• 12ozs/350g plain flour
• 1 tsp bread soda
• good pinch of each cinnamon, mixed spice and salt
• 2ozs/50g butter
• 5ozs /150g stoned dates, finely chopped
• 3ozs/75g dark chocolate chips (optional)
• 300ml buttermilk
• 3 Tbl honey
• 1 egg
Method:
- Heat the oven to 200C /400F/gas 6.
- Dust a flat baking tray with flour.
- Put the flour, bread soda, cinnamon, mixed spice, and salt in a large bowl, add the butter and rub it in with your fingertips, until the mix resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Add the chopped dates and chocolate, if used, then toss to coat.
- In a jug, mix the buttermilk, honey, and egg, pour this into the dry ingredients and mix until to mixture comes together into a dough. Turn out the dough on to a well-floured surface, give it just a few quick, light kneads, then transfer to the tray and use a sharp knife to cut a deep cross into the top of it.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes, until the loaf is well browned and sounds hollow when tapped underneath. Leave to cool a little before slicing and eating warm with butter and an extra drizzle of honey.
