If you’ve ever dreamed of biting into a slice of bread that’s both hearty and comforting with just the right touch of natural sweetness and crunch, then the Irish Oat Bread with Dates and Hazelnuts Recipe is your new best friend. This recipe blends the wholesome goodness of Irish oats with luscious chopped dates and toasted hazelnuts, resulting in a loaf that’s as delightful as it is nourishing. Moist, slightly sweet, and lovingly textured, this bread makes any moment feel like a cozy Irish afternoon, whether you’re enjoying it fresh from the oven or toasted with your morning tea.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Simple, wholesome ingredients make this Irish oat bread truly special. Each one plays a key role in building flavor, texture, and that golden crust you’ll crave.
- Irish oat meal: This adds a rustic texture and hearty flavor, the backbone of our bread’s identity.
- Boiling water: Soaking oats in boiling water softens them perfectly for tender bread crumb.
- All-purpose flour: Provides structure to hold the bread nicely while keeping it soft.
- Baking powder: Helps the loaf rise for a light, airy bite.
- Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor.
- Milk: Adds moisture and richness for a tender crumb.
- Egg: Binds ingredients together and adds a little lift.
- Butter (melted): Brings richness and helps keep the bread beautifully soft.
- Honey: A natural sweetener that pairs perfectly with dates.
- Chopped dates: Provide chewy pockets of natural sweetness throughout the bread.
- Hazelnuts (roughly chopped): Add delightful crunch and nutty depth.
- Kerrygold butter (room temperature): Used for whipped butter, this brings an indulgently creamy spread.
- Whole milk (for whipped butter): Lightens the butter for a fluffy finish.
How to Make Irish Oat Bread with Dates and Hazelnuts Recipe
Step 1: Soak the Oats
Begin by placing the Irish oat meal in a large bowl, then pour boiling water over it. Let this mixture rest at room temperature for an hour or up to four hours. This soaking step is key for making the oats tender and infusing moisture right from the start, setting a soft and chewy base for the bread.
Step 2: Prepare the Dry Ingredients
While the oats soak, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Combining these dry ingredients ahead of time ensures even distribution in the mix, helping the bread to rise beautifully and have excellent texture.
Step 3: Whisk Together the Wet Ingredients
In a separate bowl, beat the egg with the milk until smooth. This mixture not only binds everything together but also lends a touch of richness and moisture needed for a tender crumb.
Step 4: Mix the Batter
To the soaked oats, add melted butter and honey, stirring until fully combined for a luscious, sweet base. Next, alternate adding the milk and egg mixture along with the flour mixture in two additions, stirring gently but thoroughly after each pour. This method keeps the batter light while ensuring everything blends perfectly.
Step 5: Fold in Dates and Hazelnuts
Gently fold the chopped dates and hazelnuts into your batter, distributing their sweetness and crunch throughout the bread. This combination lifts the loaf with subtle bursts of flavor and texture, making it a standout.
Step 6: Bake the Bread
Pour the batter into a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan and bake at 350ºF for about 1 hour and 10 minutes. This slow bake at moderate heat lets the bread cook through evenly, forming a perfect golden crust without drying out the inside.
Step 7: Cool the Bread
Once baked, carefully remove the bread from the oven and turn it out onto a wire rack. Let it cool completely for at least 30 minutes. Cooling allows the crumb to set, making slicing easier and letting the flavors develop fully.
Step 8: Make the Whipped Butter
While the bread cools, whip the Kerrygold butter with a tablespoon of whole milk using an electric mixer until light and fluffy. This airy butter spread is a perfect pairing that brings a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth finish to each slice.
How to Serve Irish Oat Bread with Dates and Hazelnuts Recipe
Garnishes
Serve this bread topped with a generous smear of the whipped butter for simple indulgence. For an extra special treat, sprinkle a few extra chopped hazelnuts or a drizzle of honey on top right before serving to enhance both texture and sweetness.
Side Dishes
This bread shines wonderfully alongside warm soups like butternut squash or Irish potato leek, where its slightly sweet, nutty character complements savory flavors. It’s also perfect with a robust cheese board or a fresh fruit salad to balance the richness.
Creative Ways to Present
For a crowd-pleaser, slice the loaf and arrange the pieces on a wooden board with bowls of whipped butter, honey, and extra chopped dates and nuts. Or toast individual slices lightly and spread with avocado and a poached egg for a delicious twist on brunch featuring the Irish Oat Bread with Dates and Hazelnuts Recipe.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep leftover bread wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or stored in an airtight container at room temperature. It will stay fresh and moist for 2-3 days, making it perfect for enjoying as snacks or breakfast the next day.
