This review of Joanna Gaines’ Oatmeal Cream Pies from Magnolia Table Cookbook Vol. 2 is all about comfort, nostalgia, and the kind of homemade dessert that instantly feels familiar. One bite of these soft oatmeal sandwich cookies takes you right back to childhood, but with the fresher flavor and better texture that only comes from baking them yourself. They are the sort of treat you can imagine packing for a picnic, sharing after dinner, or making on a quiet weekend when you want something sweet and classic.
The Review
This Joanna Gaines Oatmeal Cream Pies recipe is a straightforward oatmeal cookie recipe, which is one of the things I appreciated most about it. The cookies are simple, soft, and full of that warm oatmeal flavor without being complicated or fussy. I also loved that the recipe does not rely on raisins. I enjoy a good oatmeal cookie, but raisins are not something I usually want in a dessert cookie, especially not in a cream pie.
Even if you skipped the filling completely and served these as plain oatmeal cookies, they would still be a success. In fact, I may have enjoyed the cookies on their own almost as much as I enjoyed them sandwiched with cream. They have a sturdy but tender texture, and they taste like the kind of homemade cookie that disappears from the counter quickly.
The Reaction
These homemade Oatmeal Cream Pies really do bring back the feeling of the packaged version many of us remember from childhood, but without that overly processed taste. They are soft, sweet, and nostalgic, yet they feel more special because they are made from scratch. If you enjoy classic oatmeal cream pies, this recipe is a fun one to try because it gives you the familiar flavor in a fresher, more homemade way.
Another thing I liked is that the recipe is not difficult. The process is approachable, and the cookies come together in a way that feels very manageable for a home baker. Because they are so easy to make, it is hard to argue for buying the store-bought version once you know you can make a better one at home.
My family really enjoyed them too. The only note I had was about the amount of filling. For my taste, there was a little too much cream in each sandwich. I have always been the kind of person who prefers cake with very little frosting, so that may just be my personal preference. If you love a generous layer of filling, you may find the amount perfect.
I spread the filling evenly across all of the cookies before sandwiching them together, and the finished pies felt a bit heavy to me. That may also be because my cookies did not flatten as much as the ones shown in the book photo, so my cookie-to-filling ratio was different. If your cookies bake up thicker, the cream filling can feel more prominent.
The Tips
The biggest tip I would give for this oatmeal cream pies recipe is to think about how much filling you personally like before assembling the cookies. Next time, I may cut the filling recipe in half, or at least add it gradually instead of using all of it at once. That would give the cookies a better balance for my taste.
If you prefer a thick, sweet cream center, follow the recipe as written and enjoy the full sandwich cookie experience. If you are like me and prefer the cookie to be the star, use a lighter hand with the filling. Either way, the oatmeal cookies themselves are worth making.
I also think this cookie base could stand alone beautifully. You could bake the cookies and serve them without filling, pack them in a lunchbox, or add them to a dessert tray. They have enough flavor and texture to work on their own, which is always a sign of a strong cookie recipe.
Overall, this is a great recipe and one I am glad to have in my collection. These Oatmeal Cream Pies feel like a new classic for my house: simple, nostalgic, easy to share, and full of homemade charm. Whether you make them for a family dessert, a picnic, or just because you are craving a soft oatmeal cookie, they are absolutely worth trying.
Until next time, happy cooking!
Kendell
If you watched Joanna make this recipe on Season 2, Episode 6 of Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines, you can get the recipe by clicking here. She shared it on her blog so you can make it at home.
Read My Other Reviews of Season 3 Episode 6 Here
1919 Pimento Cheese
Tomato Basil Soup
Brick Paninis (coming soon)
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