2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups regular rolled oats
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
About 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil an 8-inch-by-8-inch square baking pan. In a large bowl, beat butter or margarine, oil and brown sugar with an electric mixer until smooth. Add egg, applesauce and vanilla; beat until blended. Beat in baking powder, baking soda, salt and flour until smooth.
Scrape down sides of bowl, then stir in oats and chocolate chips. Bake dough right away; if it is allowed to stand, cookies will be dry.
Spread dough evenly in pan. Sprinkle evenly with granulated sugar. Bake until pale golden, about 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool briefly on rack; then cut into 1-inch-by-4-inch bars. Serve warm or cool.
Makes 16 bars.