Bodega runs will always be top tier- IYKYK! The snacks, the infamous bodega cat, the bachata in the background. It’s all a vibe. The whole thing is nostalgic. You go in to buy your favorite snacks and leave happy with a compliment from “papi” (Spanish man behind the counter) , your favorite snack, and an eventful encounter (or two). Things always get interesting at the bodega. The snacks for me were always chips, Swedish Fish, pecan swirls, and of course oatmeal pies.

There’s so much happiness that comes from a bodega run. Oh the memories! Now, I cant freely eat all the bad stuff without thinking about how it’s made and the nasty ingredients they include to make the things I once loved. I do indulge sometimes but I try to stay away. When you know better you do better. I recently came across an article that mentioned Oatmeal Creme Pies and the ingredients they’re made with and was both disgusted and appalled. The article references research that proves that our favorite snacks contain high levels of glyphosate (a popular herbicide product that works by preventing weeds). First of all, why are they still selling this? Second of all, don’t they know it’s harming children? The whole thing just made me really mad. So, I decided to show you guys how to make some of your favorite bodega snacks in a better way, with ingredients you know and trust. First up the Oatmeal Creme Pie. Here’s why my recipe is better:

Golden Sugar: it’s less refined and still has traces of molasses that come from the sugar cane plant
Grass Fed Butter: butter that comes from cows that are grass fed, without all of the yucky preservatives and chemicals
Unbleached Flour: Opting for unbleached, whole-wheat flour may increase your intake of several nutrients and minimize your exposure to potentially harmful chemicals
Organic Apple Pie Spice: This spice is loaded with organic spices and includes cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and other spices which make the oatmeal cookies extra yummy. You can purchase at Home Beis on November 1st.
Steel Cut Oats: The vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in steel cut oats can provide important health benefits. (webmd)

Full disclosure, you can use your usual ingredients (all purpose flour, rolled oats, granulated sugar, etc.) to make this as well. I’m just doing my due diligence to tell you there’s better. You do what ya want. No judgement here. lol

Now that we have that out of the way, these are just as good if not better than Little Debbies version. The cookies have a great chew and the creme filling is fluffy and creamy. They’re bomb, and I’m totally not being biased. The cookies are a simple oatmeal lace cookie recipe that only take 9 minutes to bake and the creme filling only includes four ingredients.

Ingredients:

For the Apple Spiced Oatmeal Lace Cookies

2 cups unbleached flour (all purpose works as well)
2 cups quick steel cut oats (rolled oats work as well)
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp Home Beis Apple Pie Spice (or other spice like cinnamon or nutmeg)
½ tsp salt
¾ cup unsalted butter
¾ cup golden or granulated sugar
¾ cup brown sugar
2 tbsp molasses (like Grandma’s Molasses)
1 tsp of vanilla extract
2 large eggs

For the Creme Filling:

1/2 cup of salted butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 of a 7 oz. jar of Marshmallow Fluff

Directions:

First, we preheat our oven to 350 degrees F.

Next, we separate our dry ingredients from our wet ingredients: In a bowl, add in your flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder, Apple spice, and salt. Mix until combine.

In another bowl, add in your golden (or granulated) sugar, brown sugar. Mix until combined.

Then, we begin the cookie process: In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment (if using a handheld mixer, please make sure that your mixing bowl is that of a larger size to avoid a mess), add your butter and creme until its nice and creamy.

Once creamy, add in your wet ingredients (sugar and molasses mixture) until fully combined. You’ll want to scrape the sides of your bowl to make sure that everything is better incorporated. No ingredient gets left behind lol. Next, add in your eggs, molasses, and vanilla extract and combine.

Now we add our dry ingredients. Slowly add in the flour mixture. Scraping down the side of your bowl once more to ensure that everything is incorporated.

You now have your cookie dough!

It’s baking time! Grab your cookie sheet and layer with parchment paper.

Then, use a medium sized ice cream scoop to scoop your cookie dough onto your cookie sheet making sure that each are about 2 inches apart.

Note: I love using an ice cream scoop because it ensures that all of the cookies are the same size and shape.

Bake cookies for 9 minutes and then completely cool.

While cookies are cooling, we make our creme filling. In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, add in your butter and creme until nice and smooth. Next, add in the remaining ingredients. Mix to combine. You should be left with the fluffiest and yummiest filling.

Are you ready for the grand finale? It’s time to add the creme filling! Smear about a tablespoon of the creme filling onto the flat side of a cooled oatmeal cookie and then layer another cookie right on top meeting each flat side. Repeat until all cookies are filled.

Voila! Apple Spice Oatmeal Pies! <3

In case you were wondering…

Because I know you’ll ask, I used my favorite baking tool set to bake these. I swear by All Clad, their products are exceptional, of high quality, and simply the best. There are two options that you can purchase. One that includes the necessities and one that includes a lot more. I’ll list both below along with pricing.