Chocolate Chip Oat Bran Molasses Cookies

A while back I had the urge to use up some oat bran and molasses that needed to get out of my cupboard so I googled the ingredients looking for something sweet and kinda healthy. I landed on somebody's blog who made a cookie with loads of spices and chocolate chips and all kinds of pretty healthy stuff. And since I'm sorta a health nut, aside from my massive sweet tooth, I thought I should try the recipe out. It was pretty decent- and I knew I had the beginnings for a fantastic "healthy" alternative to my stand-by.  After several attempts, I came up with this version of the cookie, with no added spices (because to me, they belong with raisins, not chocolate), less butter, less molasses (I don't want to really taste it) and some tweaks to the fiber-load ingredients and the types of sugars. They are thick, chewy, hearty, and so worth every dimple on my butt. The true test is when my picky 4 year old will eat them without complaint and come looking for more. He hasn't a clue, the poor fool! As a side note, I think these would be good, but not as good, without the chocolate chips/chunks - but for texture I would probably add some chopped dried apricots or whatever you like, really.

Here is my version of this recipe.

Oat Bran Molasses Cookies

1 1/2 C flour (AP)
1/2 C wheat germ
1/2 C oats
1/4 C ground flax
3/4  C oat bran
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 C brown sugar
1/2 C white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 stick softened butter, unsalted
1/4 C oil
2 Tbsp molasses
chocolate chips or chunks as you see fit (about a Cup)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a bowl, mix first 7 ingredients. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, mix the butter, oil and sugars until well blended. Add egg and mix followed by vanilla and molasses. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients gradually and mix until incorporated. Then add the chocolate chips. Form large rounded mounds on cookie sheet- about 3 Tbsp per cookie (I never measure it, I just make them big) Bake for about 10 minutes or unit slightly browned at edges.