VEGAN HALFWAY COOKIE BARS

Recipe by Feasting on Fruit
Serves 8 bars

Halfway Cookie Bars – rich cookie base with melty Hu dark chocolate chips and meringue baked to golden gooey perfection – but vegan, gluten-free, and healthier!

INGREDIENTS

COOKIE BAR

• 1 flax egg (1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water)
• 1/3 cup (85g) almond butter
• 1/3 cup (80g) unsweetened applesauce
• 1/3 cup (70g) coconut sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup (120g) oat flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup (85g) Hu Dark Chocolate Gems

MERINGUE TOPPING

• 3/4 cup (180g) aquafaba*
• 1/2 cup coconut sugar (85g), powdered**
• 1/2 tsp cream of tartar

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
2. Stir together the almond butter, applesauce, prepared flax egg, coconut sugar, and vanilla.
3. Add the oat flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir to combine.
4. Spread into the bottom of a greased baking dish (I used this 9×6″ dish, but an 8×8″ square works too)
5. Top with the Hu Dark Chocolate Gems. Press in gently. Set aside.
6. In a dry clean bowl, begin whipping the aquafaba with a hand mixer or stand mixer. Beat to soft peaks.
7. Add the cream of tartar. Continue beating for another minute or so.
8. Add the powdered coconut sugar slowly while beating one tablespoon at a time until you have added the full 1/2 cup. Continuing beating to stiff peaks.
9. Spread on top of the cookie bars.
10. Bake for 25-30 minutes at 350ºF.
11. Cool completely before slicing and eating (or even refrigerate overnight, I love them cold!)

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