A super-soft, chewy, flavor-packed cookie inspired by Little Debbie oatmeal creme pies! With an easy oatmeal cinnamon dough & fluffy marshmallow filling, this recipe is a gourmet version of one of my favorite childhood treats!
More Little Debbie Recipes! Check out my TikTok viral Homemade Cosmic Brownies or Homemade Star Crunch Cookies next!
Why I Love These Homemade Oatmeal Creme Pies
Simple ingredients: I wanted this recipe to taste amazing but not require you to buy a bunch of ingredients you will only use once (i.e. a bottle of molasses). So while these don’t taste exact to the store-bought, they are a super flavorful oatmeal cookie!
Super soft, chewy texture: I didn’t just want to put frosting between two regular oatmeal cookies, I wanted to get a super soft, chewy texture just like the real thing…and I think I did it!
Easy filling: I’ve included a recipe for a simple fluffy frosting using jarred marshmallow fluff but if you want to keep it super simple, you can use the fluff on its own (straight from the jar!) or whip up my alternative vanilla buttercream frosting recipe without marshmallow fluff (still delicious, just not fluffy and gooey).
Ingredient Overview & Substitutions
This is just an overview of ingredients & substitutions; click here to jump down to the full recipe card for ingredient amounts and instructions.
- Unsalted butter
- Light brown sugar: this gives it that super chewy texture. You can use dark brown sugar if that’s what you have on hand.
- Powdered sugar: we’re using this in both the dough (to make it super soft!) and the filling
- Large egg
- Vanilla extract
- Baking soda: not baking powder, as we need the baking soda to help them spread!)
- Salt
- Cinnamon: this is the a key ingredient to a flavor packed cookie
- Cornstarch: this helps make the cookie extra chewy but if you have a corn allergy, you can leave it out.
- Cocoa powder: we’re only using 1 teaspoon to help give the cookies a darker color! You can’t taste it, it’s merely for looks, so feel free to omit if you’d like.
- Quick oats: I haven’t tested these with “rolled oats” yet but they should work just fine!
- Raisins: the chopped raisins give the cookies an amazing flavor and texture. I typically don’t like raisins but they’re essential for making this cookie flavorful and chewy!
- All-Purpose Flour: For gluten free, use a 1-to-1 Gluten Free All-Purpose Flour.
- Marshallow Fluff: This gives it that iconic creamy texture but I’ve also include a simple buttercream recipe without it in the notes section of the recipe card!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make oatmeal creme pies gluten free?
Always check that your ingredient brands are gluten-free (like the oats!) but you can easily make these gluten-free by using a flour like Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten Free All-Purpose Flour.
Can I leave out the raisins?
I typically don’t love raisins in cookies but since they’re chopped, they add a lot of amazing flavor and extra chewiness (without having giant raisins in the dough). You can totally leave them out (no substitutions needed) but I do recommend adding them!
What if I don’t have marshallow fluff?
I’ve included a basic vanilla buttercream recipe in the “notes” section of the recipe card below for those of you who don’t have access to jarred marshmallow fluff! The buttercream is a little sweeter & not as gooey but it still tastes amazing!
Homemade Oatmeal Creme Pies
A super-soft, chewy, flavor-packed cookie inspired by Little Debbie oatmeal creme pies! With an easy oatmeal cinnamon dough & fluffy marshmallow filling, this recipe is a gourmet version of one of my favorite childhood treats!
Ingredients
Oatmeal Cookies
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder (this is for color, you can omit if desired)
- 1 cup quick oats
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (not packed, just scooped and leveled with a knife)
- 2 tablespoons milk
Marshmallow Frosting
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 7 oz. marshmallow fluff
Before you begin! If you make this, will you do me a huge favor and leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe? This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 350 degrees (you want the oven ready as soon as you’re done scooping!)
-
In a small microwave-safe bowl, add the butter and cover with a paper towel (will help for splattering). Melt the butter for 30-45 seconds until all is melted (no chunks left).
-
Pour butter into a larger bowl, then add in brown sugar and powdered sugar and use a spatula to stir until combined (it won't look totally smooth). Allow the mixture to cool for a few minutes until no longer hot (you don't want to cook the egg in the next step).
