True story:
I was once on national television… in my underwear. 😕
It was when I was 5 years old, on a popular children’s show similar to Sesame Street. The goal of the segment was to teach young children how to get dressed by themselves: this was in the early 90s, therefore footage is thankfully not immortalized online.
Possibly even more fun than the filming process was when the show aired and everyone reconvened for a viewing party. One child’s mother brought in three plates of gooey chocolate chip cookie bars for the occasion, and not a single person left that day without having asked for the recipe. The bars would become a staple in my childhood home for many years afterwards.
Today’s recipe is a healthy makeover of those addictive chocolate chip cookie bars.
I played around to find the perfect amount of applesauce to lower the fat, calories, and sugar while still maintaining the bars’ seductively gooey texture. The subtly-strong flavor of the surprise ingredient—molasses!—takes these bars completely over the top.
They are sure to win you over!
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups spelt or all-purpose flour (180g) (oat flour works; the texture is just a bit gummier)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup rolled oats (20g)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar or date sugar (90g)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup to 1 cup chocolate chips, depending on how chocolatey you want the bars to be
- 1/2 cup vegetable or coconut oil (80g)
- 1/2 cup applesauce (120g)
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract (9g)
- pinch stevia, or 2 tbsp sugar of choice
- 3 tbsp blackstrap or regular molasses (43g)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and line the bottom of an 8×8 pan with parchment paper, then set aside. In a mixing bowl, stir together the first 6 ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together all liquid ingredients, then pour wet over dry and stir to form a batter. Spoon into the prepared pan. Bake 25 minutes. Makes 15-24 squares, depending on how large you cut them. (The ones in the photos are cut from 24.) I love the unique molasses flavor in these bars, but you can always substitute pure maple syrup or agave or honey (vegans don’t use honey) if you’d prefer.
Link Of The Day:
I am actually a bit offended by “vegans don’t eat honey”. I don’t like honey. So I do not eat it. I do, however, think it is rude to think of anyone as any less of a vegan if they do consume honey(as long as it is retrieved without harming, WHICH DOES EXIST). I think if you say things like that it should be, STRICT vegans don’t eat honey. Did you know some figs have bug remnants in them? Does that make people who eat figs not vegan? Some farms kill insects off from their produce, So does that mean eating fruits and veggies because of the insect harm makes us unvegan? I think it is a sensitive subject. If the point of being vegan is to cause less harm (and in my beliefs, spread the love), then why not except? Its not like they’re chowing on chicken.
I can’t afford a lot of the “Vegan” clothing. So am i not vegan?
Anyway. I believe if we were a bit more excepting and less mean to each other. Then more people would adopted a vegan style of living.
She often references ‘strict vegans’ as not eating honey. There are the vegans who attack other vegans for eating honey, and now you represent those who are offended by people saying vegans don’t eat honey. Frankly there is no winning! Instead of vegans being portrayed as those who are compassionate, they certainly can come across as antagonistic. Read Katie’s pages on her approach to veganism. You will find she IS a vegan that tries to lead an example of a vegan lifestyle that others would be attracted to.
LOL this blog isn’t about you. Why can’t people do a simple thing like enjoy recipes without tearing it apart.
Well I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make this ‘about me’.
I happen to love chocolate covered katie, and thoroughly enjoy all of her posts. This is the internet. I’m allowed to speak my mind in anyway that I want. (as is everyone else).
I had just come from a huge instagram debacle on this subject, and it really bugs me when vegans do that to each other. I’d almost rather have someone just say nothing at all. I just think’s it a tad rude, I don’t know why. It just irked me to read (vegans don’t use honey). I know she often puts (honey is not for strict vegans). I apologize because this wasn’t the place, and in the long hall I know it doesn’t really matter. ‘LOL’ though? really? how old are you?
Some people are not aware that some vegans don’t eat honey (I never knew before visiting this blog a couple years ago). Perhaps Katie puts that note there for people who are not aware of it.
Thanks Anna! That is exactly why I included it. 🙂 The last thing I would want is for a non-vegan to make this recipe for a strict vegan who then refused to eat it because it had honey.
