Weetbix & Date Loaf is a lovely, homely bake that’s simple to prepare and perfect for everyday baking. Made with crushed Weetbix, sweet dates, and pantry staples like flour, egg, and sugar, it creates a soft, flavourful loaf with just the right amount of sweetness.
This is the kind of recipe that works beautifully for lunchboxes or a quiet moment with a cuppa. It’s reliable, easy to mix together, and keeps well, making it one to come back to again and again.
Originally published August 19, 2021. Updated April 22, 2026.
Where did this recipe come from?
Another lovely recipe handed down in the notebooks of Great Aunty Lucy. As my Mum said, this is the gift that keeps on giving. Such a blessing to have these lovely resources and to be able to keep these recipes alive here forever.
As with all of these hand-me-down recipes the origins are unknown, I have found a few similar versions online.
What makes this loaf easy to bake anytime?
The other great thing about these recipes is they use pantry basics and no fancy ingredients so if you have a good store of baking ingredients these will be lovely to make over and over again.
When can this loaf be enjoyed and can it be frozen?
This loaf is lovely, moist, rich and delicious. It would be perfect for a morning or afternoon tea, in lunch boxes or to feed hungry workers. It freezes beautifully too so you could double the recipe if you have two loaf tins and freeze one for another day.
What ingredients do I need for this loaf?
This recipe uses lovely, simple ingredients – see if you have these in your pantry today:
- Weetbix
- Dates
- White Sugar
- Butter
- Baking Soda
- Boiling Water
- Egg
- Vanilla Essence
- Self-Raising Flour
How do I use leftover Weetbix crumbs in baking?
If you are anything like us you will have leftover weetbix crumbs at the end of a packet, I keep these to use in baking. A weetbix weighs between 17 & 20 grams, so you can easily measure what you need for recipes to create the equivalent to what is needed in any given recipe.
How do I prepare and mix this loaf?
The method for this one is quite fun too, you add the bulk of the ingredients to a bowl and pour boiling water over it to soften up the ingredients for around 5 minutes.
I have added vanilla essence to my recipe as I simply love adding it in anywhere I can for extra flavour! Then add the remaining ingredients one at a time and spoon into the prepared loaf tin.
How long does this loaf take to bake and how do I know it’s ready?
Baking takes a while, between 45 minutes and an hour depending on the size of the loaf tin and your oven.
It is important that you bake until the centre is cooked and no wet batter remains when you insert a knife or skewer. This loaf will have a lovely dark golden brown appearance.
If you’re unsure how to tell when your loaf is fully baked, my simple Common Baking Mistakes and How to Fix Them guide will help you check it’s cooked through perfectly every time.
How should I store this loaf and what tin size do I need?
This recipe keeps really well in an air-tight container and freezes beautifully also.
The size of the loaf tin for this recipe is 9 x 5 inches which is approximately 22cm x 12 cm, so quite small but perfect for this recipe.
Other loaves to try
If you are a fan of loaf recipes, then check out these popular ones:
- Double Chocolate Banana Loaf
- Sultana Loaf
- Delicious Lemon Syrup Loaf
- Banana Bread
- 4 Ingredient Fruit Loaf
Which one will you make next?
Weetbix & Date Loaf Recipe
Weetbix and Date Loaf
Weetbix & Date Loaf is a soft, gently sweet loaf made with simple ingredients, perfect for an easy bake that’s reliable and ideal for everyday slicing.
Ingredients
- 4 Weetbix, 75 g approx, crushed
- ¾ Cup White Sugar, 160 g
- 45 g Butter, cubed
- 1 Cup Dates, 130 g, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 Cup Boiling Water, 250 ml
- 1 Egg, beaten
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Essence
- 1 Cup Self Raising Flour, 150 g
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease and line a 22x12cm loaf tin with 2 sheets of baking paper, leave one piece longer to create a sling over the edges for easy removal.
