These amazingly delicious chewy dark and stormy ginger oatmeal cream pies are perfect for the holiday cookie baking season and are reminiscent of a childhood favorite: oatmeal cream pies!
Hello readers of The Sweetphi Blog this is Nick, Phi’s husband, who some of you may recognize from my forays into hand modeling occasionally featured on this blog (see here, here and here to name a few). Phi has asked me to write the introduction to this blog post/recipe because I helped her with the idea for this recipe.
This cookie was developed for a Cookie and Drink Exchange Christmas Party we hold every year. Attendees bring cookies and cocktails and serve them throughout the night. At the end of the party we vote on each in the following categories Best Tasting, Best Looking, and Best Christmas Themed. The contest aspect has made everyone up their game over the years (we’re on year 4), and has really turned out some great looking cookies and cocktails. This recipe was our attempt to keep jumping over the ever raising bar.
I think a good Christmas cookie should have a few things going for it. First, it should I have seasonal flavors. We were pairing the cookie with our homemade eggnog cocktail, so we wanted to avoid fruit flavors like cranberry. For that reason we wanted to make a ginger cookie. Secondly, I think there should be a nostalgia factor. Not much reminds me more of my childhood then reaching in the cabinet for an oatmeal cream pie that we always seemed to have at least one box of. This oatmeal cream pie with chewy ginger cookies really hits both those marks.
I know what you’re thinking, “…but Nick, I see ‘dark and stormy’ up in the title, what’s the deal with that?” Well, like I said, this cookie was for cookie AND cocktail exchange, and I couldn’t help but slip in a bit of cocktail influence into our cookie while we were at it. A dark and stormy is a cocktail made with lime, dark rum, and ginger beer. We ditched the lime because we wanted the cookie to just hint at the cocktail flavors and still pair well with our eggnog. We have the ginger in the cookie, so we spiked the cream filling with rum. In the end, I think the cookie really came together, the oatmeal ginger cookies were delicious and chewy, and the rum, butter cream filling really raised them to the next level #QuakerUp
Now, without further ado, here is Philia to walk you through how she brought my cookie vision to life!
Hiiiiiiii, Phi here! Doesn’t Nicks idea of an oatmeal ginger cookie with rum buttercream sound amazing? I headed on over to Target to get the ingredients to make this cookies and found Quaker Oats Quick Oats 42oz in a special winter canister (available only at Target) and since I was making Christmas cookies I clearly need to purchase that adorable winter oats (only at Target)!
To make the rolled oats dark and stormy oatmeal cream pies you’ll start by setting out all your ingredients (this makes it so much easier when you’re making the cookie batter:
There are three types of ginger in the cookies: fresh ginger, crystallized ginger, and powdered ginger! Triple ginger, triple flavor! You’ll make the cookie batter, roll it in raw sugar and ginger, bake them, then let them cool while making the frosting, frost them sandwich them and then you’re ready to go!
What I learned during making these is the more frosting in the middle the better!
They received many compliments and it was so fun to put Nicks’ vision into reality, here is an in action shot of cookie sampling from the party:
Such a good cookie! You neeeeed to make these, and Quaker has more great ideas on their Facebook and Pinterest pages!
Ingredients
- 3 cups flour
- 1 1/2 cups Quaker Quick Oats ground up
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup butter room temperature
- 1 cup vegetable shortening
- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar dark
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup molasses bold flavor
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 inch fresh peeled ginger finely chopped
- 3/4 cup crystallized ginger finely chopped
- For rolling the cookies in - 1 cup raw sugar with 1 teaspoon powdered ginger
- For the rum buttercream frosting-
- 1 cup butter 2 sticks
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 3 tablespoons rum
Instructions
- Start by making the cookies. Preheat oven to 350. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside.