I’m 43 and I found your comment to be rude. It ‘irked’ me and this is the internet, I am allowed to speak my mind in anyway that I want. It also irks me when people nitpick Katie’s blog posts and recipes. She should also be allowed to post whatever she wants on the internet.
You’re right. It was rude. I’m allowed to have my opinions just as is everyone else. There is a time and a place and this was neither. I typed irrationally. I really should have thought about what I was complaining about. I love this blog and it doesn’t need added drama. I’m also sorry to sound so snarky. ‘k” I really didn’t mean to be so rude. And irked is just something my dad always uses. But you’re right, and I was wrong. This blog is suppose to be fun, light hearted, and delicious. Wether you want to use honey, maple syrup, agave, or sugar in general(and who uses it or not!) shouldn’t even be a matter of argument! from now on only positive reinforcement of how amazing these recipes are is what I will focus on!
Well done. 🙂
Would the sugar amount per chocolate chip bar change if you subbed maple for molasses??
Rather than the oil, how do you think it would turn out with more applesauce or maybe plain yogurt? Thanks!
Everything is on the internet …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF8UmWlm1E0
Enjoy!
She did say “SIMILAR to Sesame Street,” so perhaps you’re off the mark. Several of the little kids in that vid could have been Katie as a kindergartener, though, so we won’t know for sure until she responds yea or nay, if she chooses to do so. 🙂 Nice search work, Mike.
Katie, thanks for all your recipes…I am looking forward to making the GF version of the cinnamon roll pancakes for my wife as a surprise Valentine’s Day breakfast (she has Celiac Disease), and possibly the recent molten chocolate lava cake to go with some decaf espresso and a board game after the kids are in bed!
Yes, sadly that’s not me :(.
I would love it if you happened to find it… but it probably won’t happen, as I couldn’t find it anywhere!
I love that you were on Sesame Street! How fun!
Katie, you’re absolutely stunning! And not just in that photo, but just in general. You’re also so kind and so cute. 🙂 And did you say “author”? I can’t believe you’re writing a book! Congratulations! Can’t wait to read it 🙂
Hi Katie! I adapted your recipe in my newest blog post(which will be up tomorrow morning). I’d love if you could check it out because your blog inspires me so so much! Thanks for sharing all your recipes with us.
I will be sure to look out for it!
These bars look amazing! I’m totally going to have to try this recipe. soon.
Pinning!
Oh my gosh, I’m SO EXCITED TO MAKE THESE. One of my boyfriend’s favorite treats is cookie bars, but we don’t make them often because of how unhealthy most recipes for them are, and instead opt for lighter choices. Thanks, Katie!
You’re so beautiful Katie!! Great photo. And those bars…yum!
I just made this! It was sooooo good! Moist and delicious! I subbed some of the oil for pnb. Next time I’m going to add a litte bit of walnuts and use less sugar.
Hi all! I just tried making these and wanted to make a note – if you use coconut oil, you need to melt it in order for it to be blendable – and this made my chocolate chips melt when I blended the ingredients together! lol.
I still went ahead and baked these anyways, but they are kind of like gooey brownies now. So may be best to stay away from warm coconut oil and try vegetable instead!
I’d recommend melting the coconut oil before even adding it to the recipe. That’s what I always do when using coconut oil in baked goods (unless it is so hot outside that it’s already melted… but sadly that is not the case right now ;)).
OMG…these are the easiest, most fabulous tasting cookies EVER….THANK YOU Katie!!
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip combinations are always a big craving in our household of treats!
Katie, that’s a beautiful photo 🙂
I made these bars today and love them! As I’m not really sweet toothed, I only used the 3 tbsp. molasses and 1 tbsp. of additional erythritol, and I made them with gluten free flour. They turned out absolutely perfect!
The only thing I’m unsure about is how to store them? Can I keep them in a cookie jar? And if so, how long?
I would store in the fridge after a day, due to the applesauce.
Thank you!
Have a wonderful day 🙂
I am definitely making these!