Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Cream Pies
Football season is in full swing, cider mills are open for business, leaves are beginning to change colors and there is a crispness in the air. Fall is coming in full-force. While I love summer, and always hate to see it go, I must admit that fall has always been my favorite season. This year fall seemed to sneak up on me quickly, typically come September 1st I have Uggs out and have become the definition of a basic babe. This year definitely is not like that. Despite not being ready to give up my sundresses, fall officially arrived on Monday. You know what that means, I had to welcome the pumpkin spiced filled season with a dessert. I decided to make Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Cream Pie Cookies. This is the first fall recipe I am sharing this year, and let me tell you these pumpkin spice oatmeal cream pies just may be the only recipe you need this fall. These pumpkin spice cookies have been a huge hit with everyone who has tasted them. I personally made my pumpkin spice oatmeal cream pie cookies vegan by using plant-based butter. However, you can definitely use regular butter to make these cookies. I would suggest going with a salted butter and dropping the dash of salt from the recipe.
These pumpkin spice oatmeal cream pie cookies are absolutely delicious, and sure to be the hit of any fall gathering you attend this year. Trust me, no one will be able to have just one!
Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Cream Pies
Ingredients
For the cookies
2 cups oat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
dash of salt
1.5 teaspoons pumpkin spice powder
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup butter, softened*
1 1/4 cups brown sugar**
1.5 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups rolled oats
For the buttercream
1/2 cup (1 stick butter)*
2 cups powdered sugar
2.5 teaspoons pumpkin spice powder
*I used Country Crock Plant-Based Almond Oil butter, however, any butter of your choice will work.
** I used Splenda brown sugar. However, you can use regular brown sugar or 1 cup of brown sugar and 1/2 cup white sugar. It\’s your choice and preference.
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
For the cookies:
3. In a medium bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin spice powder.
4. In a separate bowl, beat together pumpkin puree, butter, sugar, and vanilla.
5. Once combined add your dry mixture from step 3.
6. Beat to combine.
7. Fold in the oats.
8. Place rounded tablespoons of dough 1/2-inch apart onto your parchment-covered baking sheet.
9. Grease the bottom of a glass cup.
10. Use the bottom of the cup to lightly press down on each cookie to flatten it out.
11. Bake for 5-8 minutes, or until lightly browned around the edges.
12. Remove from the oven.
13. Allow the cookies to completely cool before frosting.
For the buttercream:
14. Add softened butter to a bowl and beat for 1 minute.
15. Add powdered sugar and beat for an additional 1 minute. If it\’s not coming together add a small splash of water.
16. Add the pumpkin spice.
17. Beat until combined and fluffy.
18. To assemble, pipe or spread the buttercream onto the bottom of one cooled cookie,m top with another cookie.
19. Repeat with the remaining cookies.
20. Enjoy, yum!
31 Things to Do in October
Hello October! I honestly cannot believe that summer is over, and we are now right in the heart of fall. In today\’s post, I am sharing a list of things to do in October. Yes, that is 31 ideas, one for every day of the month. If you want even more ideas check out 30 Ways to Celebrate September or my Fall To-Do list!
1. Celebrate vegan baking day, and whip up something delicious.
2. Take a trip to the pumpkin patch. Don\’t forget to snap some cute photos while you\’re there!
3. Host a horror movie marathon. Think The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Edward Scissorhands, The Birds and more.
4. Whip up a halloween-themed dessert. I love making a different novelty treat for each holiday. I have made Spider Web Cupcakes, Bat Bite Cupcakes and even Frankenstein treats.
5. Head to the cider mill and enjoy a cup of hot cider.
6. It\’s sweater weather, and blanket scarf season. Treat yourself to something new.
7. Orange and black are iconically Halloween colors. Get creative with these two colors by preparing different foods with them in mind this October. Think black bean soup, butternut squash soup, blackberry cobbler and more.
8. Get outside and enjoy the cooler weather. I love hiking and biking.
9. Volunteer at a soup kitchen or with a local organization to help the less fortunate in your area.
10. Look for a fall festivals and Halloween events in your area. The Detroit Zoo hosts Zoo Boo for the littles, theres a pop-up pumpkin patch in downtown Detroit and you can\’t forget Halloweekends at Cedar Point.
11. Head up north to leaf peep and enjoy all the colors.
13. Head to Trader Joes and stock up on everything pumpkin spice.
14. Try out a new workout class. I am currently addicted to rock climbing.
15. Make a pumpkin themed treat to bring to work.
20. Enjoy a cheese and charcuterie board, while you watch Hocus Pocus.
21. Try out a new soup or chili recipe. I made white chicken chili a few years ago and fell in love with it.
22. Paint your nails a dark polish color. Zoya has some great options in their new fall collection.
23. Whip up a batch of homemade applesauce – yum my favorite!
24. Get lost in a corn maze.
25. Head to a drive-in to watch a movie. Don\’t forget the blankets and snacks.
26. Start a new book.
27. Take a hot air balloon ride. Seriously how amazing would it be to see the colors from the sky.
28. Make homemade caramel apples.
29. Do something nice for someone.
Coming to Detroit: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical + GIVEAWAY CLOSED
You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen, but do you recall – the most famous reindeer of all? Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical will be flying into the Fox Theatre and making hearts glow for two performances on Sunday, December 1st.
