Fudgy, sweet, and full of nutrients, this raw vegan energy bar will help you seize the day. It’s packed full of small, yet mighty, seeds. These tasty little powerhouses contain all the nutrients needed to grow a healthy, complex plant. Those nutrients, and healthy fats, are so good for our bodies too!

The sweetener of this plant-based bar is dates. You may be wondering if dates are good for you. And the answer is YES! Dates are a very healthy fruit and one of the few unprocessed sweeteners available today. They are sweet and sticky and make a wonderful base for energy bars.

Click here for a fun little video on dates.

Tips for making perfect date bars:

Blend the first group of ingredients in a food processor (not a blender). The sticky mixture will hold all those lovely seeds in place.
Then scoop the date mixture into a bowl and add the seeds and oats. It’s important to mix these ingredients in by hand, or with a spatula to leave a little texture.
Follow the rest of the directions below and you’ll have the tastiest healthy energy bars you can make at home!

Here’s everything you need to make Seed the Day Bars

Ingredients:

**First Group:**
1 tablespoon chia seeds, soaked in:
3 tablespoons water
1½ cups (8 oz.) of dates, pitted
½ cup tahini
2 teaspoons vanilla
¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
**Second Group:**
1 cup rolled oats
¼ cup raw pumpkin seeds
2 tablespoons hemp hearts
1 tablespoon of flax seeds (or 2 tablespoons of flax meal)
1 tablespoon of sesame seeds
**Makes 12 bars or 24 energy bites**

How to make Seed the Day Bars

Steps One-Four:

1. Whisk the chia seeds and water in a small dish and set aside to gel. This will take 5-7 minutes.
2. Line all sides of an 8x8 inch pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
3. Grind the flax seeds in a spice grinder or use flax meal (which is ground flax seed).
4. Add the dates, tahini, vanilla and salt to a food processor, followed by the gelled chia seeds. Blend these ingredients together until a date paste forms, scraping down the sides of the food processor as necessary. The mixture will be very sticky.

Step Five:

5. Transfer the date paste to a mixing bowl and add in oats, pumpkin seeds, hemp hearts and ground flax. Using your hands or a wooden spatula, mix the seeds and oats into the date paste. This is sticky business but well worth the effort.

Steps Six-Seven:

6. Scoop the dough into the parchment lined pan and press down with your hands or spatula. Sprinkle the top with sesame seeds.
7. Lay a piece of parchment paper on top (to prevent sticking) and use the back side of a metal spatula to press and smooth out any lumps.

Steps Eight-Nine:

8. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm and cut into 12 bars.
9. Store in the fridge between pieces of parchment paper.

Fun variation:

Make fudgy energy bites by rolling the dough into 24 equal-sized balls (about 1 full tablespoon) and then rolling them in 3 tablespoons of cacao powder mixed with 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds.