Seedy Date Bars

That title is kind of suggestive, right?

However, as you can see from the images, I'm not here to promote any pub of ill repute, where you can go to pick up a hot date!

These are seductive, delicious, and irresistible chewy cookie bars, made with plant butter, honey (substitute with maple syrup for a vegan treat), dates, oat flakes, coconut, brown sugar, pumpkin & chia seeds, and of course wheat flour. The raising agent is baking soda.

Oat Crunchies was an old-time favourite that Mom Lily often made when we were growing up, but it simply was Oat & Coconut Crunchies, no other trimmings added.

I had four brothers, and their friends used to come over to our home after school, not just to play rugby in the backyard, but also because Mom not only baked cookies, but also made her own bread. Thick slices of hot bread would be sliced and polished off in no time at all.
Mom always made two loaves and kept one for the family.

She was more prudent with the cookies so there would be limited left out for after-school treats.
Being the only girl, I was often spoilt with extra little treats, but that was a secret between Mom and me.

Being a stay-at-home Mom during our primary school years, money was scarce, but my Mom somehow knew how to make the most delicious meals with a pantry that was never full!

Back to today's Seedy Date Bars, here is the how-to, a very easy, and quick bake, and very moreish.
I keep on telling myself -

Just one more...

But these delicious chewy bars have seduced me, and keep on calling me:)

Seedy Date Bars

250 gram Plant Butter
150 ml Brown Sugar (the original recipe calls for 375ml, but I'm trying to cut down on sugar, so used more honey
100ml Honey OR Maple Syrup for a vegan treat
250 gram Dates, diced
10ml Baking Soda (Bicarbonate of soda)
500ml Cake Wheat Flour
5ml Salt
500ml Oat flakes
500ml Coconut
250ml Pumpkin & Chia Seeds (Sunflower Seeds are good, but I had none, any seeds or nuts in fact)

Melt plant butter, brown sugar, honey & dates and let it boil approx 2 min while stirring
Add baking soda & stir till mixture starts to bubble

Sift flour, add all remaining dry ingredients and seeds, and stir to mix well
Pour the melted ingredients over, and mix well

Press into a sprayed pan - approx 33 x 24cm

Bake at 170°C for approximately 15-20 minutes or till a light golden brown
Cut into fingers, leave to cool in pan, and store in airtight containers once cool