Date Nut Candy Recipes

GREAT-GRANDMA CATHY'S DATE LOAF CANDY

Steps:

• Stir sugar, milk, and butter together in a saucepan; bring to a boil without stirring once the boiling begins. Heat until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a rigid ball or until the mixture reaches 250 degrees F (120 degrees C), about 20 minutes. Immediately remove saucepan from heat and stir dates, pecans, and vanilla into the milk mixture.
• Thoroughly wet a piece of cheesecloth and lay out onto a flat work surface. Pour the candy mixture into the middle of the cloth and roll the cloth around it to shape into a log.
• Refrigerate until hard, 8 hours to overnight. Remove log from cloth and slice.

DATE NUT CANDY

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Shape into 3/4-in. balls; place on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until firm. , In a microwave, melt candy coating; stir until smooth. Dip balls in coating and place on waxed paper to harden.

DATE NUT BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350.
• Grease an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 3 inch loaf pan.
• Put the dates, walnuts, baking soda, salt and shortening in a bowl. Pour the boiling water over and stir. Let the mixture stand for 15 minutes.
• Using a fork, beat the eggs and sugar together in a bowl. Add the flours and stir; the batter will be too stiff to mix well. Add the date mixture and mix briskly until the batter is well blended. Spoon into the loaf pan and bake 40 to 50 minutes. Check the loaf often; it is done when a few moist crumbs cling to a straw inserted in the middle of the loaf. The bread will continue to bake after it is removed from the oven. Do not overbake, or the loaf will be dry.
• When the loaf is done, slide a knife around the edges of the pan and turn the loaf onto a rack to cool completely. This bread freezes well.

TEXAS DATE LOAF CANDY

Steps:

• In a heavy large saucepan combine sugar and milk. Stir over low heat, not letting it boil, until sugar is dissolved. Raise heat to medium and bring to a boil. Add chopped dates and continue to boil until it reaches the soft ball stage (238° F.). Remove from heat and stir in butter, vanilla and pecans. Cool to lukewarm. Tear off a sheet of waxed paper and have ready for rolling the candy (or do the old-Texas way of soaking a clean non-terry cloth dish towel in cold water and wring it out). Beat candy with a large spoon until mixture becomes creamy and starts to thicken like fudge. Pour mixture out on the waxed paper or damp dish towel and roll up into a long roll about 1½-inches in diameter. Allow to harden. It may be refrigerated to speed the process. Then unroll and cut into slices. Delicious!

DATE LOAF CANDIES

Steps:

• In a medium sauce pan, mix sugar, dates, butter and milk.
• Cook for 10 - 15 minutes.
• Remove from heat and add walnuts, and vanilla.
• Beat until it thickens.
• Pour onto a cleaned dish towel (NOT TERRY CLOTH). Make sure the towel is wet but not soaking wet--little over damp. Roll it lengthwise and put into fridge until it has completely cooled.
• Unroll the wrap and slice.

CHRISTMAS DATE NUT CANDY

Steps:

• 1. Bring Sugar, Butter and Milk to rolling/bubbling boil.
• 2. Add dates, crushing against sides of pan (Tough!)
• 3. Cook to Soft Ball stage. (Drop tiny bit in glass of cold water. When forms a soft ball - NOT hard - Remove from heat and BEAT until thick and pour-able.
• 4. Work fast here. Pour a long roll onto wet towel near long side, leaving space at each end. Fold ends in, and roll to other side. Put each roll in freezer
• 5. Slice frozen (or close to it), and serve.

DATE NUT ROLL

Steps:

• Mix the sugar and vanilla in a medium saucepan on medium heat.
• Boil gently until mixture reaches 240 degrees.
• Take off the heat, and add rest of ingredients, stir well.
• The mixture will thicken as it cools.
• Pour onto dampened cloth or waxed paper forming a log.
• Allow to cool or refrigerate.
• If desired, coat with chopped nuts or powdered sugar and slice.

MY GRANDMOTHER'S DATE NUT ROLL

Steps:

• 1. Chop dates. (Do not buy or use dates that are already chopped.)
• 2. Combine sugar, milk, and dates in a large saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture reaches soft ball 234 degrees.
• 3. Remove from heat. Stir in butter and nuts. Stir until candy starts to thicken. Divide candy in half, by shaping it into logs on two damp tea towels. roll and shape into 10"X2" logs. Let cool. Slice to serve.

DATE NUT BALLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine Rice Krispies and pistachios. In a large saucepan, combine butter, dates and sugar. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture is combined., Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Pour over Rice Krispies mixture; stir to coat. When cool enough to handle, press into 1-1/4-in. balls. Cool. If desired, roll in confectioner's sugar. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.