Homemade Oatmeal Cream Pies
Posted Oct 25, 2023, Updated Jun 10, 2024
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These Homemade Oatmeal Cream Pies are even more delicious than their store-bought counterparts. A homemade filling is sandwiched between two soft oatmeal cookies – all made completely from scratch!
These Homemade Oatmeal Cream Pies are a delicious & nostalgic treat I’ve been making for many years. They are my husband’s second favorite dessert (second only to homemade eclairs), and everyone who tries them falls in love.
This homemade version is even better than the well-known, store-bought variety. Two soft, flavorful oatmeal cookies are generously filled with an irresistible homemade buttercream filling. Also try these oatmeal cookies, oatmeal raisin cookies and peanut butter oatmeal cookies!
This oatmeal cream pie recipe makes enough to feed a crowd. And they can be made ahead and frozen until you’re ready to serve them, which is ideal for entertaining.
Oatmeal Cream Pies Ingredient Notes
As always, I suggest making this recipe as written for the best results. But here are a few notes.
- Salted Butter. unsalted butter or vegan butter are good substitutes.
- Light Brown Sugar. for a bolder molasses taste, use dark brown sugar.
- Granulated Sugar. use white sugar or organic cane sugar.
- Molasses. use unsulphured or light molasses– not blackstrap molasses.
- All-purpose flour. make them gluten-free by using a 1:1 all purpose gluten-free flour blend.
- Old Fashioned Oatmeal: For the perfect, chewy texture use old-fashioned (or rolled) oats. You can use quick oats, just note it will change the texture of the cookies.
- Cinnamon Chips. These are next-level delicious and make these oatmeal cream pies extraordinary. If you can’t find them, you can omit, but I don’t recommend it.
How to Make Oatmeal Cream Pies
Let’s walk through making this oatmeal cream pies recipe step by step, and don’t forget to watch the video.
Make the Oatmeal Cookies
Begin by combining the dry ingredients in a medium bowl, then set them aside to use later.
Next, cream the butter & sugars together in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a handheld mixer.
Then, add the molasses, vanilla, and eggs and beat until light and fluffy.
Next, beat the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
Then, stir in the oats and cinnamon chips on low speed until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
At this point you can chill the dough to bake later or the next day, but it’s not necessary.
NOTE: The dough is sticky. Don’t let that worry you, the dough is a bit sticky but it’s ok! it yields a very soft delicious cookie perfect to use in oatmeal cream pies.
Use a cookie scoop to measure out 1 Tablespoon portions of dough, roll them into balls and place them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheets. Since we are making sandwiches, it’s important that the cookies are the same size and shape.
The cookies flatten and spread while baking, so make sure to spread out the dough balls.
Then, bake the oatmeal cookies in the preheated oven until the center is just barely set (about 10-12 minutes).
Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the pan for 5-10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Make the Filling
While the cookies are cooling, make the filling.
Begin by beating the butter and powdered sugar together in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, or in a large bowl with a handheld mixer.
Then, add the vanilla and cream and beat until smooth.
Assemble the Oatmeal Cream Pies
Once the cookies are cooled and the filling is made, it’s time to assemble the oatmeal cream pies.
Begin by pairing similar size and shaped cookies together to make into sandwiches.
Then, spread about 1 Tablespoon of the filling between two cookies, putting the bottom sides together. Repeat until all the cookies are filled and the pies are assembled.
Once assembled, chill the cookies in the refrigerator, or let them set at room temperature.
There is enough filling
No matter how many times I make these oatmeal cream pies, I worry there won’t be enough frosting, but there always is! Use 1 Tablespoon per cookie to begin with, and go back and use the leftovers on any cookies might not have gotten enough.
How to Store Oatmeal Cream Pies
Store the oatmeal cream pies in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I suggest serving them only slightly chilled or at room temperature, so remove them from the refrigerator about 30 to 60 minutes before serving.
Freeze
Store the cream pies in an airtight container in the freezer. Separate the layers with wax or parchment paper to avoid sticking.
Let the oatmeal cream pies thaw at room temperature for 1-2 hours before serving. Do not microwave or warm them in the oven.
Oatmeal Cream Pies Recipe FAQs
In this recipe it’s a simple buttercream made of butter, powdered sugar, cream, and vanilla.
These oatmeal cream pies last for up to 1 week in the refrigerator and 2 months in the freezer.
One of the reasons I prefer to make homemade oatmeal cream pies is to skip the undesirable ingredients in the Little Debbie version. For example, the #1 ingredient in little Debbie’s is corn syrup. Then there are others like preservatives, red 40, yellow 5, etc.
Yes, you can easily double this recipe to make 36 cream pies!
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Homemade Oatmeal Cream Pies
Equipment
Ingredients
Cookies:
- 1ย cup salted butter
- ยพ cup light brown sugar
- ยฝ cup granulated sugar
- 1ย Tablespoon molasses
- 1ย teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 1 ยพ cups all-purpose flour
- ยฝ teaspoon salt
- 1ย teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 ยฝ cups old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup cinnamon chips
Filling:
- ยฝ cup salted butter softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 Tablespoons whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Make the Oatmeal Cookies
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line three baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- In a small bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon, set aside
- In the bowl of a standing mixer, or in a large bowl with a handheld mixer, cream together butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar.
- Then, add the molasses, vanilla, and eggs and beat for 1 minute, or until light.
- Add dry ingredient mixture and beat until combined.
- Then, stir in the oats and cinnamon chips on low speed until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Use a cookie scoop to measure out 1 Tablespoon portions of dough, roll them into balls and place them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheets. The cookies flatten and spread while baking, so make sure to spread out the dough balls.
