Healthier Chocolate Chip Cookies

I've never really found a chocolate chip cookie recipe that I've LOVED. This is the closest I've ever come. The photo on the original website doesn't really do these justice... they turn out a lot like those Quaker Oat granola bars with the chocolate chips. I just wish these could be made vegan!

>>> Think of these less like cookies and more like haystacks.

3 large, ripe bananas, well mashed (about 1 1/2 cups) >> I used frozen ones and they worked fine.
1 teaspoon vanilla extract >> Be liberal
1/4 teaspoon almond extract >> I didn't have any, and a little extra vanilla seems to work. Always add more vanilla. ALWAYS.
1/4 cup applesauce
1 egg
2 tablespoons honey
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup flour
2/3 cup unsweetened coconut, shredded
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt >> I rarely add full salt in recipes, but because this doesn't have the added sugar, the full salt is kind of necessary.
1 teaspoon baking powder
7 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips >> Amounts to slightly less than 1 cup. I added more because (again) I was worried about blandness. I add more if I'm feeling like a bit more sweet.
1/2 cup pecans >> ESSENTIAL (well not really, but they really add to the granola bar feel of these cookies)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl combine the bananas, vanilla, almond extract, applesauce, egg and honey. In a separate bowl stir together oats, flour, coconut, cinnamon, salt and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips and pecans. Drop spoonfuls of the dough about an inch apart onto a cookie sheet. >>> I don't usually use parchment paper, but since these lack the grease, it helps them come off easier if you don't have new pans. Bake for 11-13 minutes >> Keep to the lower end, because I found these started to burn a bit on the bottom at 11.

Makes about 3 dozen cookies. >> I found it only made 2 and a 1/2 dozen.

Original recipe/photo