The Best Homemade Oatmeal Cream Pies: A Classic, Chewy & Creamy Recipe
Homemade Oatmeal Cream Pies bring your cherished childhood favorite cookie back to life in the most delicious way! Imagine sinking your teeth into two perfectly soft, wonderfully chewy oatmeal cookies, generously filled with a thick layer of creamy, dreamy vanilla frosting. This classic combination is loved by everyone and, without exaggeration, tastes infinitely better than any store-bought version you’ll find. Get ready to indulge in a nostalgic treat that’s surprisingly simple to make!
For those who appreciate a truly exceptional cookie, you might recall my Soft and Chewy Oatmeal Cookies recipe. While a single homemade oatmeal cookie is delightful on its own, there’s truly nothing more satisfying than two of these delectable cookies, sandwiching the most incredible, rich vanilla frosting. This isn’t just a cookie; it’s an experience, a journey back to simpler times with every bite.
These homemade cream pies are a significant upgrade from the beloved classic Little Debbies that many of us grew up savoring. Forget the slightly dry cookies and sometimes artificial-tasting filling of the packaged variety. Our homemade version boasts a superior texture and a flavor profile that sings with authentic ingredients. Despite their impressive taste and appearance, they are surprisingly straightforward to prepare, making them an ideal dessert for family gatherings, holiday celebrations, or simply to enjoy as a comforting treat during the week.
Why You’ll Fall in Love with These Oatmeal Cream Pies
- Unbeatable Flavor & Texture: I can confidently say that these homemade oatmeal cream pies taste far, far superior to anything you can buy in a store. If you enjoy the store-bought versions, prepare to absolutely LOVE these. The cookies are perfectly soft and chewy, while the frosting is light, airy, and bursting with real vanilla flavor. It’s a difference you can genuinely taste and feel.
- Effortlessly Simple to Make: Don’t let the “homemade” aspect intimidate you! This recipe is incredibly easy to follow. You start by baking the oatmeal cookies, then, while they cool to perfection, you whip up the fluffy vanilla frosting. Once both components are ready, assembly is a breeze. It’s a rewarding baking project that doesn’t require advanced culinary skills.
- Perfect for Planning Ahead: This recipe is a fantastic make-ahead dessert, ideal for busy schedules or when you need a treat on standby. Both the cookies and the assembled pies can be stored or frozen, ensuring you always have a delightful snack ready. We’ll dive into specific tips for this in our FAQ section below.
- Wholesome Ingredients: Using fresh, quality ingredients at home means you control what goes into your dessert. No strange preservatives or artificial flavors here – just pure, delicious goodness that tastes like it came straight from a gourmet bakery.
- A Taste of Nostalgia: There’s something undeniably comforting about a classic oatmeal cream pie. This recipe captures that nostalgic essence, bringing back fond memories with every bite, but with a refined, homemade touch that elevates the experience.
Essential Ingredients You’ll Need
Crafting these sensational oatmeal cream pies requires two main components: the cookies and the luscious cream filling. Most of these ingredients are likely already in your pantry, making this a convenient recipe to tackle.
For the Soft and Chewy Oatmeal Cookies:
- Butter: Unsalted butter, softened to room temperature, is crucial for a tender cookie texture. It also provides a rich flavor base.
- Brown Sugar: This is key for the signature chewy texture and adds a deeper, caramel-like sweetness compared to granulated sugar alone.
- Granulated Sugar: Contributes to the overall sweetness and helps with the crisp edges of the cookies.
- Egg: Acts as a binder, adding structure and moisture to the cookie dough.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances all the flavors, giving the cookies a warm, inviting aroma. Use good quality pure vanilla extract for the best results.
- Molasses: A secret ingredient for that classic, deep oatmeal cookie flavor and an extra boost of chewiness. Don’t skip it!
- Quick or Instant Oats: These oats provide the perfect texture for oatmeal cream pies, becoming soft without being too firm or too disintegrated. Rolled oats can be used, but may result in a slightly different texture.
- All-Purpose Flour: The primary structural component of the cookies.
- Cinnamon & Nutmeg: These warm spices are quintessential for a classic oatmeal cookie, adding depth and a comforting aroma.
- Baking Soda: The leavening agent that helps the cookies rise and spread slightly, contributing to their soft interior.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors.
For the Fluffy Vanilla Cream Filling:
Once your cookies are baked and cooling, it’s time to whip up the frosting. This filling is what elevates these cookies to “cream pie” status!
- Butter: Again, softened unsalted butter is essential. I highly recommend against using shortening, as it can leave an unpleasant, waxy film in your mouth and doesn’t offer the same rich flavor.
- Powdered Sugar (Confectioners’ Sugar): This fine sugar dissolves easily, creating a smooth, lump-free frosting with a delightful sweetness.
