Beer Can Date Bread

Ingredients

• 8 empty beer cans
• 2 tablespoons baking soda
• 1 cup dates
• 2 cups beer
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 4 cups whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 cup pecans

Instructions

1. Remove tops from beer cans with can opener; lightly oil insides.
2. Sprinkle baking soda on dates. Heat beer to boiling and pour over date mixture; set aside to cool.
3. Cream butter, maple syrup, vanilla extract and eggs. Stir in flour. Add nuts and cooled date mixture. Spoon batter into cans, filling only 1/2 full.
4. Bake with cans standing up on cookie sheet, at 350 degrees F for 15 to 30 minutes; look for tops to split and test for doneness.
5. Do not cut bread for 1 day as the bread may crumble if it is sliced while still warm.