Recipe: How to Make Steamed Bread Using a Muffin or Quick Bread Recipes - re: Date Nut Bread in a Can, I think you are looking for a steamed bread. Look at this:

If you like quick breads -- think banana nut, cranberry nut, and date nut breads -- you'll love steamed breads. Steamed breads are moister and denser than most quick breads and are often topped with a rich sauce like a dessert -- in fact, it is more cake or pudding-like than bread-like. Many heritage cookbooks have recipes for steamed bread, but you can experiment with quick bread recipes. Most will work as well steamed as they do baked.

Tie foil with string
Raise smaller pan with stones
Simmer

"I made this recipe for guests last weekend. It worked flawlessly, and it was delicious! I'm thinking about marinating the loaf in spiced rum or some other liqueur prior to serving next time " - Megan Edwards, 8/7/05

Steamed bread is more of a method than a recipe. Here's how to do it:

1. Pick a muffin or quick bread recipe or mix that does not require the creaming together of sugar and butter or shortening. You can buy mixes in the grocery store or at Web sites like ours, The Prepared Pantry.

2. Mix the dry ingredients together. Add the liquid ingredients and stir until combined. Scrape the batter into a well-greased pan or vertical can that will fit inside a larger pan.

3. Place several inches of water in the larger pan. Place some stones or other items in the bottom of the pan to elevate the smaller pan.

4. Put heavy duty aluminum foil over the smaller pan or can. Tie a string tightly around the pan to hold the foil in place. Place the smaller pan on the stones in the larger pan and set the water to boiling.

5. Let 'er simmer. It will take about two hours to cook completely. You will have to add water to the outer pan a couple times to keep it from boiling dry. Once it is done, loosen the dessert and invert the can or pan onto a serving plate. You can serve it without a sauce but a sauce is easy and makes your bread simply decadent.