Date-Nut Pinwheels
Pinwheel cookies with dates and walnuts are a family treasure. There are a few steps when prepping, so I sometimes freeze the dough and bake later. —Frieda Whiteley, Lisbon, Connecticut
Raisin Date Bread Pudding
All my leftover bread ends (raisin bread is a favorite in this house) and buns go in the freezer. Then, when I've stashed away enough, I whip up a batch of this pudding. It's an all-occasion dish—I've made it for holidays, potlucks, picnics...for any occasion or no occasion! —Dawn Green, Hopkins, Michigan
Date Pudding Cobbler
There were eight children in my family when I was a girl, and all of us enjoyed this cobbler. I now serve it for everyday and special occasions alike. —Carolyn Miller, Guys Mills, Pennsylvania
Fruit 'n' Spice Rounds
While I was looking for a way to use up an abundance of dates, I came across this recipe. Made with raisins, walnuts and a delectable lemon glaze, these quickly became a family favorite. —Allison Bell, Helena, Montana
Sticky Toffee Rice Pudding with Caramel Cream
The once homely rice pudding gets the Cinderella treatment in this comforting dessert that delivers on the sticky toffee flavor. It has just the right amount of thickness for soaking up a hot caramel topping. —Janice Elder, Charlotte, North Carolina
Poteca Cake
Rock Springs is home to 56 nationalities, and this recipe showcases its Slavic heritage. It’s one of my favorite ethnic holiday treats. —Rachelle Stratton, Rock Springs, Wyoming
Gluten-Free Sugarplums
Lots of moist, fruity flavor and nutty crunch give these sweet/spicy bites a kind of gumdrop richness. They make a delicious addition to cookie trays. Sneak one early—they’ll be gone before you can lick the sugar off your fingers! —Corleen Heidgerken, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Festive Cranberry Cake
Each fall here in Alaska, an abundant crop of wild cranberries is ripe for cooking. This cake, a favorite in my family, makes good use of the harvest. What's more, since you can prepare it the night before your Thanksgiving celebration, this recipe is a real time-saver at a hectic time of year. —Gladys Wilson, Anchorage, Alaska
Date-Filled Rugelach
Taking old recipes and making them my own is how these cookies came about. They’re so special to my family. Sometimes I roll the dough in cinnamon sugar instead of flour. —Barb Estabrook, Appleton, WI
Finnish Pinwheels
When my sister was hosting an exchange student from Finland, she served these cookies I'd made to her guest. The young lady instantly recognized what they were. So I know they're still being made in our ancestors' country! —Ilona Barron, Ontonagon, Michigan
Steamed Carrot Pudding
This recipe has been in my family for at least three generations, passed down from my Canadian grandmother. It's been a favorite wintertime dessert for us and always included for Easter dinner and other holiday meals. —Ann Searcey, Kettering, Ohio
Candied Fruit Cookies
These no-fuss candied fruit cookies are both nutty and fruity, so they're always a hit at holiday time. —Florence Monson, Denver, Colorado
Walnut-Date Pumpkin Pie
I'm forever looking for a little something extra to add to a favorite recipe. In this case, crunchy walnuts and chewy dates take traditional pumpkin pie to a new level. —Edna Hoffman, Hebron, Indiana
Honey-Date Pumpkin Cookies
Just in time for harvest, here are some delicious drop cookies, plump with dates, pumpkins and nuts. The old-fashioned cream cheese frosting will remind you of Grandma’s kitchen.—Eunice Stoen, Decorah, IA
Cuccidati
The compliments are well worth making these Sicilian cookies—they're the best recipe I've found! —Carolyn Fafinski, Dunkirk, New York
Pumpkin Fruitcake
I make this fruity cake many times between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The dense cake has wonderful pumpkin flavor and is flecked with pecans, dates, raisins and cherries. —Janet Hradsky, Three Rivers, Michigan
Date-Filled Sandwich Cookies
Of all the cookies I've baked over the years, these have remained one of my all-time favorite. The dough is very easy to work with, and the result is eye-catching. —Debbie Rode, Oxbow, Saskatchewan
Date Pecan Tea Bread
Packed with dates and pecans, this sweet bread is excellent on its own and even better topped with the chunky cream cheese spread. We enjoy it during the holiday season, but also for after-school and late-night snacks. —Carole Resnick, Cleveland, Ohio
Date-Walnut Pinwheels
Every time someone drops in for coffee, I bake up a batch of these fruit and nut pastries—I always keep the ingredients in my pantry. The recipe's a cinch to double, too, so it's good for parties and potlucks. —Lori McLain, Denton, Texas
Spiced Rum Fruitcake
This fruitcake not only can be made weeks ahead, it tastes better that way! You can substitute Brazil nuts, pecans and hazelnuts for the walnuts—or use a combination of nuts. —Jason Boor, Manchester, New York
Fruitcake Pie
This recipe came from a friend who knows how much we love fruitcake. The pie has similar flavors, but it’s more manageable to make than a large batch of fruitcake. I usually serve it with whipped cream. It’s excellent with ice cream, too. —Doris Heath, Franklin, North Carolina
Cherry Kisses
Cookies that melt in your mouth and are practically fat-free—is it any wonder these crispy meringue morsels disappear as fast as I can whip them up? Friends and family love them. —Jo Ann Blomquest, Freeport, Illinois
Frosted Spice Cookies
This recipe has been handed down through many generations of my husband's family. The cookies were always in his grandmother's cookie jar when he'd visit. Today, he enjoys them more than ever—and so I do. —Debbie Hurlbert, Howard, Ohio
Candied Fruitcake Squares
I'm not big on citrussy fruitcake, so when I found this version decades ago, I knew I'd found "my" recipe. We're all nutty for it. —Nancy Johnson, Laverne, Oklahoma
Fruit 'n' Nut Cookies
Once after making a fruit cake, I had some fruit and nuts left over. I mixed them into a basic cookie dough along with pineapple and coconut. These soft, colorful cookies are a nice addition to a Christmas dessert tray. —Jennie Loftus, Gasport, New York
Carrot Fruitcake
Even those who don't care for fruitcake love this special holiday dessert. It's a fun way to "dress up" that old favorite, carrot cake. Try it—your friends and family will agree. —Ann Parden, Chunchula, Alabama
Fruit-Filled Spritz Cookies
From the first time I baked these cookies, they've been a lip-smacking success. Old-fashioned and attractive, they make a perfect holiday pastry. I'm the grandmother of six and stay active with a German folk dance group. —Ingeborg Keith, Newark, Delaware
Winter Fruit Macaroons
Coconut macaroons with sweetened condensed milk instead of egg whites are my version of a recipe my mom loved. All you do is mix, drop and bake. —Veronica Miller, Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
Bacon Date Bread
There is a standing joke among friends that when I'm asked to bring a dish to a party, it always contains bacon. My partner loves bacon-wrapped dates and my grandmother got me hooked on date-nut bread, so I made a sweet and salty combination of these recipes.—Terrie Gammon, Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Cranberry Date Bars
I first discovered this recipe at Christmas a couple years ago, but it’s a great way to use frozen cranberries throughout the year. I help out at the elementary school our three sons attend and am active at our church. It seems I’m always baking a batch of these moist bars for some event. —Bonnie Nieter, Warsaw, Indiana
Tiny Tim's Plum Pudding
In "A Christmas Carol," everyone claps for plum pudding. Our family has made this pudding our own tradition, and it really is something to clap for. —Ruthanne Karel, Hudsonville, Michigan
Chunky Breakfast Cookies
Who says cookies aren’t for breakfast? We devour these hearty oatmeal cookies, especially on the run. Add the dried fruits and nuts you have on hand. —Lea Langhoff, Round Lake, IL
Pumpkin Swirl Bread
This combination of pumpkin, nuts and dates makes a delicious, golden bread. The surprise inside—a rich creamy swirl—is like a luscious layer of cheesecake in each slice. —Cindy May, Troy, Michigan
Spiced Fruit Crisp
When it comes to a heartwarming treat on a chilly winter's day, this home-style crisp is hard to beat. The gingersnap-crumb topping nicely accents the apples, pears, raisins and dates. —Pat Habiger, Spearville, Kansas
Fruitcake Christmas Cookies
As holiday gifts, these rich fruit-and nut-filled cookies are pretty and practical. These are great make ahead Christmas cookies —the taste actually gets better over time! —Julia Funkhouser, Carson, Iowa
Date Oatmeal Bars
In no time at all, you can treat your family to these bars. They’ll never suspect how light the snacks are. —Helen Cluts, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Crumb-Topped Date Bars
The basic dough doubles as a shortbread-like crust and crumbly topping for these sweet date bars. —Gloria McBride, Payson, Utah
Lebkuchen
It's tradition for my family to make these German treats together. The recipe came from my great-grandmother's cookbook, and judging from the amount of requests I get, it has certainly stood the test of time.—Esther Kempker, Jefferson City, Missouri
The post 38 Delicious Ways to Start Baking with Dates appeared first on Taste of Home.
Christina Herbst