Joyful Cookie Bars

2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup canola oil
1 large egg
1 Tablespoon skim milk
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup whole-wheat flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons melted semisweet chocolate chips
3 Tablespoons toasted coconut
48 sliced almonds (one slice for each cookie bar)

Melt butter at room temperature

Preparation: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a 15 X 10 inch baking sheet with 1-inch sides with cooking spray. Beat sugar, butter, oil, egg, milk and almond extract in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Stir in all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder and salt until well blended. (It will be soft dough). Spread the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan in a thin layer. Bake until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 5 minutes. Cut into 48 bars. Decorate each bar with a drizzle of melted chocolate, a sprinkle of toasted coconut and an almond slice.

Serving Size: 4 dozen

Number of Servings: 48

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user MARIEHUNT40.