Make over an old-fashioned childhood favorite with a surprising salty-sweet caramel filling. A quick tip: refrigerate the pies before packing away to keep the filling firm. You don’t want the buttercream oozing out before you make it to the party or serve it to your family!
How to Make It
Step 1
Preheat oven to 350°F. Beat butter and sugars with a heavy-duty stand mixer on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes; add eggs and vanilla, and beat until just combined. Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a small bowl; gradually add to butter mixture, beating on low speed just until combined, about 10 seconds. Stir in oats and pecans.
Step 2
Using a 1 1⁄2-inch cookie scoop, drop spoonfuls of dough 3 inches apart on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. (Or use your hands to shape dough into 2-inch balls.) Bake in preheated oven until golden but still soft in center, 9 to 10 minutes. Cool 1 minute on baking sheets; remove cookies to wire racks, and cool completely, about 20 minutes.
Step 3
Prepare the Salted Caramel Buttercream: Microwave 16 caramel candies (such as Kraft) and 1 Tbsp. heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl on HIGH until mixture is smooth and melted, about 1 minute, stirring at 3-second intervals. Stir in 1 additional Tbsp. cream. Cool at room temperature until lukewarm, about 30 minutes. Beat 1⁄2 cup softened salted butter and 3 oz. softened cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy; add 2 tsp. vanilla extract and 1⁄2 tsp. kosher salt; beat until combined. Gradually add 1 (16-oz.) pkg. powdered sugar alternately with caramel mixture, beating on low speed until blended after each addition. Add 1 Tbsp. cream, 1 tsp. at a time, to reach desired consistency, if needed.
Step 4
Pipe or spread about 1 1⁄2 tablespoons Salted Caramel Buttercream on 1 flat side of half of cooled cookies; top with remaining cookies, flat side down, pressing gently.
