Pre heat oven to 175c and prepare your pans. Grease your muffin pans, or line with cases.
Pit your dates and roughly chop them, measure out 1 1/2 cups after chopping.
Place you dates, water and bicarb soda in a food processor. Make sure all the dates are covered. Leave to steep for 10 minutes.
While waiting for the dates, beat sugar and butter in a mixer on a medium speed until thick and creamy.
Process date mixture and add to the butter and sugar. Beat till the dates are mixed through.
Add in eggs and mix till incorporated.
Add in flour and beat until just combined.
Pour mixture into muffin pans, approx 1/3 cup or until they almost reach the top. Place in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes. Your muffins will be ready when a skewer pierced through comes out clean.
Leave to cool completely in the muffin pan then remove. Serve as is or top with cream cheese butterscotch icing.