Date & Oat Loaf

This is a perfect autumn bake, really easy and lovely with a cup of tea. The honey brings the sweetness balanced by the spices and wholemeal flour and complexity of the dates and it is delicious.

175g dates
150ml water
200g butter
150g honey
200g wholemeal flour
2tsp mixed spice
50ml buttermilk
2 eggs
1tsp bread soda

1 loaf tin lined or well greased

Oven at 160C

Add the dates and water to the pot and bring to the boil, then simmer very gently until the dates are soft. Blend with a stick blender until it forms a paste.
Beat the butter and honey together until light, add in the eggs and buttermilk and beat well.
Fold in the flour, spice and bread soda.
Pour into a greased lined loaf tin and bake for 50 minutes until a skewer comes out clear.
Leave for a few minutes then remove to cool fully.