Oatmeal Crème Pies

oatmeal creme pies, i found out thru an impromptu pole at work (don't worry it was first thing in the morning and then we all diligently got back to our work and didn't speak recreationally for the remainder of the day) that these little guys seem to be a "southern thang". can this be true? then what about moon pies? sno balls? fudge rounds? oh my! i mean what would childhood be without reaching your little hand down into that flimsy, disproportionately rectangular box and pulling out a cellophane wrapped "pie cookies"? people really!

ok enough. so being the ridiculous person that i am i set out a while back to make homemade crème pies, mostly because i just can not bare to buy snacks in a box - i won't name any names here, but we all know. and honestly, as a woman who's father is diabetic i think it is considered a sin. so i pretend that by making them at home i can somehow make them "healthier". right. so i put an accent mark on the E and suddenly its also french and fancy.

OATMEAL CRÈME PIES

1c unsalted butter, softened

3/4c packed brown sugar

1/2c sugar

1 tbs molasses

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

1 1/2c all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1/8 tsp cinnamon

1 1/2c quick cooking oats

1 recipe crème filling (see below)

* preheat oven to 350 F and line cookie sheet with parchment paper

* cream together the butter and sugars until the mixture is light and fluffy

* beat in molasses, vanilla and eggs

* in a separate bowl sift together the flour, salt, baking soda and cinnamon

* add the flour mixture to the butter mixture beat just to combine

* fold in the oats

* drop the batter by heaping tablespoonfuls on the prepared cookie sheet

* cook for 12 minutes to golden

CRÈME FILLING

2 tsp hot water

1/4 tsp salt

7 oz marshmallow fluff

1/2c shortening, softened

1/3c powdered sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

* dissolve the salt in the hot water, set aside to cool

* cream together the fluff, shortening, powdered sugar and vanilla -- it will seem unmanageable at first, just hang in there it will come together

* add the cooled sated water and beat to combine

* spread the filling on one side of a cookie and mash another one on top.