- In a bowl combine flour, ground oats (I run mine through a food processor until it is a fine like powder with only a few oat pieces remaining) baking soda and salt and set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer (or with a hand mixer) cream together the butter, vegetable shortening and brown sugar until creamy (about 2 minutes). Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula, then add in the egg, molasses and vanilla extract. Beat until smooth (about 2 minutes).
- Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula and add in the ground ginger, cinnamon and the four mixture and slowly beat until smooth (about 3 minutes). Lastly add in the fresh chopped ginger and stir, and then with a wooden spoon stir in the crystallized ginger
- In a shallow bowl add raw sugar and 1 teaspoon ginger and stir so that it mixes together.
- Scoop 1 tablespoon of dough into a ball, then roll it in the raw sugar and ginger combination (I cut the ball in half and then rolled it again) and then place halved tablespoon balls on the prepared baking sheet and press down slightly to flatten it.
- Bake for 6 minutes (or 10 minute if making bigger ones) and then remove from oven. Let cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack (you want the cookies to be chewy so it's ok if you take them out before they're dark brown on the edges.
- While the cookies are baking make the rum buttercream frosting.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer (or with a hand mixer) cream butter (make sure your butter is at room temperature) for about 2 minutes. Then add in your powdered sugar and whipping cream and beat until combined, then add in the rum and beat until smooth. Spoon frosting into a piping bag.
- To assemble the oatmeal cream pies pipe frosting in the center of a cookie (frosting goes on the bottom side) and then place another cookie on top and press together, then enjoy!
Did you enjoy oatmeal cream pies when you were growing up?
These cookies are #MyOatsCreation and use rolled oats and are part of a shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Quaker. All opinions, recipe and photography are as always mine alone.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to know! Leave a comment below or take a photo and tag me on Instagramor Facebook with #sweetphiblog or email me at sweetphiblog@gmail.com, I always love featuring your pictures on my Reader Recreations page!
Sandra Vaughan says
I ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ ginger! I think I have to make these ASAP!
Do you have a good gingerbread cake recipe? Can you tell me how to turn this into a cake without screwing it up please?!?!
Sweetphi says
So happy to hear you love ginger, I do too!! I’m so sorry, I have no idea how I would turn this into a cake (easily off the top of my head, I’d have to think about it!) I make this pumpkin loaf and add tons of ginger – it ends up tasting like starbucks gingerbread loaf!! I am definitely going to add making a gingerbread cake to my ‘to make’ list for 2018. Thank you for your comment Sandra!
Caroline Zidaroff Allison says
Um, dark and stormy + oatmeal cream pies = all my college dreams come true! So excited to try this recipe!
Sweetphi says
Ahhhh Caroline, these are definitely what dreams are made of. Even though they do require a little work, they’re WORTH IT 100%, my friends just asked when these are getting made again lol! Thank you so much for commenting!
Pierre says
Fantastic recipe!! Delicious. I have been trying to perfect a Dark N Stormy cookie recipe for a few years now. By far this is one of the best! The soft, chewy consistency and taste of the cookie is great! The only thing I added was lime zest to the filling and used a bit of Gosling Ginger Beer and Rum to the batter. Also, I did not have quick oats, only old fashion but because it is ground up, did not make any difference. Very yummy!! I will definitely keep this recipe to make each Christmas. Thanks for sharing. Happy Holiday!
Sweetphi says
What awesome feedback, thank you! I love that you added a little lime zest to the filling and a bit of gosling ginger beer and rum to the batter, I will definitely have to try that next time I make these cookies! Thank you again for taking the time to let me know how they turned out for you! Happy Holidays to you as well!
GRAMPY says
Why so much baking soda (22 TEA)?
Sweetphi says
Oh goodness, thank you so much for catching that. It is only 2 teaspoons!!! I updated it 🙂
cheri says
Hi Phi and Nick, love these dark and stormy cookies, you two make a good team!
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much Cheri, he’s a keeper 🙂
Amanda says
This is such creative way to make a grown up treat!
