Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie Bars

Confession: what you're about to read can't be classified under clean eating. (Unless you lick the bowl. Then that's clean, right?)

I will help you out though, by telling you Dashing Dish has an amazing similar recipe that is MUCH healthier. You can find that recipe right here, and I can assure you it is very delicious. I've made it many times. To clarify, the Dashing Dish recipe makes an 8x8 (or 9x9 if you have that size pan, which I don't) and the recipe below makes a 9x13.

I'm trying to build up a little collection of recipes that are tasty, quick to make, and relatively easy. Lately I've been sending food to carry-in dinners and funeral dinners, and since we host Bible study in our home, I serve snacks there, too. My arsenal of appropriate recipes for such situations wasn't too well stocked, so I've been trying to find more options. (And I am trying to find things that use ingredients I usually have on hand so I can make something on short notice if needed.)

I happened upon this gem, and it's a keeper, my friends. (Well, it's a keeper as long as you can keep up with the workouts needed to offset it!) Hint: warm with coffee, it's the best.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie Bars

* 2 cups flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 teaspoon cinnamon
* 2 1/2 cups oats
* 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
* 1 1/4 cups butter 
* 2 eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 1 1/4 cup milk chocolate chips

In a stand mixer, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon until well mixed. Add oats and continue mixing. Add brown sugar and mix again. Add butter, eggs, and vanilla and mix once more. Add chocolate chips and combine one last time. Press batter into a 9x13 pan sprayed with cooking spray. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Let cookie bars cool (or not!), cut and serve.

A Few Tips

* We always buy wheat flour, and I think these taste just fine with that instead of white flour. But you can use whatever flour you have on hand!

* I actually think you could use a little more cinnamon than a teaspoon, but then again, I REALLY like cinnamon. So if you do too, throw in a little more!

* I know. It's a lot of butter. I've considered cutting it down to an even cup, just for my own mental well-being, but I am too scared it will mess with the consistency, and I'm unwilling to ruin a whole batch of this goodness just to see!

* I always use pure vanilla. So good.

* You could always use more chocolate chips if you want it to be really gooey, or you could use dark chocolate if you prefer that. I like the milk chocolate touch.

* Perfect treat paired with coffee or milk. Or both.