Blue cheese, Pecans and Dates Bread is an excellent addition to a cheese platter. It’s full of salty cheese, sweet dates and crunchy pecans – perfect to satisfy those sweet and salty cravings.
Savoury or sweet? What is your flavour of choice? I love sweets and desserts and can’t imagine not finishing a meal with some kind of sweet treat, but my snack of choice is usually savoury and salty. And my favourite flavour combination is sweet and salty together. I remember many years ago I was recovering from a failed romance and for a few days consumed mostly potato chips with dark chocolate. Not so healthy, but oh, so delicious. Couple of year ago I hosted a Chocolate themed dinner party and one of the hors d’oeuvres were chocolate dipped potato chips, along with chocolate dipped bacon and spicy chocolate popcorn.
With plethora of salted caramel and spicy chocolate and cheese and fruit recipes out there I am not sure why savoury cakes or savoury quick breads aren’t more popular. First time I made a savoury bread was a few months after my potato chips and chocolate diet. I made it for my annual holiday brunch and it was a hit. Since then it’s been a signature recipe that I make when I have people over. I wish I could make it more often, but since hubby is one of those people who actually doesn’t like salty and sweet together and I can’t (or shouldn’t) eat an entire loaf by myself, I don’t make it if I’m not entertaining.
I made a few changes to the original Blue cheese, pear and walnut cake recipe over the years. I reduced the amount of oil without compromising the texture of the bread, adjusted the amount of cheese and used many different kinds of fillings sticking to the tried and true formula: blue cheese, some kind of nuts, some kind of sweet fruit. In the summer I made this with strawberries. In the fall – apples and pears. In the winter I used cranberries (one of my favourite combinations). This particular Blue Cheese, Pecans and Dates Bread recipe uses dates.
As most of my recipes, this Blue cheese, Pecans and Dates Bread is not really complicated, just mix everything together! But it requires some prep since one cheese needs to be grated and the other one crumbled, fruit and nuts need to be chopped, flour and the rest of dry ingredients – measured. Still, it’s an easy recipe to make and you can view the video below to see that.
This Blue Cheese, Pecans and Dates Bread is an excellent addition to a cheese platter, I like eating a slice of that with a smear of warmed brie or some cream cheese. The bread is soft and full of complex flavours and textures. There’s the crunch of pecans and softness of blue cheese; chewiness of the dates and crispiness around the crust and edges. Salty cheddar, pungent blue cheese compliment the sweetness of fruit and the buttery taste of pecans. This bread is great to serve at holiday parties and would be perfect for an elegant New Year’s eve celebration.
Blue Cheese, Pecans and Dates Bread
Ingredients
- 3 large eggs
- 3 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 1/2 cup flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 2/3 cup blue cheese (crumbled)
- 1/2 cup pecans (chopped)
- 1/3 cup medjool dates (~5 large medjool dates, pitted and chopped)
- 1 cup cheddar (grated)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Butter and flour a loaf pan either 9x5 or 11x4 (or you can line it with parchment paper).
- In a large bowl whisk together the eggs, oil and milk until smooth.
- Add flour, baking powder and mix.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and mix until well incorporated.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and bake for about 50 minutes (see note) or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the bread comes out clean.
Notes
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Wendy says
I just made this and it is fantastic. I wondered about adding some other seasonings, but it didn’t need any. I had very good cheddar cheese and blue cheese, which I think made the taste extra special. Thank you so much for this recipe! I know it isn’t that healthy, but it is a wonderful bread to share with friends, serve with soup, etc. once in awhile!
Imagelicious says
Wendy – thank you so much for your comment! It made my day! I’m really glad you liked the recipe. I find that the flavours of blue cheese and nuts and dates are enough and don’t need any other seasonings. If I were to add anything else, I’d add cayenne probably and maybe a bit of thyme. But as you discovered- the bread is great without any additions of other spices. And you are right – perfect to share with friends 🙂
VeenaAzmanov says
I love making bread that does not need anything on the sides. Often I make mushroom and cheese which the kids will eat just as it.. I must try this soon Julia. I love blue cheese.
The Fit Cookie says
I’ve always been a sweets person but that chocolate dipped bacon and chocolate dipped potato chips at that dinner party actually sound pretty good! That bread sounds amazing, too, so much goodness in one bread!
Gloria Duggan says
That is one jam packed full of flavour bread. Perfect for the holiday brunches. Looks easy and sounds totally delicious.
Tina Dawson | Love is in my tummy says
Oh the flavours in this make my mouth salivate! I agree, savoury breads aren’t very popular, but I just love ’em. And blue cheese! Yumm!
Ali Randall says
This loaf looks chock full of deliciousness. What a great idea to add so much flavor to the loaf. It would be perfect added to a cheese board and perfect for the holidays when serving a crowd. Any loaf that is easy like this is my kind of recipe.
Lisa says
This sounds really fantastic! As a fan of everything in this recipe I can imagine how wonderful it must taste! I love the idea of a savory quick bread to accompany a cheese platter, or maybe as a go-along for homemade soup! Thanks for the great recipe and the inspiration!
Raia says
Wow, what a flavor combo! I’ve never tried adding blue cheese to any baked good before. Sound like a delicious addition!
Lisa Lotts says
I love a combination of flavors (salty/sweet and/or spicy) and this bread looks amazing!