Freezing
This bread freezes beautifully. Slice the loaf first, wrap portions individually in plastic wrap, and place them in a freezer bag. Frozen slices can last for up to 3 months, ready to be thawed and enjoyed whenever you need a cozy treat.
Reheating
To bring your Irish Oat Bread with Dates and Hazelnuts Recipe back to life, toast slices lightly or warm them in the oven for a few minutes until heated through. Spread with whipped butter for a fresh-from-the-bakery experience all over again.
FAQs
Can I substitute the Irish oat meal with regular rolled oats?
While regular rolled oats can work in a pinch, Irish oat meal or steel-cut oats give the bread its authentic chewy texture and distinctive taste. They absorb liquid differently, so results may vary slightly with substitution.
Is this bread gluten-free?
This recipe uses all-purpose flour, so it is not gluten-free. However, you might experiment with gluten-free flour blends designed for baking, though texture and rise could change.
Can I use other nuts instead of hazelnuts?
Absolutely! Walnuts, pecans, or almonds can be great alternatives that offer a similar crunchy texture and rich nutty flavor. Just be sure to roughly chop them to keep the nice contrast in every bite.
How long does the soaking process for oats affect the bread?
Soaking the oats softens them to prevent chewiness from becoming tough, helping the bread stay moist and tender. You can soak from one to four hours depending on your schedule, with little difference in the final texture.
Can I make this bread dairy-free?
Yes! Replace the milk with a plant-based alternative like almond or oat milk and use a dairy-free butter substitute for both the batter and whipped topping. It will slightly change flavor, but still yields a delicious result.
Final Thoughts
There’s something truly special about homemade Irish Oat Bread with Dates and Hazelnuts Recipe—it feels like a warm hug from the inside out. I encourage you to give this recipe a try, whether you’re baking for breakfast, a snack, or to impress friends at a gathering. The combination of wholesome oats, natural sweetness from dates, and nutty crunch will have you reaching for seconds, and maybe even thirds. Enjoy every bite of this delightful homemade treat!
Print
Irish Oat Bread with Dates and Hazelnuts Recipe
- Total Time: 5 hours 20 minutes (including soaking and cooling)
- Yield: 12 servings
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Irish Oat Bread with Dates and Hazelnuts is a hearty, wholesome loaf combining the rustic flavors of Irish oats, sweet dates, and crunchy hazelnuts. Perfectly moist and subtly sweetened with honey, this bread is ideal for breakfast or as a comforting snack, especially when served warm with whipped Kerrygold butter.
Ingredients
Oat Soak
- 1 cup Irish oat meal (or use steel-cut oats)
- 1¼ cup boiling water
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- ⅔ cup milk
- 1 egg
- ⅓ cup butter (melted)
- 3 tablespoons honey
Add-ins
- 2 cups chopped dates
- ½ cup hazelnuts (roughly chopped)
Whipped Butter
- ½ cup Kerrygold butter (room temperature)
- 1 tablespoon whole milk
Instructions
- Soak the oats: Place the oats in a large bowl and pour the boiling water over them. Let the mixture stand at room temperature for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours to soften the oats fully.
- Prepare the dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir together to evenly distribute the leavening and seasoning.
- Prepare the wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg and milk until smooth and well blended.
- Preheat the oven and prepare the pan: Set your oven to 350ºF (175ºC) and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan to prevent sticking.
- Combine oats with butter and honey: Stir the melted butter and honey thoroughly into the soaked oats until well combined, creating a rich base for the bread mixture.
- Alternate mixing wet and dry ingredients: Add half of the egg and milk mixture to the oats and stir to combine. Then add half of the dry ingredients and mix well. Repeat by adding the remaining wet and dry ingredients alternately, stirring after each addition until just combined to avoid overmixing.
- Add the fruit and nuts: Gently fold the chopped dates and hazelnuts into the batter, distributing them evenly without crushing.
- Bake the oat loaf: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour and 10 minutes, until the bread is golden brown and a skewer inserted comes out clean.
- Cool the bread: Remove the loaf from the oven and transfer it onto a wire rack. Allow it to cool at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before slicing.
- Make the whipped butter: In a mixing bowl, beat the Kerrygold butter with 1 tablespoon of whole milk using an electric mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
- Serve: Slice the cooled oat bread and serve with a generous spread of the whipped butter on top. Enjoy the comforting flavors and textures!
Notes
- Soaking the oats for several hours is key to achieving a moist, tender crumb.
- Use steel-cut oats if Irish oat meal is unavailable for a similar texture.
- Ensure the melted butter is not hot when added to avoid cooking the eggs prematurely.
- Store leftover bread wrapped tightly at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for longer storage.
- The whipped butter can be flavored with honey or cinnamon for added sweetness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes active time plus 1 to 4 hours soaking
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Irish
