There's something truly magical about a cookie that sandwiches sweet cream between soft, chewy oatmeal layers—especially around this time of year. This Christmas Oatmeal Cream Pie Cookies Recipe brings festive cheer and nostalgic comfort all rolled into one delightful bite, perfect for sharing with family and friends.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients & Why They Work
- Make It Your Way
- Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Oatmeal Cream Pie Cookies Recipe
- Top Tip
- How to Serve Christmas Oatmeal Cream Pie Cookies Recipe
- Make Ahead and Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Final Thoughts
- Christmas Oatmeal Cream Pie Cookies Recipe
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ever since I made these Christmas Oatmeal Cream Pie Cookies the first time, they’ve been a staple at holiday gatherings. I love how the combination of oats, soft cookies, and creamy filling feels indulgent but familiar, and the festive sprinkles add that joyful touch you really want during the season.
- Creamy, Soft Filling: The buttery, vanilla-almond cream filling is luscious without being overly sweet, making every bite irresistibly smooth.
- Chewy Oatmeal Cookies: Rolled oats give the cookies a wonderfully hearty texture and a nostalgic homemade feel.
- Festive and Fun: The dye-free Christmas sprinkles brighten up the cookies perfectly, making them ideal for holiday celebrations or gifting.
- Simple to Make: This recipe uses straightforward ingredients and easy steps, so you can whip them up even if you’re baking late for a party.
Ingredients & Why They Work
The magic here lies in the balance of textures and flavors—from creamy butter to chewy oats and that aromatic hint of almond. Choosing quality ingredients really makes a noticeable difference, especially when it comes to the butter and extracts.
- Salted Butter: Adds richness and moisture; using salted butter enhances flavor depth naturally.
- Light Brown Sugar: Brings a caramel-like sweetness and helps keep the cookies soft and chewy.
- Granulated Sugar: Balances the brown sugar, giving a slight crisp edge to the cookies.
- Large Eggs: Bind everything together while contributing to tenderness—room temperature is key for smooth mixing.
- Vanilla & Almond Extracts: Vanilla adds warmth, while almond gives a subtle holiday flair that's irresistibly cozy.
- All-Purpose Flour: The cookie base—gives structure without weighing down the oats or filling.
- Rolled Oats: Offer that classic oatmeal texture and a wholesome chew.
- Baking Soda: Helps the cookies rise slightly and spread right, keeping them soft but set.
- Kosher Salt: Enhances all the sweet flavors and balances the richness.
- Dye-Free Christmas Colored Sprinkles: Adds festive color without artificial dyes, so you get holiday charm without the guilt.
- Powdered Sugar: Key for the cream filling’s smooth sweetness.
- Milk Of Choice: Helps adjust the filling’s consistency—whether dairy or plant-based, it works great.
Make It Your Way
I’ve loved experimenting with this Christmas Oatmeal Cream Pie Cookies Recipe to suit different tastes and dietary needs. It’s super easy to tweak, so don’t hesitate to make it your own based on what you have or prefer.
- Dairy-Free Option: I swapped regular butter with vegan butter and almond milk for a batch, and the cookies were just as delicious and creamy.
- Gluten-Free Variation: Using a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend and gluten-free oats worked wonderfully, especially for my gluten-sensitive friends.
- Extra Festive Fillings: For a fun twist, I sometimes stir in crushed candy canes or cinnamon into the filling for a peppermint kick.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Oatmeal Cream Pie Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Cream Butter and Sugars Until Dreamy
Start by beating your softened salted butter with both brown and granulated sugars until the mixture looks light and creamy — about a minute on medium speed with your stand mixer. This is the foundation of your cookie’s texture, so don’t rush it. Adding the eggs, vanilla, and almond extracts next helps everything meld into a smooth, luscious batter.
Step 2: Gently Incorporate the Dry Ingredients Plus Sprinkles
Switch to low speed and add your flour, oats, baking soda, and salt. Mix just until everything is combined—overmixing here toughens the cookies. Toss in the colorful sprinkles last and mix gently, keeping those festive dots intact and evenly spread through the dough.
Step 3: Chill, Scoop, and Bake
Pop the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes. While you wait, preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a small cookie scoop or your spoon, form heaping tablespoon-sized balls and roll them gently between your hands. Space the dough balls about 2 inches apart to give them room to spread beautifully. Bake for 9-10 minutes, looking for a golden edge but still a soft center that sets as it cools.
Step 4: Whip Up the Creamy Filling
While the cookies cool, beat the softened butter on high speed until fluffy. Gradually blend in powdered sugar, then vanilla and almond extracts. Add milk a tablespoon at a time to get the filling just spreadable—not too runny, not too stiff. The sprinkle mix folded in last always brightens up the filling and gives it that irresistible holiday sparkle.
Step 5: Assemble Your Cookie Sandwiches
Take two cooled cookies and spread about a tablespoon of filling on the flat bottom side of one cookie. Leave a small border so the filling doesn’t ooze out. Gently press the second cookie on top to make a sandwich. Repeat until all your cookies are happily paired up!
Top Tip
Whenever I bake these Christmas Oatmeal Cream Pie Cookies, a few tricks help everything come out perfect every time. These insights come from a bit of trial and error—I'm hoping they save you some baking headaches!
- Don’t Skip Chilling: Resting the dough makes it easier to handle and helps cookies keep their round shape instead of spreading too thin.
- Watch Baking Time Closely: Cookies look soft when you pull them from the oven, but they firm up as they cool; bake just until edges turn golden.
- Extract Balance: The almond extract is subtle but essential—it layers festive flavor. Don’t overdo it to avoid overpowering the cookie.
