Homemade Oreo Cookies are even better than store bought and super easy to make!
OREOS!! The greatest box snack of all time (or at least in my humble opinion). I went through a phase a few years ago of making all of my favorite packaged foods into homemade versions and these Homemade Oreo Cookies were at the top of the list. Now that Kenya and Chloe are older I thought I would try them again since they have tasted the Trader Joes version and know just how addictive they can be. If you like the Oreos you grew up on I bet you’re going to become totally obsessed with the Weelicious Homemade Oreo Cookies. Crunchy chocolate cookies with a creamy center that’s so similar in taste yet that much more fresh since you made them with love in your own kitchen. For this rewind Wednesday I’m bringing back one of my all time favorites!
As soon as I was old enough to bike to the grocery by myself with a pocket full of change, I was buying Oreo Cookies. I was obsessed with them. My mom didn’t let us have packaged cookies or other treats when I was growing up, so I’m sure that only made me want them even more.
In high school, my friends and I would buy a half pound bag after school and sit around twisting apart the chocolate cookies, making the monumental decision of whether to first lick off the thick creamy center stuck to one side or devour the unadorned crunchy cookie side instead. I don’t remember a ton of moments from, say, science class, but I sure do remember eating a lot of Oreos.
Even though I don’t buy Oreos anymore, I still dream about them. One day I decided to stop fantasizing and come up with my own take on an Oreo that I’d feel good about letting my kids eat. My husband doubted I could replicate the classic taste and experience of the classic, but I plowed ahead and came up with a recipe.
Oh. My. Goodness. This homemade version is crazy good. And the part I love most is that you can use cookie cutters to make homemade oreos in an unlimited array of shapes.
Instead of depriving kids of sweets entirely, get into the kitchen and make them something special like these delectable treats. Your little ones won’t have an easier time deciding which side of the cookie to eat first, but you will certainly feel better about them eating these than what you’d buy in the store.
Photos by Matt Armendariz
Homemade Oreo Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cubed and chilled
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup vegetable shortening
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 ℉.
- Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Place in the bowl of a food processor.
- Add the chilled and cubed butter and the white and brown sugars to the food processor and pulse until it resembles coarse meal. Add the egg and continue to pulse until a dough forms.
- Roll the dough between two pieces of parchment paper or on a lightly floured surface until 1/4 inch thick and cut out cookies with a 2-inch scalloped edged round cookie cutter, or any of your favorite cutters.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes. Cookies will be soft at first, but harden as they cool.
- In the bowl of a standing mixer or with an electric mixer, cream together the shortening and butter, then gradually add the powdered sugar until the filling is soft and fluffy.
- Spread 1 teaspoon of filling onto half of the cookies and sandwich together with the remaining cookies.
Can you freeze these?
Spectrum!
Which vegetable shortening do you use?
I haven’t tested this recipe with coconut sugar, but as it acts very much like white sugar, I think it is worth a try! Let me know if you try it and how it comes out!
I was also wondering if you could substitute coconut sugar for the white sugar at least. I think it is always a shock at howuch sugar it takes to make it taste like an American favorite! Since I gave my kids Oreos in their lunch box yesterday as a treat I will be trying this version for sure. Thanks for posting! Always love getting rid of packaged junk.
Isn’t too much sugar?
The vegetable shortening is what gives the filling that classic fluffiness! You can find some great ones on the market these days like Spectrum. 🙂
These look so delish!! Any chance you be made the filling with something other than vegetable shortening?
I haven’t tested this recipe with whole wheat flour, but I think it would work out just fine. You may need to reduce the flour by about 2-4 tablespoons so that the dough isn’t too dry. Let me know if you try it and how it comes out!
Dear Catherine,
I don’t use white flour for my kids (except in play dough). Have you tried a whole wheat version? Is there anything else that could make them a little healthier (something about replacing part of the shortening or butter, or all that sugar)?