Here is a great recipe that I found and have tried…last week actually. My husband just loved it - and I loved it too and I do not normally like coffee cake. I got this recipe from All Recipes which is a great site where you can get many great recipes. It is an easy recipe too…great for the holidays. I will be making this for my holiday get togethers. Hopefully it will be liked by all!
1 cup chopped pitted dates
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup strong brewed coffee
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped pecans

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8×4 inch loaf pan, and line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.
Place the dates in a small bowl, and sprinkle the baking soda over. Heat coffee to boiling, and pour over the dates and soda. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, mix together the butter, sugar and egg until well blended. Stir in vanilla. Blend in the flour and salt, then fold in the pecans and date mixture. Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan.
Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until the top of the loaf springs back when lightly touched. Let stand for 5 minutes before removing from pan. Peel off paper, and allow to cool on a wire rack.