Healthy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie Dough

1. Put the pitted dates into a small bowl, pour enough boiling water into the bowl to cover the dates (about 1 cup) and set the bowl aside for at least 15 minutes. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the date water before draining the softened dates.
2. Add the softened dates, melted oil/butter, vanilla extract, 1/2 tablespoon of maple syrup, and the reserved tablespoon of date water into a food processor. Blend on high for 2 minutes, or until the dates are broken and the mixture is smooth.
3. Dump the oat flour into the processor bowl and blend again until no flour is visible. Add in the chocolate before pulsing a few times to get everything incorporated.
4. Taste to adjust sweetness. I usually use 1/2-1 tablespoons of maple syrup, but you could add more to make it sweeter.

I prefer to enjoy this chilled so I pour the batter into a bowl or mug, cover with plastic wrap, and chill for a few hours.

Notes:
– To make you own oat flour, add 1 cup of oats (gluten free or regular) into a small blender or food processor and blend until you reach a fine powder.
-You could try using light agave instead of maple syrup.