With five successful years of touring and more than 500 performances, the \”most famous reindeer of all\” has become one of the highest-rated holiday television special performances. You can catch Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical featuring all the characters you have come to love Sunday, Decemeber 1 at the Fox Theatre. You won\’t want to miss the world\’s most famous reindeer a cast of iconic characters including Hermey the Elf, Yukon Cornelius, and the Abominable Snow Monster as they help Santa save Christmas during two performances on Sunday, December 1 at 2:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Want to take your family to see Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical, enter below for your chance to win a family 4-pack of tickets to the show.
If you want to lock down your tickets to see Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical, be sure to purchase them here.
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Michigan Opera Theatre\’s Season-Opening Gala to Feature Michael Fabiano and More!
- 5:30 p.m.: Cocktail reception
- 6:30 p.m.: “An Evening with Michael Fabiano” concert
- 8:00 p.m.: Dinner
- 10:00 p.m.: Dessert and Afterglow
2019 Fall Activities
Months and seasons tend to fly by (except winter – it never ends), that\’s why I like to write things down that I want to do – like this fall activities list. With fall officially here, I am ready to check a few things off of my 2019 fall bucket list. Some of the items that you will find on my fall activities list are repeats from previous years, but they\’re just too good to pass up. Don\’t get me wrong, I am all about rooftop dining, spending time out on the water, and beach bonfires, but my love for all things fall is incomparable. I cannot wait for all the adventures that fall will bring. That is why I have rounded up all of the best fall activities to make it the best season of the year. Now grab your PSL, snuggle up and plan out which fall bucket list activity you want to do first! What activities are you looking forward to most this year?
2019 Fall Bucket List
1. Visit a cider mill
Out of all the cider mills in Michigan, Yates Cider Mill is my absolute favorite. I love getting a cup of hot cider and a plain donut or molasses cookie.
2. Pick apples
One of my favorite traditions is heading to a local apple orchard to pick apples with my mum. My favorite apples are honeycrisp.
3. Go horseback riding
Going horseback riding is new to my list this year. After watching a ton of Hallmark movies (hello perfect romance), I now want to hop onto a horse and gallop around.
4. Volunteer at a soup kitchen
This fall bucket list item is near and dear to my heart, Meeme (my grandma) used to do this every year. I want to keep her traditions alive and volunteer to work with those who are less fortunate.
5. Catch a football game
Her favorite season is football. Spend your Saturday tailgating your favorite college team, or support your city\’s NFL team on a Sunday. Go Blue! I am a University of Michigan fan and a Detroit Lions fan – how do you cheer for?
6. Book a camping trip
I haven\’t been camping in forever, but there is nothing like setting up a tent or hammock and sleeping among the stars.
7. Go on a nature hike
One of my favorite things to do is go on a fall nature hike. I love seeing the colors change while exploring the outdoors, while the leaves crackle beneath my feet. This year I am hoping to make it back up to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and going on some gorgeous nature hikes.
8. Take a scenic drive
Sometimes we forget about the simplest of activities, like taking a scenic drive around town.
9. Go rock climbing
Have you ever been rock climbing before? Rock climbing is something that I really want to try out and get good at.
10. Visit a pumpkin patch
I definitely am not one to go to a parking lot to pick my pumpkin. I love going out to Blake\’s and picking out the perfect pumpkin from the patch.
11. Pay it forward
Paying it forward is something I think people more people should do. It makes others feel good and ultimately will make you feel good.
12. Bake a new treat
Head to Pinterest and look up recipes for some new treats. Think apples, pumpkin and more…yum
13. Venture through a corn maze
I love getting lost in a corn maze. Around the area I live in there are a few farms that create new and elaborate corn mazes each year.
14. Have a bonfire
Enjoy some of the last few nights of the year hanging out outside by a warm bonfire, roasting marshmallows and making s\’ mores.
15. Car camp
Seriously, how much fun would car camping be? You don\’t need a truck to car camp all you need is a big enough area to lay down and get some rest underneath the stars. However, I definitely want to fall asleep in the bed of a truck under the stars.
16. Go to a haunted house
Want to get completely spooked? Head to Erebus Haunted Attraction in Pontiac, Michigan. This haunted house has been rated one of the best in the midwest. I haven\’t been there before, because I absolutely hate scary things. However this year I would like to check it out.
17. Make a gratitude list
Sometimes we lose sight of what is important in life, and making a gratitude list is a great reminder of those important things.
18. Carve a pumpkin
This is one tradition I cannot get enough of, especially the whole eating pumpkin seeds part.
19. Head up north for fall colors
I am not sure about where you live, but Michigan has some of the most gorgeous places filled with the most beautiful colors. My favorite thing to do when the leaves start to change is head up north.
20. Try a new soup recipeA crisp fall day and a bowl of tomato bisque and grilled cheese complete each other. This year I want to venture out of my comfort zone and try making my own tomato bisque.
21. Bake an apple pie
After picking apples I love to come home and make a homemade pie.
22. Spend a weekend in a cabin in the woods
Plan out a weekend getaway and rent a cabin. I am hoping to make a quick escape to a cabin on Lake Michigan or Lake Superior.
Fashion meets Food 