1 cup refrigerated pitted dates, processed in a food processor until very finely chopped (optional)
Dry

• 1 cup sifted coconut flour
• 1/4 cup flax meal (ground flax seeds)
• 2 Tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1 dash freshly ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp sea salt

Wet
1 heaping cup (liquid measure) home-made sweet potato puree (approximately 3 medium sweet potatoes, halved, rubbed with coconut oil, then roasted at 450 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes) OR 1-15 oz can organic sweet potato puree

• 4 eggs
• 3/4 to 1 cup coconut oil, liquified
• 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
• 1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk
• 1 Tbsp vanilla extract

Topping (Optional)

• 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips (I used E. Guittard 61% semisweet chocolate wafers.)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine the dry ingredients in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk to combine.

Combine the wet ingredients in the bowl of a food processor. Process until light and airy.

If your food processor is big enough, pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and process until just combined. Otherwise, pour wet ingredients into a large mixing bowl, add the dry ingredients, and use a mixing spoon to thoroughly combine. The mixture will be thick. Fold the dates into the batter.

Spoon batter into a 9×13 baking dish or metal pan. Use the back of a rubber spatula or spoon to evenly spread the batter.

Bake for 30 minutes or until the top is lightly browned. (The toothpick test doesn’t work well on these bars since the batter is so dense.) Carefully remove baking dish from oven.

If using chocolate, sprinkle chocolate evenly across the top. Return to oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes.

Remove from the oven and use a rubber spatula to spread chocolate in a very thin, even layer across the top.

Let cool for 15 minutes before cutting.