- In a medium bowl, combine crushed Weetbix, sugar, butter, chopped dates, and baking soda.
- Pour over boiling water and press down with a spatula to coat the ingredients. Let this stand for 5 minutes to soften, then stir well to blend.
- Beat the egg and vanilla in a small bowl, then stir into the mixture. Add self-raising flour and mix gently until just combined.
- Spoon the batter into the prepared tin and smooth the top. Bake for 45-60 minutes, checking from 45 minutes as all ovens vary. The loaf is ready when a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean and the top is golden brown.
- Cool in the tin for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container or freeze for later.
- Lovely served warm or cool with a spread of butter or jam.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Yield 12 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 213Total Fat 3gSaturated Fat 2gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 8mgSodium 161mgCarbohydrates 49gFiber 3gSugar 41gProtein 1g
JustAMumNZ.com, occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although justamumnz.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
I really hope you love this Weetbix & Date Loaf as much as we do. It’s such a simple, comforting bake to have on hand, and one I know I’ll be making again and again.
If you give this recipe a go, I’d love to hear how it turned out for you in the comments. You can also leave a ⭐ rating in the recipe card above, it really helps others find and enjoy this recipe too.
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Happy baking,
Anna x
Helen says
Hi
I use wholemeal sr flour, dark chop chips and walnuts
Also half cup maple syrup instead of sugar
Crushed walnuts and a sprinkle of raw sugar on top
Lorraine A says
Lucy, this is a winner. Thank you!
Everyone at work loves your moist date loaf recipe. It’s easy and delicious
Lorraine says
Love this! Such an old fashioned recipe and tastes just like the one we got as kids. I lost my recipe from my Nan, but this tastes exactly the same.
Everyone loves it. Thanks 😊
justamumnz says
That’s so lovely to hear
Heather says
Love this recipe. Used it as an emergency desert for visitors. Warm with a caramel sauce and scoop of icecream. Yummy. Thank you.
Anna From Just A Mum says
Delicious! I’m so pleased you like it. Anna
Caitlin Head says
I made it today! It’s in the oven and it looks great! I can’t wait to try it!
Thanks for the great recipe!
justamumnz says
Wonderful! I hope you enjoy it
Lubna says
Can I use bread crumbs instead of Weetbix ?
Yvonne says
Made this loaf yesterday….one of best I’ve tasted….going to try making into muffins next time…love your recipes…keep up the good work
Karen says
I can’t wait to try this! I would ove to know if one could add fresh fruit? Chopped apple perhaps?
I would imagine nuts would also be a wonderful addition.
justamumnz says
I would love to hear if you tried the fresh fruit, it can change the consistency and make it a little more dense as apples are quite a wet ingredient.
Joy Richards says
I think that this loaf is one of the tastiest and moist loves l have made. It keeps so well and doesn’t dry out at all. I always look forward to you recipe’s and have made quite a few. Thank you.
Desiree Dawber says
My husband hates date and wondering if I can just replace dates with sultanas or dried fruit
justamumnz says
Yes
Babz says
A delicious recipe I always make it into muffins….they freeze well too
Theresa Ritchie says
Been making this loaf for years. A favorite & use Sultanas also . I save all the weetbix crumbs & one & a half cups of crumbs is equal to 4 weetbix. I always double the recipe as freezes well, My recipe doesn’t have an egg.
Chhaya Parbhu says
Hi Theresa
Can you please share what do you use in place for egg.
Thanks
Jackie says
Made this today and it was so nice. Looking forward to making it again!
Steph McMullen says
Im gonna make this loaf & try it
Wilma Murray says
I found this in CWA cookbook and have made it twice lovely date loaf and very moresh
justamumnz says
Yes, such a lovely old recipe.
Julie Haoui says
This is a truly delicious , and easy cake to bake .
Love it ❤️
Thank you ??
Stephanie Munro says
It’s in the oven as I type. Very easy to make with the weights of the ingredients provided.