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Great-Grandma Cathy's Date Loaf Candy
Prep
10 mins
Cook
20 mins
Servings
10
Difficulty
Easy
This beloved recipe comes straight from my great grandma Cathy's kitchen, and I've made it countless times for family gatherings. It's a wonderfully simple candy that comes together in just thirty minutes, making it perfect for when you need a homemade treat without spending hours in the kitchen. The dates provide natural sweetness and are packed with fiber, so you can feel a little better about indulging. With just basic pantry staples and a handful of chopped nuts and fruits, this creamy, fudgy confection tastes like pure nostalgia.
Ella x
Ingredients
- 22 cups white sugar
- 11 cup milk
- ¼ cup butter¼ cup butter
- 11 cup chopped dates
- 11 cup chopped pecans
- 11 teaspoon vanilla extract
Detail level
Instructions
- 1
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.
- 2
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.
- 3
Refrigerate until hard, 8 hours to overnight. Remove log from cloth and slice.
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