- Filling Consistency: Add milk slowly to the filling—too much makes it runny, too little makes spreading tough.
How to Serve Christmas Oatmeal Cream Pie Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I like to sprinkle a few extra dye-free Christmas sprinkles right on top of the filling after assembling each cookie for that final festive sparkle. Sometimes, a light dusting of powdered sugar adds a snowy, elegant touch when you present them on a platter.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair wonderfully with a cozy cup of hot cocoa or your favorite holiday spiced tea. They’re perfect alongside a plate of fresh fruit or even a bright cranberry sauce to add a bit of tartness to the sweet indulgence.
Creative Ways to Present
For holiday parties, I arrange these cookies stacked neatly on tiered dessert stands and tuck in sprigs of rosemary or small pine tree branches for that wintry look. Wrapping them individually in parchment and tied with red ribbon also makes them an easy, charming treat for gifting.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I keep leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for a day or two—they stay wonderfully soft this way. After that, I move them to the fridge where the filling stays stable, and the cookies still taste fresh for up to a week.
Freezing
For freezing, I wrap the assembled cream pies individually in plastic wrap, then place them all in a freezer-safe bag. They freeze well for about three months, and I usually let them thaw in the fridge overnight before serving. The texture holds up beautifully!
Reheating
If you want to warm them up a bit, I recommend a quick 10-second zap in the microwave just to soften the filling, never more than 15 seconds or the cookies get too mushy. Alternatively, let them come to room temperature naturally for best texture.
Frequently Asked Questions:
You can, but quick oats tend to absorb moisture differently and result in a slightly less chewy texture. Rolled oats are ideal because they hold their structure and give that classic oatmeal bite.
Using artificial dye-free sprinkles helps prevent color bleeding, which is why I recommend brands like Supernatural. Also, mixing them in gently at low speed ensures the colors stay vibrant and don’t dissolve into the dough.
Absolutely! Substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free 1:1 baking flour and use gluten-free oats. I’ve tried this myself and the cookies still come out tender, chewy, and delicious.
If you don’t have almond extract, you can simply omit it or replace it with an additional half teaspoon of vanilla extract. It won’t have the same nutty note, but the cookies will still be flavorful and tasty.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, this Christmas Oatmeal Cream Pie Cookies Recipe has become one of my all-time favorites for holiday baking. They combine the nostalgia of old-fashioned cookies with the playful fun of festive sprinkles, and that dreamy cream filling is pure joy. I know you’ll enjoy making these as much as eating them—just the kind of treat you’ll want on repeat every season.
Print
Christmas Oatmeal Cream Pie Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 22 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Delight in festive cheer with these Christmas Oatmeal Cream Pies, featuring soft oatmeal cookies studded with colorful dye-free sprinkles and filled with a fluffy, vanilla-almond buttercream. Perfect for holiday gatherings, these sandwich cookies blend classic comfort with a joyous twist.
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- ¾ cups (1 ½ sticks, 170 grams) salted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup (213 grams) packed light brown sugar
- ½ cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups (240 grams) all-purpose flour
- 2 cups (190 grams) rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup (80 grams) artificial dye-free Christmas colored sprinkles (Supernatural brand)
Filling
- ¾ cup (170 grams) salted butter, at room temperature
- 2 to 2 ½ cups (226 grams) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 1 to 2 tablespoons milk of choice
- ⅓ cup (53 grams) artificial dye-free Christmas colored sprinkles (Supernatural brand)
Instructions
- Mix the wet ingredients: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar on medium speed until well integrated, about 1 minute. Add eggs, vanilla, and almond extract; mix on medium speed until the mixture is smooth and creamy, about 1 minute.
- Add the dry ingredients: Incorporate the flour, oats, baking soda, and salt, beating on medium-low speed until just combined, around 1 minute. Fold in the Christmas sprinkles on low speed until evenly distributed.
- Chill the dough: Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to firm up before baking. Use this time to preheat your oven and clean up.
- Preheat the oven: Set the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Shape the cookies: Use a small cookie scoop to portion about 1 heaping tablespoon of dough, roll into balls with your hands, and place them 2 inches apart on the prepared sheet. Work in batches as needed.
- Bake the cookies: Bake until edges turn golden brown, about 10 minutes. Let cookies cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with remaining dough.
- Prepare the filling: In a stand mixer bowl fitted with a whisk attachment, beat softened butter on high for 1 minute until fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla, starting on low speed and moving to high, until creamy, about 1 minute. Scrape the bowl sides, add 1 tablespoon milk, and beat 30 seconds more. Add additional milk if needed to reach a spreadable texture. Gently fold in sprinkles with a spatula.
- Assemble the pies: Spread about 1 tablespoon of filling onto the flat bottom of one cookie, leaving a small border around the edge. Top with another cookie, flat-side down, and gently press to form a sandwich. Repeat for all cookies.
- Store appropriately: Keep assembled oatmeal cream pies in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days. For longer storage, refrigerate up to 1 week or freeze up to 3 months.
Notes
- Use natural dye-free sprinkles like the Supernatural brand to keep the recipe natural and vibrant.
- To make this recipe dairy-free, substitute with vegan butter and a plant-based milk of choice.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free 1:1 all-purpose flour and certified gluten-free rolled oats.
- If the filling is too stiff, add a little more milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until desired spreadability is reached.
- Chilling the dough helps maintain cookie shape and prevents spreading during baking.
- Spacing the cookie dough balls 2 inches apart ensures even baking and rounding of cookies.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie sandwich
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 23 g
- Sodium: 160 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
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