If you have a soft spot for nostalgic treats that combine wholesome ingredients with indulgent creaminess, you are going to adore this Banana Oatmeal Cream Pies Recipe. Imagine tender oatmeal cookies, enhanced with the natural sweetness and moisture of ripe bananas, sandwiching a rich, dreamy cream cheese frosting that makes every bite a little party. It’s a perfect blend of comfort and freshness, bringing a delightful twist to traditional cream pies that’s simply impossible to resist. Whether for a cozy family gathering or a special snack, these cream pies are destined to become your go-to favorite.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For a recipe this charming, the ingredients list might look long, but every single item plays a vital role. From creating the chewy texture of the cookies to crafting a luscious frosting, these essentials come together simply and beautifully.
- 1-minute oats (3 cups): Provide hearty texture and wholesome flavor that holds the cookies together perfectly.
- Bread flour (3 cups): Gives the cookies structure with a slightly chewy bite that’s just right.
- Ground cinnamon (1 tablespoon): Adds warmth and aromatic depth that complements banana brilliantly.
- Cornstarch (1 tablespoon): Keeps the cookies tender and soft by lightening the flour mix.
- Baking powder (2 teaspoons): Helps the cookies rise just enough for a gentle puffiness.
- Salt (¾ teaspoon): Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor.
- Light brown sugar (1½ cups, packed): Brings a rich molasses note, adding moisture and chewiness.
- Butter flavored vegetable shortening (1 cup): Creates a soft texture; can substitute with butter for richer taste.
- Mashed bananas (1 cup, about 2½ bananas): Infuse natural sweetness and softness into every bite.
- Light corn syrup (¼ cup): Adds sweetness and helps keep cookies moist and tender.
- Vanilla extract (1 tablespoon): Deepens the flavor profile, making everything taste warm and inviting.
- Cream cheese (4 ounces, softened): The creamy base of the luscious frosting that perfectly balances the cookies.
- Unsalted butter (¼ cup, softened): Blends richness and smoothness into the frosting.
- Powdered sugar (2½ cups): Sweetens the frosting delightfully without graininess.
- Heavy whipping cream (1 to 2 tablespoons): Lightens the frosting’s texture, making it fluffy and spreadable.
- Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon): Finishing touch in frosting for a well-rounded flavor.
How to Make Banana Oatmeal Cream Pies Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Dry Ingredients
Begin by heating your oven to 375°F and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking. Then, whisk together the oats, bread flour, baking powder, cornstarch, salt, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. This step ensures your dry ingredients are well combined and evenly dispersed, creating a consistent batter.
Step 2: Cream the Sugars and Shortening
In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the light brown sugar and vegetable shortening together for about 2 minutes. This process aerates the fat and sugar, contributing to that light, tender crumb in your cookies.
Step 3: Add Banana, Corn Syrup, and Vanilla
Next, mix in the mashed bananas, light corn syrup, and vanilla extract at a high speed until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. The banana adds natural sweetness and moisture, while the corn syrup helps keep your cookies soft.
Step 4: Incorporate Dry Ingredients Gradually
Add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet banana mix incrementally—one cup at a time—mixing after each addition just until combined. This careful mixing keeps the dough smooth without overworking it, which maintains the tenderness you want.
Step 5: Scoop and Shape the Cookies
Using a medium cookie scoop, drop dough portions onto your baking sheet spacing them about 3 inches apart. Then gently press each mound down using your fingers or the bottom of a glass to about ½ inch thickness. This shaping helps create that perfect cookie texture and size.
Step 6: Bake the Cookies
Bake for 6 to 7 minutes. Although they will look a bit soft in the middle, that’s exactly what you want for a soft, chewy biscuit base. After removing them from the oven, allow the cookies to cool on the sheet for one to two minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 7: Make the Cream Cheese Frosting
While your cookies cool, beat together the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth. Then add half of the powdered sugar and mix until incorporated. Follow with the rest of the sugar, a tablespoon of heavy cream, and vanilla extract, beating on high speed until light and fluffy—around two minutes. Add extra heavy cream as needed to get the perfect spreadable consistency.
Step 8: Assemble Your Banana Oatmeal Cream Pies Recipe
Pipe about 1½ tablespoons of frosting onto the flat side of half the cookies. Then gently sandwich each frosted cookie with an unfrosted partner to create your iconic cream pies. These are best enjoyed once the frosting firms up slightly, but they’re tempting right away!
How to Serve Banana Oatmeal Cream Pies Recipe
Garnishes
Adding a simple garnish can take these pies to the next level. Consider a light dusting of cinnamon or a sprinkle of finely chopped walnuts on the frosting for an added crunch and a beautiful presentation. Fresh banana slices on the side add a fresh burst of flavor and color that makes serving extra special.
Side Dishes
These cream pies are wonderful on their own, but pairing them with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream enhances the experience perfectly. If you want a refreshing side, a crisp glass of milk or a cup of spiced chai tea balances the sweetness and makes each bite even more enjoyable.
