Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

I've sort of decided to have a theme for this week: Healthier Comfort Food!

 Some of our favorite guilty pleasures, made slightly less guilty!

Monday we had a homemade, preservative + corn syrup free chocolate syrup. Today I'm going to share a classic childhood treat-chocolate chip cookie bars! BUT made with whole wheat and no butter (just canola oil)!

These cookie bars are so gooey and decadent, you really can't tell that anything about them is less than sinful. It's a perfect way to serve something a little healthier to a room full of kiddos (or a room full of one boyfriend, in my case). I'm not saying these are good for you by any means, however. Just, you know, a little less bad. These totally took me back to my childhood, and they're tasty as all get out!

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

From Chocolate and Carrots "Whole Grain Cookie Dough Bars"

Ingredients:

• 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup canola oil 
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preparation:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cover a 9 x 9 pan with parchment paper.
• In a bowl, combine the flours and baking soda. 
• In a larger bowl, using a spoon, stir eggs, sugars, canola oil, and vanilla until well combined.
• Stir in the dry ingredients until fully incorporated.
• Stir in 1 cup chocolate chips.
• Pour dough into prepped pan, making sure to spread evenly along the bottom.
• Sprinkle 1/4 cup chocolate chips on top.
• Bake 25-30 minutes, until a light golden brown.
• Let cool completely (difficult, I know), then cut.

So...gooey.

Oh, and stay tuned for Friday: I'm gonna share my favorite (healthier) pizza!