Coca-Cola Fruit and Date Loaf

Source: Coke and Seven-Up cookbooks

Let cool and slice the day after baking. This recipe has been adapted from "Cooking With Coke" - a publication of the Coca Cola Company.

1 (8 ounce) package dates
1 1/4 cups Coke or other cola drink
1 cup brown sugar, packed firmly
2 tablespoons oil
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon finely minced lemon rind or zest
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla or coffee extract
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan.

Chop dates. Heat cola to boiling. Remove from heat and stir in dates, mixing very well. Stir in sugar and oil. Cool while preparing other ingredients.

Stir dry ingredients together and add to cola mixture. Stir in egg, extract and nuts. Spoon batter into pan. Bake about 1 hour until cake tests done.

Cool on a rack for 20 minutes then remove from pan and wrap. Store overnight before slicing.