Semi-Healthy Oatmeal Cream Pies

Good Afternoon and Happy Tuesday!

Okay, I know that this is supposed to be blog about healthy food but every once in a while a gal needs to bake and today's baking extravaganza came about by my kids asking "why" I won't buy them Little Debbie Oatmeal Pies.  Now, my kids do know better but that does not mean that they don't ask me for junk anyhow.  I am not a nazi about junk food because I think it just makes my kids want it even more but do try to limit their consumption of processed foods and do have a variety of  fruits and veggies in the house at all times.  Here it comes.......it is all about balance and with that being said I thought it would be fun to make a semi-healthy version of Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies.

I must warn you that these are "dangerously" good and that should be enjoyed in moderation.  I made my favorite Chewy Oatmeal Cookie recipe and then filled them with a delightful Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting.  OMG!  The cookie itself does not have a lot of butter because I wanted to save room for the buttercream filling.  There is just no way around making a buttercream filling without butter.... or if there is I would love for someone to share it with me!

Oatmeal Sandwich Cookies filled with Cinnamon Buttercream

1 cup Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup of natural cane juice sugar
1/2 cup of brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups rolled oats
2 tbsp wheat germ

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In medium bowl beat the butter and sugar . Beat in the brown sugar and then the egg. Add applesauce, followed by the vanilla. Gently stir in the flour mixture, the oats and wheatgerm.

Drop by tablespoons on 2 cookie sheets lined with parchment paper. Flatten the cookies with the back of a fork. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until they are still moist and soft.  Do not over bake.  Cool.

Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting

1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1 to 2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until combined, scraping bowl. Beat on high until light and fluffy.

Take cooled oatmeal cookie and spread it with a thin layer of Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting.  Top with another Oatmeal Cookie to create a sandwich.

Enjoy!

Now I wil have to let you know what my kids think about these Homemade Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies!  My husband declared that these were "WAY" better than the packaged kind.  I tend to agree since I know all the ingredients that went into them:)  Let's just say that these cookies are "Freaking" amazing. OMG good! "Hide these from me Good."

It is a good thing that I took one of the Portland Adventure Bootcamp classes this morning because these cookies are worth every calorie.

I promise to post a healthy recipe tomorrow but I am off to study for my first Institute for Integrative Nutrition exam.  

Have a great rest of your day!