- Bake at 350ยฐF for 10-12 minutes, or until the center is just set.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the pan for 5-10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
While cookies are baking, make the filling:
- In the bowl of a standing mixer, or in a large bowl with a handheld mixer, beat the butter and powdered sugar together for 1 minute, or until light. You may want to start with 1 cup of powdered sugar, beat it in, then add the second to avoid a mess.
- Then, add the vanilla and whipping cream and beat for 1 minute.
Assemble the Oatmeal Cream Pies
- Once the cookies are cooled, pair up similar size and shaped cookies to form into sandwiches.
- Then, spread about 1 Tablespoon of the filling between two cookies, putting the bottom sides together. Repeat until all the cookies are filled and the pies are assembled.
- Then, chill the cookies in the refrigerator, or let them set at room temperature.
Video
Notes
- Salted Butter.ย unsalted butter or vegan butter are good substitutes.
- Light Brown Sugar.ย for a bolder molasses taste, use dark brown sugar.
- Granulated Sugar.ย use white sugar or organic cane sugar.
- Molasses.ย use unsulphured or light molasses– not blackstrap molasses.
- All-purpose flour. make them gluten-free by using a 1:1 all purpose gluten-free flour blend.
- Old Fashioned Oatmeal: For the perfect, chewy texture use old-fashioned (or rolled) oats.ย You can use quick oats, just note it will change the texture of the cookies.
- Cinnamon Chips. These are next-level delicious and make these oatmeal cream pies extraordinary. If you can’t find them, you can omit, but I don’t recommend it.
- The cookies flatten while baking. That is normal and desired for a cookie sandwich.ย
- Bake only until they just look set. Please do not over bake or they will lose their chewy soft texture.
- If you want perfectly round cookies I recommend only baking 6 per sheet.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
These sound great! Have you tried making them without the cinnamon chips? Iโve had the hardest time finding them! How much would it affect the flavor/consistency if I left them out? Is there an alternative you recommend? I still have the molasses!
You could leave out the cinnamon chips! I understand the difficulty in finding them! I order them from Walmart (pickup in store) or Amazon in bulk so I always have some! You could try another chip like caramel, white chocolate, etc. Or just make them without!
I can’t wait to make these! A childhood fave I can experience on the adult level, lol. I see you have molasses as a star ingredient..will blackstrap molasses work the same or can it only work with regular molasses? I just bought a bottle of blackstrap. Thanks!
Hey Gabrielle! I don’t recommend using blackstrap molasses in this recipe! Here is a GREAT article explaining the difference! It also shows the results of two different cookies using true molasses vs. blackstrap! https://www.seriouseats.com/2017/02/what-is-blackstrap-molasses.html
I recently made these and THEY. ARE. AMAZING!!! Everyone has absolutely loved them. They’re pretty easy to make, I had no difficulty with the recipe. I’ve made them 3 times and after the first time I started doubling the recipe because they’re so popular that I have to make lots! Thank you so much for sharing ๐
I’m SO glad you love them as much as we do Heather! And doubling the recipe is always a great idea! ๐
Can these be made gluten free?? If so how/gf flour ratio ECT…thank u
Hey Kim! I have not tried making these gluten free. You could experiment and use a 1:1 ratio of an all-purpose gluten-free baking flour, however I would recommend halving the recipe and giving it a whirl to see if it works. (I aways half or quarter recipes if I’m trying a substitution that hasn’t been tested so I don’t waste ingredients if it doesn’t work)!
ooooh, those little debbie ones, I would beg my mom to buy them when I was a kid but she wasn’t a fan . . she like to make use healthy desserts — I wish she had this recipe then! Soo yum!
These look so good. I’m featuring them this week at You’re Gonna Love it!
Thank you SO much Kim!!!! ๐ <3
Oh my word these sound and look delicious!! I can’t eat the box kind, but I know I could certainly eat these. ๐
Thanks for sharing with us at #MMBH!
XO
Hey! Homemade is always better than store-bought!! (well…except for Oreos lol)! Nothing artificial just buttery, sugary goodness! ๐
I love your story! So cute, like the two cookies want to spend time together! I would love it if you would take a moment to stop by and share this over at the Celebrate Your Story! link party. Here is the link if you have the time: http://celebrateanddecorate.com/celebrate-story-27/
Thank you Chloe! ๐
Cookie soul mates! Yes indeed! I know just what you mean about matching them up correctly when making cookie sandwiches ๐ Love your little story too – makes me think of the ups and downs in Dr. Seuss’ Oh the Places You’ll Go ๐ These were a childhood favorite but I’d never buy the store-bought kind now, so I’m glad to have this recipe to be able to relive the joy that is oatmeal cream pies! Pinned!
Thank you Kathryn! ๐ I love “Oh the Places You’ll Go!” ๐ We have grandparents who take care of buying my kiddos all the treats I wouldn’t buy myself! ๐ My dad is determined to be sure my children try every single hostess product ever made. LOL!
These sound so cool and yummy!!! Perfect for summer ๐
Thank you! ๐ I definitely get the itch to make them as soon as the weather starts getting warmer! They’re great treats to take to a BBQ!
Aside from the fact that they look so yummy, the way you told this story was so interesting and entertaining. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe with us on #shinebloghop this week. These cookies look almost too good to eat and I love that there was not only molasses in them, but cinamon chips (which I didn’t even know existed until I read your post) as well! That is a decadent combination ๐
Thank you Maria! Molasses adds such a great depth of flavor to baked goods! I love it! Oh geeze! You have to go and find some cinnamon chips! The first time you toss them in some pancakes or a loaf of banana bread your life will be forever changed! ๐ And thank you for taking the time to read my whole silly story! ๐ <3