There’s nothing like a prepackaged sweet treat to take you back to the good old days—from Twinkies to Cosmic Brownies, there’s no shortage of desserts that evoke childhood nostalgia. An all-time favorite is undoubtedly the Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pie, a dessert you probably begged your parents for during each and every grocery run. And now, the oatmeal pie is back in a big way.
Now that we’re adults and all, TikTok users have discovered a new spin to put on this classic—one that takes it to a whole new level. And yes, an air fryer is absolutely involved. If you’re starting to crave a Little Debbie dessert, get ready to make the old favorite new again.
BHG / JIAQI ZHOU
The Oatmeal Pie Upgrade
When you were a kid, you probably remember that preparing an Oatmeal Creme Pie was incredibly simple. Ripping open the box, unwrapping it, and going to town was the secret recipe. But TikTok has proven itself as the place to go for leveled-up classic dishes, and the oatmeal pie is no exception.
@erica.lachelle is one of many creators who’ve discovered that just five minutes in the air fryer turns this nostalgic dessert into a crispy, restaurant-quality treat when topped off with vanilla ice cream (we all know hot and cold elements make for the most delectable desserts). And so many people seem to agree—her video has racked up nearly 400,000 likes, and has been watched 6.4 million times.
To make the elevated take, the creator simply pops two oatmeal pies in the air fryer for five minutes, then transfers them to an ice cream bowl, where they crumble effortlessly. She adds a scoop of vanilla ice cream, captioning the video, “I’m telling y’all.” The end result looks (and tastes) far removed from the oatmeal pies of our childhoods.
If you don’t have an air fryer, there’s no need to panic—the oven works just as well. Simply chop up as many oatmeal pies as you’d like, and put them in the oven, checking regularly until desired crispiness is achieved. And topping the pies with whipped cream, marshmallows, or fresh fruit can take this dessert a long way.
To take this dessert one step further, there are so many recipes out there for homemade oatmeal cream pies that taste just as good (if not better) than the original product, and don’t come with artificial flavoring. If you’re looking for a recipe to follow, start scrolling on TikTok.
TikTok user @cakemehometonight posted an easy tutorial, using homemade oatmeal cookies to sandwich marshmallow-cream frosting—a recipe that goes far beyond the oatmeal cream pie you had in your childhood. They’re sure to be a crowd pleaser and a fun topic of conversation at your next event—especially if it’s '90s-themed.