Preheat the oven to 180°C and grease a loaf tin or line with baking paper.
Place the chopped dates, boiling water, bicarbonate of soda, and butter in a bowl. Stir and let it sit for 10 minutes to soften the dates.
Stir in the honey (or syrup) and beaten egg.
In another bowl, mix the flour, oats, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
Combine the wet and dry ingredients until just mixed — don’t overmix.
Fold in the chopped nuts if using.
Pour into the prepared loaf tin and bake for 45–50 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Cool in the tin for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.