Back to school season is here. While some schools have already started, other’s are just weeks away. That means back to school shopping. New clothes, new shoes, new binders, backpacks, lunch boxes, pens and pencils. I remember those shopping days all too well. I was actually excited for those back to school shopping trips. Call me a dork, but I looked forward to getting a super cool binder, the pretty note pads, and the pens. Oh, the pens. I was, and still am, a pen fanatic. Don’t ask me what it is, but I love pens. Even walking down the pen isle, I just get excited. I have to fight the urge to buy pens. I do. It’s a sickness I guess. Yes, I know, dork.
After the shopping is done and the supplies are bought, it’s then time to start school. More times than not, I was a “brown bag” girl…in my cool new lunch box, of course, and not really a brown bag! The days of sandwiches, hot pockets, soups in a nifty thermos, and snack cakes. Brings feelings of nastoligia just thinking about it.
Walking down the snack cake isle in the store brings back those feelings, as well. When I was younger, I remember riding in the buggy at the grocery store and when we got to the snack cake isle it was magical. I mean the entire isle just lit up, I heard singing and everything. Okay, maybe all that didn’t happen but I did enjoy the rides down the snack isle. It was one sweet treat after another after another, all in one spot. It was definitely my happy place. The only thing that made things better is when my mom allowed me to choose a brightly colored box filled with those delectable treats. Then came the hard part, choosing which box to take home. Oh, the decisions. Do I choose the Star Crunch, Oatmeal Cream Pie, Zebra Cakes, or the Caramel Cookie Bars? Oh the choices! Oh, the confusion. Finally, after much debate I would finally make my decision. Nine times out of ten I would always go the Oatmeal Cream Pies.
There’s something so magical about opening up that celophane wrapper, that crinkle just lets you know something good is in store. Then you pull out that moist, chewy oatmeal filled cookie. Your teeth just sink into it and it’s pure goodness. As the years have past, I’ve gotten older but I still haven’t lost my love for the good ol’ oatmeal cream pie. I’m still not opposed to picking up a box at the store from time to time either. But a few years ago I saw someone had the ingenious idea of making their very own oatmeal cream pies at home. Now why didn’t I think of that?
I’ve made several batches of homemade oatmeal cream pies and let me just tell you, they are every bit as good as those from Little Debbie. This homemade version provides you with two thick and fluffy cookies that sandwich a light, creamy marshmallow filling that is out of this world. You get hints of brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla in the cookie with those gorgeous flecks of the rolled oats. This perfectly thick cookie acts as the perfect base to hold that bright white and airy filling. This will put a smile on anyones face, young or old. Now if I were to open up my lunch box and find this in there, I’m pretty sure my day would be made!
Oatmeal Cream Pies
Ingredients:
For the cookies-
1/2 Cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 Cup brown sugar
1 Egg
1 Tsp vanilla
1 1/4 Cups flour
1 1/2 Cups old fashioned oats
1/2 Tsp baking soda
1/2 Tsp salt
1/2 Tsp cinnamon
For the marshmallow filling-
1/2 Cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 (7oz) container marshmallow creme
3 Cups powdered sugar
1 Tsp vanilla
Directions:
For the cookies-
Preheat oven to 375. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat and set aside.
In a large bowl combine flour, oats, baking soda, salt and cinnamon and whisk to combine. Set aside.
Place butter and brown sugar in a mixing bowl and cream on high until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Once ingredients are mixed add the egg and vanilla and mix to incorporate. Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Mix until just combined, being sure not to over mix.
Using an ice cream scoop, or a cookie scoop, scoop balls of dough on the prepared pan. (if you do not have a cookie scoop or ice cream scoop, scoop a tablespoon of dough and form into a ball and place on pan) Using the bottom of a glass, or the palm of your hand, gently press the ball of dough to flatten slightly.
Place in the preheated oven and bake for 6-8 minutes, they should be golden in color. Remove from oven, allow to cool for 5 minutes on the pan then transfer to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely.
For the filling-
Place butter and marshmallow creme in a mixing bowl and mix on medium-high until creamed. Slowly add the powdered sugar and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy.
Match cookies up, making sure they are like in size.
Add a generous scoop of filling to half of the cookies, then place another cookie on top of the filling. You’ve just made your very own oatmeal cream pies.
Recipe Source: Baked Bree
Leave a Reply