Date & Oat Bars

This is a variation on the homemade banana oat & fruit bars I posted earlier, but they are slightly nuttier tasting due to using a little more flax seeds. Easy to make, healthy, and maybe better than store bought (?!) . . .

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chopped fresh medjool dates
• 1 cup oats
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 2 Tbsp flax seeds
• 1/2 tsp apple or pumpkin pie spice
• 2 Tbsp applesauce 
• 1 Tbsp melted Earth Balance butter
• 1/4 cup mixed dried fruits: recommended: dried blueberries, pomegranate seeds, chopped figs, raisins, and/or cranberries (I used a mix of blueberries, cranberries, and pomegranate seeds)
• Handful of roasted pumpkin seeds (optional)

Steps:

1. Place the oats, flax seeds, nuts, and pumpkin pie spice in a food processor and grind into a coarse flour. Remove and place in a separate mixing bowl. 
2. Add the dates & applesauce to the food processor & mix into a paste.
3. Transfer the paste into the mixing bowl with the oat & flax flour. Add the melted vegan butter & mix well. If needed, add a little additional applesauce and/or soy milk (up to ~ 1 Tbsp) to help moisten- you want a thick cookie-dough-esque mixture. 
4. Add in the dried fruit and pumpkin seeds.
5. Place on a parchment-paper lined cookie sheet and press into a square about 1-2 inches thick. 
6. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 10 minutes.
7. Remove from oven and cool. Cut into bars of desired size- I made 6 bars approximately Cliff-bar sized.

Notes:
The pumpkin seeds add a little salt and an additional consistency element, and I love them, but my husband prefers the bars without them; so go according to your taste. This is a good base bar mix for adding in and changing different items.The bars are healthy and filling, so they make for a good breakfast on the go.

Enjoy!