Vegan Strawberry Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookies

I recently had a good amount of strawberries, and I decided to dry some.  I thought the intensely flavored strawberries would be wonderful in recipes like granola.  But I was craving some oatmeal cookies, and I didn't want to just make the usual (I never do, it has to have a twist on it).  So, I decided to make strawberry chocolate chunk.

I am in the mood for strawberries, since I have been deprived of them all winter long and spring is finally here, so they are ending up in many of the sweets I make lately. I know you usually find raisins in oatmeal cookies, not strawberries, but they ended up being pretty awesome in the cookies.  Especially with the chocolate chunks, because chocolate loves strawberries.  These are simply heavenly. If you are bored of the same old oatmeal cookies, give these a go!

Vegan Strawberry Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookies
Makes about 4 dozen

1 cup virgin coconut oil, warmed to liquid
1 1/2 cups coconut sugar
2 flax eggs*
1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups gluten free oat flour
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp sea salt
3 cups gluten free old fashioned rolled oats
2 cups vegan chocolate chunks
2 cups dried strawberries**

In a large mixing bowl, mix together the coconut oil and sugar until well blended. Add flax eggs, vanilla, and beat until well combined (the mixture will become very thick). Mix in the flour, soda, and sea salt until well blended. Mix in the oats until well combined, then add chocolate and strawberries and mix until evenly distributed throughout the dough. Heat the oven to 350 degrees with the rack set at the middle position. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll the dough into 12 large balls, and spread them out on the 2 cookie sheets with plenty of room in between. Bake for 13-15 minutes or until golden, but not overbaked. Let cool on sheet a few minutes, then remove to a wire rack lined with parchment to cool.

*Whisk together 2 Tbsp ground flax seed, 1/4 cup and 2 Tbsp water in a small bowl.  Allow to sit in the fridge for 15 minutes until the mixture has set up (or become kind of thick).

**I made my own dried strawberries. To make them, simply slice the strawberries thin, and place them on a lined dehydrator tray.  Dry at 115F for about 24 hours until very dry.