Oh, the smell of gingerbread! It just takes me right back, doesn’t it? It’s that warm, spicy hug that makes everything feel cozy and festive. And when you blend that incredible gingerbread magic with a classic oatmeal cream pie? Pure bliss! I’m so excited for you to try these Incredible Gingerbread Oatmeal Cream Pies. Honestly, these homemade beauties are so much better than any store-bought version. They remind me of rainy afternoons spent baking with my grandma, trying to sneak bits of cookie dough when she wasn’t looking!
Why You’ll Love These Incredible Gingerbread Oatmeal Cream Pies
Get ready for a treat that’s going to make your taste buds sing! These pies aren’t just cookies; they’re little bites of happiness. Here’s why you’ll absolutely adore them:
- That Authentic Gingerbread Kick: We’re talking warm spices like ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg that just scream cozy vibes.
- Perfectly Chewy Cookies: The rolled oats give the cookies a wonderful texture – soft and chewy with just the right amount of bite.
- Dreamy Creamy Filling: The filling is super smooth, sweet, and oh-so-creamy, making the perfect contrast to the spiced cookies.
- Easier Than You Think: Seriously, these are totally doable even if you’re not a baking pro.
- Nostalgia in Every Bite: They bring back all those wonderful, comforting feelings of holiday baking and classic treats.
- A Delightful Twist: It’s a familiar favorite, but with that amazing gingerbread flair that makes it extra special.
Gather Your Ingredients for Incredible Gingerbread Oatmeal Cream Pies
Alright, let’s get our baking station ready! To whip up these fantastic Incredible Gingerbread Oatmeal Cream Pies, you’ll need a few things. Don’t worry, most of these are probably already in your pantry, but it’s always good to check!
For the Gingerbread Cookies:
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour – the base of our cookies!
- 1 teaspoon baking soda – this gives ’em a nice lift.
- 1/2 teaspoon salt – balances all the sweet and spice.
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves, and 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg – our gingerbread spice magic! Don’t skimp on these!
- 1 cup (that’s two sticks!) of unsalted butter, softened – super important for creaming.
- 1 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar – for that perfect sweetness and chew.
- 2 large eggs – give ’em structure.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract – just a little something extra.
- 1/2 cup molasses – THIS is what gives us that deep gingerbread color and flavor.
- 1 cup rolled oats – for that classic oatmeal texture we all love.
For the Creamy Filling:
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar – makes it nice and smooth.
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened – make sure it’s nice and soft for creaming!
- 1/4 cup milk – just enough to get that perfect fluffy consistency.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Incredible Gingerbread Oatmeal Cream Pies
Alright, let’s get down to business and bake some magic! Making these Incredible Gingerbread Oatmeal Cream Pies is a process, but it’s so worth it. Just follow along, and we’ll have the most amazing cookies you’ve ever tasted. Think of this as combining the best of a classic cookie with a spiced, festive twist – almost like our beloved gingerbread cookies but in a whole new package!
Preparing the Gingerbread Cookie Dough
First things first, get your oven preheating to 350°F (175°C) and line a couple of baking sheets with parchment paper. This is super important so they don’t stick! In a medium bowl, whisk together your flour, baking soda, salt, and all those yummy gingerbread spices. Set that aside. Now, in a big bowl, cream together the softened butter and both sugars until it’s light and fluffy – this is key for a good cookie texture. Beat in your eggs one at a time, then stir in that vanilla and the dark molasses. Trust me, the molasses is where the magic happens!
Baking the Perfect Gingerbread Cookie Rounds
Now, gradually add your dry ingredients to the wet, mixing until it’s just combined. Don’t overmix, or your cookies might get tough! Gently stir in the rolled oats. Drop rounded tablespoons of the dough onto your prepared baking sheets, leaving a little space between them. Bake these little gems for about 10 to 12 minutes. You’ll know they’re ready when the edges are lightly golden. Let them cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely. Patience here is a virtue – you want them totally cool before filling!
Crafting the Creamy Filling
While those cookies are cooling down, let’s whip up the filling. In a medium bowl, beat the softened butter and powdered sugar together until it’s nice and smooth. You really want that butter to be super soft here, almost like room temperature spread. Gradually add the milk, beating it all until the frosting is light and fluffy. It should be dollop-able but not runny. If it’s too thick, add another tiny splash of milk; if it’s too thin, a little more powdered sugar will do the trick!
Assembling Your Incredible Gingerbread Oatmeal Cream Pies
This is the fun part! Take one cooled cookie, spread a generous amount of that dreamy filling on the bottom, and then top it with another cookie. Gently press them together. Repeat with all your cookies until you have a beautiful stack of homemade gingerbread oatmeal cream pies!
Tips for Gingerbread Oatmeal Cream Pie Success
Making these Incredible Gingerbread Oatmeal Cream Pies is an adventure, and like any good adventure, a few insider tips can make all the difference. So, let’s make sure yours turn out absolutely perfect!