- Vanilla Extract: The star flavor of the frosting. A generous amount of pure vanilla is what gives this filling its signature taste.
- Milk: A small amount of milk helps achieve the perfect creamy, spreadable consistency. You can adjust the amount slightly to get your desired thickness.
- Salt: Just a pinch to cut through the sweetness and enhance the vanilla.
As you can see, this is a relatively simple recipe, and you likely have most of these ingredients readily available in your kitchen already!
How to Master Homemade Oatmeal Cream Pies: A Step-by-Step Guide
Creating these delightful oatmeal cream pies is a rewarding process, broken down into three manageable steps. Pay close attention to the cooling times for the best results!
1. Bake the Soft and Chewy Oatmeal Cookies:
The foundation of our cream pies lies in the perfectly baked oatmeal cookies. You will follow my recipe for Soft and Chewy Oatmeal Cookies. Here are the crucial points:
- Creaming Butter and Sugars: Start by beating the softened butter with both brown and granulated sugars until light and fluffy. This incorporates air, which contributes to the cookies’ texture.
- Adding Wet Ingredients: Mix in the egg, vanilla extract, and molasses until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure everything is evenly incorporated.
- Combining Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, quick oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt.
- Mixing Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing only until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough cookies.
- Scooping and Baking: Use a cookie scoop to portion out even balls of dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets. This ensures uniform size, which is key for sandwich cookies. Bake until the edges are golden brown and the centers are still slightly soft.
- Cool Completely: This is perhaps the most important step! Once baked, transfer the cookies to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely. If they are even slightly warm when you add the frosting, it will melt, creating a messy situation. You can bake these cookies ahead of time and store them on the counter for a few days before filling, or even freeze them and fill later.
2. Prepare the Fluffy Vanilla Cream Frosting:
While your cookies are cooling, you can whip up the signature creamy filling that makes these pies so irresistible.
- Beat the Butter: In a medium bowl, using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the softened butter until it is smooth and light in color, about 1-2 minutes. This creates an airy base for your frosting.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Gradually add in the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, 3 tablespoons of milk, and a pinch of salt. Start by mixing on low speed to avoid a cloud of powdered sugar, then increase the speed to high.
- Whip Until Fluffy: Beat the mixture on high speed for 2-3 minutes, or until the frosting becomes wonderfully light and fluffy. This aeration is what gives the cream pies their signature texture.
- Adjust Consistency (if needed): If the frosting appears too thick, add the remaining tablespoon of milk, one teaspoon at a time, beating after each addition until you achieve the desired smooth, spreadable consistency.
3. Assemble Your Delicious Cream Pies:
This is the fun part – bringing it all together!
- Pair Cookies: Select two cookies of similar size for each cream pie.
- Frost One Side: Take one cookie and spread a generous amount of vanilla frosting onto its flat side. You can use a knife, an offset spatula, or even pipe the frosting using a Ziploc bag with the corner snipped off for a cleaner look.
- Top with Another: Gently place another cookie on top of the frosting, flat side down, and lightly press to create a sandwich. The frosting should spread evenly to the edges.
- Repeat: Continue this process with the remaining cookies and frosting until all your delightful homemade oatmeal cream pies are assembled. Yes, it really is that simple to create these incredible treats!
Expert Tips for Making the Best Oatmeal Cream Pies
- Ensure Cookies Are Completely Cool: This cannot be stressed enough! If your cookies are even slightly warm when you apply the frosting, the butter in the frosting will melt, resulting in a runny, messy filling. Patience is a virtue here.
- Uniform Cookie Size is Key: For beautifully symmetrical cream pies, strive for consistently sized cookies. I highly recommend using an actual cookie scoop (about 1.5-2 tablespoons) rather than rolling the dough by hand. This ensures both halves of your sandwich are a perfect match.
- Air-Tight Storage for Freshness: To keep your homemade cream pies wonderfully soft and chewy for as long as possible, store them in an air-tight container at room temperature. This makes a significant difference in preserving their texture and preventing them from drying out.
- Room Temperature Butter: For both the cookies and the frosting, ensure your butter is at proper room temperature. It should be soft enough to indent with your finger but not melted. This allows for optimal creaming and a smooth, even consistency in both the dough and the frosting.
- Don’t Overmix the Cookie Dough: Once you add the dry ingredients to the wet, mix only until just combined. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, which can lead to tough, dense cookies instead of soft and chewy ones.
- Parchment Paper is Your Friend: Always bake your cookies on baking sheets lined with parchment paper or silicone mats. This prevents sticking, ensures even baking, and makes for easy cleanup.
