Healthy Dark Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars

I've been MIA for awhile celebrating the 4th of July and spending the past weekend in Boston visiting my friend from college, but I'm back! And back with a yummy (and addicting) recipe! These bars are always my go-to when I need to bring a baked good to a party or when I am craving something sweet and chocolately.

 You will need: Whole wheat flour, white flour, ground flax meal, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, rolled oats, white sugar, brown sugar, egg whites, unsweetend applesauce, vanilla, vegetable oil, and dark chocolate chips.
      *note: despite the short prep time, it will be very difficult not to eat the majority of your chocolate chips before you're done making these bars! ...or maybe that's just me? Chocoholic status over here....

Start by blending together the oil and the sugars using a hand mixer. Then blend in the eggs, vanilla, and applesauce.

Next mix together the flours, ground flax meal, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.

Add about 1/2 of the flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Stir well. Then add 1 cup of the oats. Mix it alllllll up!!

 

Add the remaining amount of the flour mixture and the remaining cup of oats. Continue to stir until just combined. Then pour in the 1/2 cup of chocolate chips (or whatever you haven't eaten ;) )

 

Once all is combined and mixed through, eat the dough spread the dough into a greased baking dish. It will be VERY sticky!! I use a cold metal spoon to help in the spreading of the dough.

Bake the bars are 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. Continue to check on them every minute or so once the bars hit the 20 minute mark to make sure they do not burn.

So precious when they're sleeping :)

While your cookies are baking, be sure to bug your sleeping puppy...

And then proceed to accidentally wake him up.

Oops, sorry puppy! Go back to bed Bulmer....

Nighty night puppers.

Twenty minutes later...: BARS ARE DONE! I like to take my bars out a little early so they are still gooey and crazy delicious.

Fresh from the oven!

My absoluuuute favorite way to eat these bad boys is right outta the oven with a huge scoop of frozen vanilla greek yogurt. DIVINE.

 Food coma time. Happy baking :)

Ingredients:

1/2 C Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 C White Flour
2 C Organic Rolled Oats

2 T Ground Flax Seed
1/2 C Brown Sugar
1/2 White Sugar
1/4 Unsweetened Applesauce
2 Egg whites
2 T Vegetable Oil
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Vanilla
1/2 C Dark Choc. Chips (Preferably Ghirardelli Dark Baking Chips)

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
2. In a large bowl blend together the oil and the sugars using a hand mixer
3. Beat in the egg whites, vanilla, and applesauce
4. In a separate bowl combine the flours, ground flax seed, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
5. Add about 1/2 of the flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Stir well.
6. Add one cup of the oats to the mixture.
7. Continue adding and mixing the dry ingredients into the wet mixture.
8. Add the chocolate chips just before the mixture fully comes together.
9. Spread the dough into a greased baking dish.

10. Bake for about 20 minutes or until just slightly golden brown
11. ENJOY!