Food for the Gods is my very own traditional Christmas decadent treat during the Holidays. Soft, chewy yet crunchy and not overly sweet. Just simply Perfect!
It all started back home in the Philippines when I saw it on TV during the 90’s in one of the cooking shows when I was a teenager. I got curious and have been wondering why it was called Food for the Gods. Then I saw the recipe in one of the old magazines and just copied it. I did not get a chance to make it, since some of the recipes are quite pricey (walnuts & pecan) and sometimes back then it is also hard to the dates.
Until I moved to Canada (I brought my recipe collections with me, written in index cards 😊) after a few years of living here, I finally decided to give it a try. I made few adjustments according to my liking. I have adapted the recipe and modified it to my own preferred taste. Since I do not want it too sweet, but I want it soft and chewy. This means I added more dates and less on sugar, after all dates are already high in natural sugar.
This is where my yearly tradition begun after adapting the recipe. I have been making it for seven years long years now. My friends at work enjoyed this treat very much and they got used to it to the extent that they will remind me or asked me to make it. They do not even ask “what or why is it called food for the gods now”.
I hope it is not too late for you to make this recipe if you still want it for the holidays. You still got time for the New Years. Although you can make this anytime of the year.
So why did they call it “FOOD FOR THE GODS”?
To be honest, I really don’t know how the name originated. All I know is that this dish has been popular in the Philippines during the 90’s. My wild guess is that since the main ingredient is dates.
How do you make Food for the Gods?
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
Start by chopping your dates, pecan, walnut coarsely. Set it aside. We want to taste the chewiness of the dates and crunchiness of the nuts. If you want to adjust your nuts to 1/2 cup feel free to do so. No pecan available? Then use walnut or vice versa. As long as you have the main ingredient which is the dates.
Grease your pan with butter and make sure that you grease the sides as well. You can use 2 – 8×8 pan or 1 – 9×13 pan.
Mix the flour, salt and baking powder into a bowl and set aside. Reserve ¼ cup of flour.
In a small saucepan, in low heat, melt your butter then add your sugars until well incorporated. Then turn your heat off. Crack your eggs and add it one at a time, mixing it well. Add in your vanilla.
Add your reserved ¼ cup of flour to your chopped dates, walnut, and pecan. Mix it well.
Slowly add in your flour mixture to your wet ingredients. Do this gently mixing it by hand until everything is absorb.
Fold in your dates and nuts with the batter. Your batter will be very thick.
Pour the batter to your prepared pans. (I am using 2 – 8×8 pans)
Bake it for 35 to 40 minutes, until light golden brown. Try to insert a toothpick when it comes out clean then it is done.
Let it cool, then cut them into squares.
Wrapped nicely in colored cellophane wraps. I got these from the Philippines. Always made sure that I have a lot of supplies and I even brought more with me just this year when I went back home. You can also buy these at Michaels.
My Food for the Gods looks so festive and so Christmassy all the time. It is ideal as Holiday treats or gifts. Who does not want home baked goodies, especially during Christmas time? I think most of us do.
You may also enjoy some of my delicious sweet treats:
Moist Chocolate Cupcakes with Strawberry Frosting
How to make this Easy Banana & Blueberry Bread
The Bakery-Style Mixed Berry Muffins
FOOD FOR THE GODS
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 2 cups dates - chopped coarsely
- 1 cup walnuts - chopped coarsely
- 1 cup pecan - chopped coarsely
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 4 whole eggs - room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C)
- Grease your pan thoroughly and make sure to grease the side as well. ( I am using 2 - 8x8 pans or you can use1 - 9x13 pan.
- Chopped your dates, pecans and walnut coarsely. Set aside.
- Sift your flour, salt and baking powder into a bowl. Reserve 1/4 cup of flour. Set aside
- In a small saucepan, using low heat, melt your butter then add your sugars until well incorporated. Then turn your heat off. Add your eggs one at a time, mixing it well.
- Add in your vanilla
- Add your reserved ¼ cup of flour to your chopped dates, walnut, and pecan. Mix it well.
- Slowly add in your flour mixture to your wet ingredients. Do this gently mixing it by hand until everything is well incorporated.
- Fold in your dates and nuts with the batter. Your batter will be very thick.
- Pour the batter to your prepared pans. (I am using 2 – 8x8 pans)
- Bake it for 35 to 40 minutes, until light golden brown. Try to insert a toothpick when it comes out clean then it is done.
- Let it cool, then cut them into squares.
Notes
Enjoy your meal & Thank you for stopping by 🙂
