½cuphoney (I like my breads only lightly sweet so I add only ½ cup but add ¾ cup if like a real sweet bread)
1eggegg beaten
1teaspoonvanilla
1teaspoonfive spice powder
1teaspooncinnamon (optional)
1teaspoonbaking soda
½teaspoonsalt
1.5cupsflour all purpose
1cupChinese red dates (also known as jujubes, hong zao)soaked, chopped and deseeded (can exchange with regular dates, raisins or even dried cranberries)
Place your dates in a bowl and cover with hot water and allow to soak for about ½ hour or until softened. Drain the dates and set aside. (If your dates are super fresh and moist you can skip this step of soaking but mine little a help)
Mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg, vanilla, five spiced powder and cinnamon. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Add the flour and mix. Add and stir in the drained Chinese Dates (Jujubes/ Hong Zao). Pour mixture into a buttered 8x4 inch loaf pan. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake for 1 hour. Cool on a rack.
Remove Chinese Hong Zao Bread from loaf pan, slice and serve with delightful cup of your favorite tea/coffee.
Notes
Hong Zao Bread can be refrigerated for up to 3 days in a sealed container or can be frozen up to 2 months.