-
Add in egg and vanilla, then mix. Next, add in baking soda, cinnamon, salt, cornstarch, and cocoa powder and mix again.
-
In a food processor or blender, add quick oats and raisins and pulse until broken up (you want them coarse, not a fine powder). I did this for 10 pulses in my Ninja food processor.
-
Add oatmeal raisin mixture and flour to dough, then mix until all the flour disappears into the dough. Add milk and mix until combined.
-
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop dough into 2-tablespoon sized scoop then bake at 350 degrees for 9-10 minutes. You want them look slightly underbaked, as they will continue baking on the pan (my oven was perfect at 9 minutes). This is important for a soft cookie!
-
Remove from oven and (if cookies have a slight puff to them) gently tap pan on counter to "deflate" cookies. Allow the cookies to cool on the hot pan for 10-15 minutes before removing them. This will allow them to finish baking on the hot pan.
-
Once cooled, use a knife or piping bag to pipe frosting in the center of one cookie then press another one on top to create a sandwich. If piping, don't pipe all the way to the edge to ensure the frosting doesn't squeeze out.
To Make Filling:
-
Beat the softened butter on medium-high speed for 2-minutes until smooth. Turn the mixer to low speed then add the powdered sugar 1/4 cup at a time. You may need to stop and scrape down sides. Add vanilla and salt and turn mixer to medium speed. Add in marshmallow fluff and beat on high for 2-3 minutes until creamy. If it looks too runny, add more powdered sugar. If it looks too stiff, add a tiny bit of milk until you get to the desired consistency. Spread onto cooled cookies.
Last Step! Please leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe! This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Recipe Notes
Don’t have marshallow fluff? If you don’t have access to marshmallow fluff or just don’t want to go to the store, you can make these without it (the texture is less gooey but still good!). Follow the same instructions as above but use: 1/2 cup (1 stick) softened butter, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 2 cups powdered sugar and 1-2 tablespoons of milk.
Elizabeth King says
I haven’t made these yet but I bet they’re delicious.
I’m going to make them for Christmas and was wondering how to dress them up for Christmas cookies. Any ideas?
Melissa says
Hi Elizabeth! These would be so fun for holidays. My first thought is that you could roll the sides (where the filling sticks out) in sprinkles. Or you could drizzle a little almond bark on top and attach some sprinkles that way. Another idea, although I’m not sure if it would actually work, would be to get a small gingerbread man cookie cutter and gently indent the tops of the cookies right after they come out of the oven. Kind of like an embossed look. Not sure if it would look good but now I’m curious and will have to try it, ha!
Allison Satterwhite says
I don’t really like oatmeal cream pies, but these are super yummy!
Shasta says
I’m in the September Challenge to make these and they came out so good!!! I will definitely be making these again. They were so easy.
Rebekah says
I made these for our family vacation this year and they were really tasty! A little too sweet in our opinion, but not a one was left at the end of the week!
GREGORY says
One of my childhood favorites, so I had to give this month’s baking challenge a try. Great recipe, hurry and give it a try, you will not be sorry!
Carla Sumlin says
These are delicious and easy to make! The marshmallow fluff filling is amazing!
Angela N. says
I have made these a few times already, and they’re so much better than the little Debbie snacks! They’re relatively easy and come together very quick. I wrap them single in plastic and put them in the fridge. Definitely worth paying more!
Melissa says
This makes me so happy to read, Angela, thank you so much!
I appreciate you taking the time to leave a review.
Amy says
I don’t think I was patient enough to get the taste just right, BUT I wanted to leave a tip for anyone who subbed in GF flour. The suggested 2tbs of dough made my first batch fall apart. I used ~1tbs for my next batch and they stayed together much better. A smaller cookie for sure, but since GF flour doesn’t glue together as well it’s worth it!
Melissa says
Thanks for leaving your gluten-free tips, Amy!
Kayla S says
These were incredible!!! Made them for a friends birthday who loves oatmeal cream pies and they were delicious! Will definitely make again. So easy!
Melissa says
YAY! So glad you all loved them, Kayla! You are one of the first to make them and report back!
Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review – I appreciate it so much!
Lisa says
Made these today with the Granddaughters, they loved them. Filling was sweet for me , but a very good copycat
Melissa says
So glad your granddaughters loved them, Lisa! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review – I appreciate it so much!