3:00 pm Apple Date-Nut Cake

Some people are famous for their chocolate chip cookies, I am famous for my date-nut bread.

Most people know that when you stop by my house for coffee at 3 pm, there is usually a loaf of date-nut bread on the counter, I make one weekly in the cooler months. I have even gotten Marie from Proud Italian Cook addicted!

I love dates, probably better than dried figs (shhhh, don't tell the figs).
My favorite are Deglet Noir from Tunisia.

I have found the best ones are at Costco, called Made in Nature (you can also order them on amazon grocery), and contain no sulfur dioxide, as do most dried fruits. They are absolutely the best, and the big bag is great for snacking and baking.
I can't live without them.

Here, I threw in an apple and it changed the loaf into more of an apple cake.

This is a healthy cake, it only uses 1/4 cup of olive oil, so go ahead and have another slice.

Apple Date-Nut Cake:

~ 1 cup pitted dates, chopped (I love Medjool or Deglet Noir dates)
~ 3/4 cup of chopped walnuts
~ 3/4 cup of boiling water
~ 1/4 cup of olive oil + 2 tbsp
~ zest of an orange
~ 1 apple of your choice, cut into chunks

~ 1 cup sugar
~ 2 eggs
~ tsp vanilla
~ 1 1/2 cup of flour
~ 1 1/2 tsp of baking soda
~ 1/2 tsp salt

Pour boiling water and oil over dates and walnuts in a bowl and let stand for 15 minutes. To this mixture add the rest of the ingredients, adding in the apple last.

Pour into a greased and floured loaf pan.

Bake 45-55 minutes at 350F degrees.

Let cool before releasing from pan.

This is also a great freezer cake.

3:00 never looked so good.