Moist Date Bread

Name: Moist Date Bread
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 40 min
Ingredients: 2 cups dates, pitted and coarsley chopped ((I used medjool dates; about 10 oz. pitted)); ⅓ cup orange liqueur ((I used Triple Sec)); 2 cups flour; 2 tsp baking powder; ½ tsp baking soda; 2 tsp ground cinnamon; 1 tsp ground nutmeg; ¼ tsp ground cloves; ½ tsp salt; ½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature ((1 stick)); ¾ cup brown sugar, packed; 1 egg; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1 Tbsp orange zest ((from 1-2 oranges)); ¾ cup freshly squeezed orange juice ((from 2-3 oranges)); raw sugar, for sprinkling ((optional))