- Quality Vanilla Matters: Since vanilla is a prominent flavor in both the cookies and especially the frosting, use a good quality pure vanilla extract for the best, most authentic taste.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Oatmeal Cream Pies
The classic filling for oatmeal cream pies is a fluffy, sweet vanilla buttercream frosting. It’s typically made with softened butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, a touch of milk, and a pinch of salt. This simple yet incredibly delicious filling is what truly takes ordinary oatmeal cookies to a whole new level of dessert indulgence!
No, for these particular oatmeal cookies, chilling the dough is not required! This makes the recipe much faster and more convenient, as you can mix and bake without any waiting time. However, it is absolutely essential that the baked cookies cool completely to room temperature before you add the frosting, otherwise, the filling will melt and slide off.
Absolutely! This recipe is wonderful for making ahead. You have a couple of options:
- Cookies Only: Bake the oatmeal cookies and store them unfrosted in a sealed, air-tight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Then, make the vanilla frosting and assemble the cream pies when you’re ready to serve.
- Fully Assembled: Once the cream pies are made and filled, you can store them in a sealed container at room temperature for 2-3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If refrigerating, let them come closer to room temperature for the best texture before serving.
Yes, these oatmeal cream pies freeze beautifully! To freeze them, I recommend individually wrapping each assembled sandwich cookie tightly with plastic wrap. Then, place the wrapped pies in a sealed freezer-safe zipper bag or an air-tight container. They can be frozen for up to 3 months. To enjoy, simply thaw them at room temperature for an hour or two before eating. They’ll taste just as fresh as the day you made them!
For the best texture in these cream pies, quick or instant oats are recommended. They cook down nicely and contribute to the soft, chewy texture without being too coarse. While old-fashioned rolled oats can be used, they will result in a chewier, more rustic cookie with a more prominent oat texture.
To minimize cookie spreading, ensure your butter isn’t too soft or melted – just room temperature. Also, measure your flour accurately (spoon and level, don’t scoop directly from the bag). If your kitchen is very warm, a quick 15-minute chill of the formed dough balls before baking can help. Lastly, don’t grease your baking sheets; parchment paper provides just enough grip to prevent excessive spreading.
Recipe: Homemade Oatmeal Cream Pies
Homemade Oatmeal Cream Pies bring your childhood favorite cookie back to life! Soft, chewy oatmeal cookies and creamy vanilla frosting are a classic combination that everyone loves. They’re better than store-bought every time!
Servings: 7-8 sandwiches
Author: Countryside Cravings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes (plus cooling time)
Ingredients
For the Soft and Chewy Oatmeal Cookies:
(You will need 1 recipe of these cookies from the linked recipe below)
- 1 recipe Soft and Chewy Oatmeal Cookies
For the Cream Filling:
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3-4 tablespoons milk (dairy or non-dairy)
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Bake Cookies: Prepare and bake the Soft and Chewy Oatmeal Cookies according to the linked recipe instructions.
- Cool Completely: This is crucial! Allow the baked cookies to cool completely on a wire rack before proceeding to fill them. Even slight warmth will melt the frosting.
- Make the Frosting: Using a handheld or stand mixer, beat the softened butter until smooth and creamy (about 1-2 minutes).
- Combine Frosting Ingredients: Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, 3 tablespoons of milk, and a pinch of salt to the butter. Beat on low speed until combined, then increase to high and beat for 2-3 minutes until the frosting is light and fluffy.
- Adjust Consistency: If the frosting is too thick for spreading, add the remaining tablespoon of milk, one teaspoon at a time, until you reach your desired fluffy consistency.
- Assemble Cream Pies: Take one cooled oatmeal cookie and spread a generous amount of frosting on its flat side. Place another cooled cookie on top, flat side down, and gently press to create a sandwich.
- Repeat: Continue assembling the remaining cookies until all the frosting and cookies are used.
Notes
- Storage: Store assembled cream pies in a sealed, air-tight container at room temperature for 2-3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For best texture, if refrigerated, let them come to room temperature before serving.
- Make Ahead: You can bake the oatmeal cookies up to 5 days in advance and store them unfrosted in a sealed container. Make the frosting and assemble closer to serving time.
- Freezer: For longer storage, wrap each individual cream pie tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before enjoying.
- Cookie Scoop: Using a cookie scoop helps ensure uniform cookie size, which is important for even sandwiches.
- Butter Quality: For the best flavor and texture in both cookies and frosting, use high-quality unsalted butter.
Nutrition Information (Approximate per sandwich)
Calories: 605kcal | Carbohydrates: 84g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 412mg | Potassium: 148mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 58g | Vitamin A: 844IU | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 2mg
More Delicious Desserts to Try
If you’ve enjoyed these classic homemade oatmeal cream pies, you might love these other comforting and delicious dessert recipes:
- No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
- Ladyfinger Strawberry Ice Cream Cake
- Chocolate Meringue Pie
- Easy Chocolate Buttercream
- Easy Fruit Pizza
- Brownie Ice Cream Cake
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