Vegan Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies and Bars

Vegan Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Walnut Bars

Some people have signature dishes. If I had to choose one from my kitchen, it would have to be Chocolate Chip Cookies. This recipe is a direct descendant of the Nestle Toll House Semi-Sweet package, the non-vegan kind.

Mostly, I make cookies. Sometimes it is nice to make bars instead. They are incredibly easy to make.  They do have a different texture than cookies, yet, they are equally yummy!

Egg Substitutes and a Note About Oatmeal

Any egg substitute will work for these bars. This particular recipe lists applesauce because it works well, and I think it gives them a wonderful chewy texture.  Aquafaba, or chia, hemp, or flax seeds mixed with water can be used when making them into cookies. The chart on this page has more information about making an egg substitute.
The amount of oatmeal can be increased by up to another 1/2 cup if desired, as it will not change the recipe too much if you are using white flour. Use what you like and enjoy your dessert!

Whole Wheat or All-Purpose Flour?

If you are new to using whole wheat in your baked goods, I recommend transitioning to whole wheat by using a combination of All-Purpose and White Whole Wheat or Whole Wheat Pastry flour. If you and your family enjoy the deeper flavor and the bit of nutty-like goodness of whole wheat then use 100% whole wheat from the start. Because this recipe has oatmeal in it, the whole wheat doesn't seem to make abnormally heavy cookies. My kids grew up with whole wheat in their cookies and they prefer them to white flour cookies.  They make you feel fuller, faster, so that you don't eat the whole batch at one time.

Vegan Chocolate Chips

About a year and a half ago we discovered that the gigantic bags of Kirkland brand Chocolate Chips were accidentally vegan.  It was a Major Find for my family because we really like chocolate in our baked goods.  Then they changed the recipe and they now have milkfat in them. This put us back on the search for vegan chocolate chips. As of October 2019, here are some other vegan options that were easily found in large supermarkets.

Vegan Chocolate Chips from Nestle

Vegan Chocolate Chips 

Vegan Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars

Set your oven to 365 degrees (adjust the temperature according to how your oven bakes).

Ingredients

1 cup plant-based butter - softened

¾ cup granulated sugar

¾ cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ cup applesauce

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 ¼ cups flour (whole wheat pastry, white whole wheat (soft wheat,) and/or all-purpose flour)

1 1/2 cups oatmeal

1 package of dairy-free chocolate chips (11-12 ounces)

1 cup chopped walnuts (for extra flavor, toast them at 350 degrees for 5 minutes)

Cream butter and sugars together to make a smooth, soft paste.  Add vanilla and applesauce. Stir to thoroughly combine. Add salt, baking soda, and flour. Mix until dry items are no longer visible. Stir in oatmeal, chocolate chips, and walnuts.  If you don't like walnuts, use pecans. Bake for 20-28 minutes - until a medium golden brown on top and a toothpick comes out not super gooey. For thicker bars, use a 7 x 11-inch pan. For thinner bars use a 9 x 13-inch or a standard bar pan which is 15 x 10 inches. Reduce the baking time when cooking in a larger pan.

It should be a little bit gooey coming out of the oven

Enjoy!
Beverly