- Don’t Overmix the Dough: Seriously, once you add the flour, just mix until it’s *barely* combined. Overmixing makes for tough cookies, and we want chewy delights. It’s kinda like with oatmeal raisin cookies – gentle hands are key!
- Soften Your Butter, But Don’t Melt It: For both the cookies and the filling, having butter at the right temperature is a game-changer. It should be soft enough to press with your finger, but not greasy or melted.
- Chill if Sticky: If your cookie dough feels a bit too soft and sticky to handle, just pop it in the fridge for 10-15 minutes. It’ll firm right up, making it easier to scoop.
- Spice it Up (or Down!): If you *really* love gingerbread flavor, feel free to add another 1/4 teaspoon of ginger or cinnamon. On the flip side, if you’re sensitive to spice, you can slightly reduce them.
- Cool Completely Before Filling: This is a big one! If your cookies are warm when you add the filling, it’ll melt into a gooey mess. Patience, my friends! These are almost as fussy as decorating sugar cookies for Christmas.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
A few little things about the ingredients can make a big difference in your Incredible Gingerbread Oatmeal Cream Pies. Let’s chat about those!
Molasses is totally key here for that classic gingerbread flavor and that gorgeous deep color. If you absolutely can’t find it, you could try using blackstrap molasses for an even richer taste, but regular unsulfured molasses is perfect. For the oats, definitely use old-fashioned rolled oats – they give the best texture. Quick oats can get a bit mushy.
Butter, both for the cookies and the filling, really should be unsalted. It lets us control the salt level better. And for the filling, make sure it’s truly softened; it’ll cream up so much smoother that way. If you’re trying to keep things vegetarian, all these ingredients generally fit the bill, but always double-check your spice brands if you have specific concerns!
Storage and Reheating Instructions
These Incredible Gingerbread Oatmeal Cream Pies are best enjoyed fresh, but they store like a dream! Once they’re all put together, just pop them into an airtight container. They’ll stay nice and soft at room temperature for about 3 days. I find they actually get even tastier on day two as the flavors meld a bit! If you happen to have a super warm kitchen, popping them in the fridge for a day is okay too, but I’d let them come back to room temp for a few minutes before diving in so the filling isn’t too firm.
Frequently Asked Questions about Gingerbread Oatmeal Cream Pies
Got questions about these yummy Incredible Gingerbread Oatmeal Cream Pies? I’ve got answers! Baking should be fun, not confusing, so let’s clear up anything that might be on your mind.
Can I make the cookie dough ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can totally make the gingerbread cookie dough a day or two in advance. Just wrap it up tight in plastic wrap and store it in the fridge. When you’re ready to bake, let it sit out for about 15-20 minutes to soften up a bit, and then proceed with dropping the dough onto your baking sheets. It makes busy baking days so much easier!
What kind of oats work best for these pies?
For that perfect texture in your Incredible Gingerbread Oatmeal Cream Pies, you’ll want to use old-fashioned rolled oats. They hold their shape really well and give you that nice chewy bite. Quick oats or instant oats tend to get a little mushy, and we definitely don’t want that!
How long do these pies last, and how should I store them?
These pies are at their best for about 3 days when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. The flavors actually seem to get even better on the second day as the spices really meld with the creamy filling! If your kitchen is super warm, you can pop them in the fridge, but just be sure to let them come to room temp for a bit before eating so the filling isn’t rock hard.
Can I use a different type of sweetener instead of molasses?
While molasses is what gives these their signature gingerbread flavor and color, if you absolutely can’t find it, you could try a dark corn syrup or even blackstrap molasses for a stronger taste. Just know that it will change the flavor profile a bit. Sticking to molasses is truly the secret to that authentic gingerbread punch!
Estimated Nutritional Information
Just a heads-up, these numbers are estimates for one delicious Incredible Gingerbread Oatmeal Cream Pie. The exact amounts can change a bit depending on the specific ingredients you use, but this gives you a good idea!
- Serving Size: 1 pie
- Calories: ~250
- Fat: ~13g (Saturated Fat: ~8g)
- Carbohydrates: ~32g (Sugar: ~25g, Fiber: ~1g)
- Protein: ~3g
- Cholesterol: ~40mg
- Sodium: ~100mg
Incredible Gingerbread Oatmeal Cream Pies
- Total Time: 37 min
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A delightful homemade version of the classic oatmeal cream pie, infused with warm gingerbread spices.
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract and molasses.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Stir in the rolled oats.
- Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Let cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- While the cookies cool, prepare the filling. In a medium bowl, beat together the softened butter and powdered sugar until smooth.
- Gradually add the milk, beating until the frosting is light and fluffy.
- Spread a generous amount of filling onto the bottom of one cookie and top with another cookie to create a sandwich. Repeat with remaining cookies.
Notes
- For a stronger gingerbread flavor, increase the spices slightly.
- Ensure your butter for the filling is very soft for a smooth consistency.
- Store the finished pies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 25 min
- Cook Time: 12 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pie
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: gingerbread oatmeal cream pies, homemade oatmeal cream pies, spiced cookies, holiday baking, classic dessert, oatmeal cookies