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much Amanda! I’m totally all about making creative grown up treats 🙂
Matea says
Yum! Can I substitute butter for the vegetable shortening? Also, can I leave out the rum from the frosting? (minor over here 🙂 )
Sweetphi says
Yes you can substitute butter for vegetable shortening…but I do have to let you know that they won’t be as chewy (that’s part of the allure of this cookie 🙂 ) Also, you can leave out the rum, you could substitute that for 1 Tbs rum extract ! Thank you so much for your comment, I’d love to hear how they turn out for you!
Julie says
Dark and stormy = our favorite cocktail over here. So these seem like a brilliant idea to me!!
Sweetphi says
If you love a dark and stormy you’re going to love these cookies 🙂 Thanks for commenting!
spicedblog says
Oatmeal cream pies are totally one of my favorite memories from childhood! I love this version…hats off to Nick. Thanks for sharing! #client
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much for the compliments, I’ll definitely share with them with my hubby! thanks for commenting!
Lynn Lovejoy says
Umm can I say I love Nick even more after this post? (I didn’t think that was possible because you know how much I heart him… Halloween Quarantines aside…)… his addition to your blog is SO cute and I just love it. He has a great voice and should totally make more appearances…and now I’m totally going to make Matt guest post on my blog…maybe he can teach you about his AMAZING bagel with peanut butter recipe and his spaghetti with ground beef and Ragu LOL…I kid I kid…he does make a really good iced coffee I’ll give him that. But seriously this cookie looks freaking incredible. I hope you are ready for next year because once you nail down the date, I will be booking my flight to Milwaukee (and omg I spelled that right on the first try)…LOVE YOU (and Nick and Clover) xoxo
Sweetphi says
You are so sweet and so thoughtful! Nick is pretty amazing, isn’t he? I’m totally going to tell him he needs a guest posting series on my blog…more than one person has suggested it…so why try and mess with supply and demand? (I’m totally going to use that theory when i ask him to guest post lol). I’m going to be sitting by eagerly awaiting Matt’s guest post on your blog. When I see him in person and ask about it, he better not give me a blank stare and think I’m nuts! And the fact that you gave a little shout out to Clover, girl, my heart is exploding with love for you! Thank you for commenting!
wearenotmartha says
What an awesome idea!! I’m a big dark and stormy fan and a huge oatmeal cookie fan, too! Also, I’m a sucker for packaging and am loving that winter Quaker container!
Sues
Sweetphi says
Isn’t that winter Quaker container adorable? Thank you so much for commenting Sues!
Janel says
One of my favorite cocktails in cookie form! Spotting your recipe just made my day. 🙂
Sweetphi says
Oh thank you so much for your sweet comment – that just made my day 🙂
Rachel @ Bakerita says
These look amazing!! I was confused by the “dark and stormy” but after reading your description…I’m sold! These look so delicious, love the rum in the filling. Also- obsessed with your background and bottom photography boards, did you make them yourself??
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much Rachel, the rum buttercream is such a great combo with the gingery cookies. And thank you for the comment about the photography boards. I got them from this awesome company called Erickson Wood Words (you can find them on etsy) you can message me if you have any questions (sweetphiblog@gmail.com). I tried making my own a few times, they were a hoooootttttt mess lol.
steworastory says
I have nostalgic feelings with oatmeal cream pies…these look healthier and more delicious than those though! I agree–I’m jealous of your Christmas cookie party. Looks awesome!
Sweetphi says
These were totally nostalgic … yet perfect for being an adult 🙂 Thank you so much for commenting!
Meg @ The Housewife in Training Files says
What more could you ask for?! Booze and dessert? I am in! PS…I wanna join your Christmas party! Cookies and cocktails sound like a great time 😉
Sweetphi says
Seriously, booze and dessert, what more could one ask for? And girl, I’d love to have you at my cookie and coktail exchange…it is so much fun, and I can lure you with said cookies, cocktails, and prizes (it serious business lol).