Can of Beans Cookie Dough

You won't believe this. No one does. This bowl of delicious cookies dough is made primarily from a can of beans? No butter, no white flour, and it can be made without refined sugars? What, it's vegan too? Why yes, it is. Believing is tasting. it also helps if you didn't make it and don't actually know what is in it until later (if I choose to tell you that is). This is a healthy cookies alternative - use it as a cookie dough dip, a spread (such as an icing for the brownies from yesterday's post), raw cookies, baked cookies, or by the spoonful. Healthy never tasted this good!

Can of Beans Cookie Dough
1 cup dates
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 cups chickpeas, rinsed and drained very well, without outer skins
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
2 Tablespoons coconut oil
1 Tablespoon smooth natural peanut butter 
3 Tablespoons oats
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips

Soak the dates in the water for at least 8 hours.
Blend the dates (with liquid) and chickpeas until smooth.
Blend in remaining ingredients, except chocolate chips, until very smooth. Stir in the chocolate chips. 
I find the flavor improves after being chilled in the fridge for a day or so. The cookie dough will remain a soft consistency, but will be slightly easier to work with if you wanted to use it for truffles of something similar. 

Recipe Notes: If you don't mind a peanut butter flavored cookie dough, use 3-4 Tablespoons of peanut butter and omit the coconut oil. A different nut butter may also be used. 
If you don't have a huge sweet tooth, the brown sugar can be omitted as the dates provide enough sweetness for a sugar-free version (aside from the chocolate chips). However, if making for the first time, or making for others (who are not accustomed to "healthy food") I recommend using some sugar.
For a sweeter, less healthy version, simply omit the dates and just use 2/3 cup brown sugar.