Trick-Your-Friends Cookie Pie

Confession time:  I am smitten with sweets. I cannot be trusted to control myself in a room with chocolate anything. I only celebrate my birthday for the cake. I still run up the basement steps really fast because I'm afraid of what's lurking in the dark behind me. I will stick to food confessions.

You can keep your soda, chips, candy, and any other common vices, but do not take my cake, cookies or cupcakes. To be able to maintain a healthy weight AND enjoy sinfully delicious desserts, I have had to get pretty creative - chocolate tofu (not terrible), black bean brownies (pretty terrible), spinach and chocolate smoothie (tragic). Nothing has satisfied my sweet tooth and my daily calorie budget like this simple, high-protein, high-fiber, pie. All you need is a food processor, an oven, and a few unsuspecting friends. I have learned that I am running out of the latter - it seems people have figured me out...

Trick-Your-Friends Cookie Pie
2 cans organic garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
1 C quick-cooking oats (can be gluten-free)
1/3 C organic applesauce
2 T melted coconut oil
2 t vanilla extract
1/2 t baking soda
2 t baking powder
1/8 t salt
1 C organic sugar (white, brown or coconut sugar)
1 serving stevia or to taste (if not sweet enough, add a pinch more)
1 C chocolate chips

Directions:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a standard-sized 9.5 inch pie plate. After beans are drained and rinsed, blend them in the food processor. Once smooth, add remaining ingredients EXCEPT chocolate chips. Run the food processor on highest speed until the batter is very well processed and smooth. Turn off the food processor and transfer the contents to a large mixing bowl. Fold in the chocolate chips. Pour everything into the pie plate and smooth out the top. Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove, cool, slice and serve. Keep the uneaten portion refrigerated - if there is any! And lastly, save sharing your secret ingredient for when the dishes are being washed.