Baking pan
8. 8
   Bake 50 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

   ⚙ BakingOvenBaking pan

   💡Check by the cue (until…), not just the clock: every oven bakes a little differently.
9. 9
   Let cool completely before slicing.