Deep Dish Cookie Pie

Yesterday I mentioned how much I love Pinterest.  This recipe is proof of that love!  I am also in love with Chocolate Covered Katie and her healthy dessert blog.  First of all, I love dessert.  Second of all, they are healthier (but still 'oh so good').  What's not to love?

This chocolate covered pie uses garbanzo beans or navy beans. (I used the garbanzos).  At first there is such a distinct smell to the beans that you wonder, is this going to smell like this when it's cooked?  No.  It smells divine, just like a deep dish cookie pie should!  Even though it was healthy, even though my children saw the beans going in, they begged to have more at every meal until the pie was finally all gone.  That is also proof of how good something healthier (when done right) can be!

Now, I'm saying healthier, and not healthy. This is not diet food, people.  There is still sugar (although I replaced half of the brown sugar that is called for with splenda), and chocolate chips and chocolate sauce or ice cream at the end.  But the flour is replaced by beans which will provide protein, fiber, iron, manganese, and folate.  All that from a dessert!  So without any further delay or description, here is the recipe!

Deep - Dish Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie

(recipe, adapted slightly from Chocolatecoveredkatie.com)

2 cans white beans or garbanzos (drained and rinsed) (500g total, once drained)
1 cup quick oats (or certified-gf quick oats)
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
3 T canola oil
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 and 1/2 cups brown sugar (You can sub evaporated cane juice or white sugar). I used 1/2 brown sugar and 1/2 regular splenda)
1 cup chocolate chips

Blend everything (except the chips) very well in a good food processor (not a blender). Mix in chips, and pour into an oiled pan (I used a 10-inch springform pan, but you can use a smaller pan if you want a reallydeep-dish pie.) Cook at 350F for around 35-40 minutes. Let stand at least 10 minutes before removing from the pan.