Healthy Chocolate Oat Cookie Bars

I first made them a few weeks ago and then had to run out the door before they were out of the oven, leaving the rest of the family to try them out. Soon after I got a text from Jared, “The kids said you told them these were healthy cookies?? There’s no way that’s true”. Oh man, they’re so so good! I now make them on a weekly basis. They’re perfect for a guilt-free sugar craving, and can easily pass for a delicious weekend dessert. Here’s how to make them:

Preheat the oven to 350, and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Cream together almond or sunflower butter and coconut sugar on high for 1 minute, add vanilla and cream for another minute. In another bowl, mix together the oat flour, oats, baking powder, sugar, salt and chocolates. Add half of the milk, then half of the dry ingredients, the rest of the almond milk, and then the rest of the dry ingredients. Don’t over mix, the mixture should resemble a thick cookie dough.

Drop the dough onto the parchment paper and press to make an even layer, probably about 9 x 9 inches and 1/2 inch thick. Cook for about 20-25 minutes until the bottom starts to brown and the edges get golden and cracked. Be sure the middle is cooked by inserting a toothpick which should come out clean when done. Let cool completely in pan, then slide onto a cutting board to cut into bars when completely cool.