Creative Ways to Present
For a fun twist, serve your Banana Oatmeal Cream Pies Recipe as mini sliders on small dessert plates, layering them with fresh berries between several pies for visual appeal. You can also stack them in a pretty glass jar layered with parchment paper for a picnic or party favor that everyone will rave about.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
These cream pies keep beautifully when stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. If your kitchen is warm, consider refrigerating them to preserve the frosting’s texture, though let them come back to room temperature before serving for the best flavor.
Freezing
Want to make a batch ahead of time? You can freeze the cookies separately in an airtight container for up to three months. Once ready to serve, thaw the cookies fully and then assemble the cream pies with freshly made frosting to maintain the perfect texture and taste.
Reheating
Since these cream pies are best enjoyed at room temperature, gently warming the cookie halves in the oven for a few minutes before frosting can freshen them up nicely. Avoid microwaving assembled pies as the frosting might melt and lose its charm.
FAQs
Can I use regular butter instead of vegetable shortening?
Absolutely! Using butter will give your cookies a richer flavor, though the texture might be slightly less tender than shortening. It’s a perfect swap if you prefer a more buttery taste.
What is the best way to mash bananas for this recipe?
Use very ripe bananas for natural sweetness. Mash them thoroughly with a fork or potato masher to a smooth consistency without large chunks, ensuring an even texture in the cookies.
Can I make these cream pies gluten-free?
To make this recipe gluten-free, substitute the bread flour with a high-quality gluten-free all-purpose flour blend and ensure your oats are certified gluten-free. This swap will keep the wonderful texture while catering to gluten sensitivities.
How do I know when the cookies are done baking?
The cookies still look a bit soft in the center after baking—that’s exactly what you want! They will firm up as they cool, leaving you with tender, chewy bites.
Can the frosting be made dairy-free?
Yes! You can replace the cream cheese with a dairy-free cream cheese alternative and use dairy-free butter. Adjust the cream portion accordingly, and you’ll have a delicious vegan-friendly frosting.
Final Thoughts
You really can’t go wrong with the comforting flavors and textures packed into this Banana Oatmeal Cream Pies Recipe. It’s like a little hug in dessert form—soft cookies, sweet banana, and rich frosting all rolled into one unforgettable treat. I can’t wait for you to make it, share it, and love every bite as much as I do.
Print
Banana Oatmeal Cream Pies Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 28 sandwich cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delight in these soft and chewy Banana Oatmeal Cream Pies, featuring wholesome oats and mashed bananas in the cookies, sandwiched with a light and fluffy cream cheese frosting. Perfect for a comforting treat that balances sweet and hearty flavors.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups 1-minute oats (300g)
- 3 cups bread flour (389g)
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon (8g)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (9g)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder (6g)
- ¾ teaspoon salt (5g)
Wet Ingredients for Cookies
- 1½ cups light brown sugar (packed, 313g)
- 1 cup butter flavored vegetable shortening or butter (189g)
- 1 cup mashed banana (about 2½ bananas, 255g)
- ¼ cup light corn syrup (85mL)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (11mL)
Frosting
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened (62g)
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened (56g)
- 2½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 to 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the oats, bread flour, baking powder, cornstarch, salt, and ground cinnamon until uniformly combined.
- Cream Sugars and Shortening: Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, cream the light brown sugar and vegetable shortening (or butter) on medium speed for 2 minutes until the mixture is light and smooth.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Add the mashed banana, light corn syrup, and vanilla extract to the creamed mixture. Mix at high speed until the batter becomes light and fluffy.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture, one cup at a time, mixing just until each addition is incorporated to avoid overmixing.
- Portion and Shape Cookies: With a medium cookie scoop, portion out the dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing the cookies about 3 inches apart. Gently press each dough ball with your fingers or the bottom of a glass to flatten to about ½ inch thickness.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 6 to 7 minutes. The cookies will appear soft in the center; this is expected for the perfect texture.
- Cool: Remove cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 1 to 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare Frosting: While the cookies cool, beat together the softened cream cheese and unsalted butter until smooth using a mixer.
- Add Sugar and Cream: Add half of the powdered sugar and mix until combined. Then add the remaining powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon of heavy cream, and vanilla extract and beat on high speed for about 2 minutes until the frosting is light and fluffy. Add the remaining tablespoon of cream if the frosting needs loosening.
- Assemble Cream Pies: Pipe approximately 1½ tablespoons of frosting onto the bottom side of half the cookies. Top each with one of the remaining unfrosted cookies to form sandwich cookies.
Notes
- Ensure the banana is well mashed to integrate smoothly into the cookie dough.
- Do not overbake the cookies; they should be soft in the center when removed from the oven to maintain moisture.
- The frosting consistency can be adjusted with heavy cream to your preference for spreading or piping.
- Cookies can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- For a vegan option, substitute butter and cream cheese with plant-based alternatives and ensure powdered sugar is vegan.
