Peanut Butter + Oats + Buttercream = True Love

I've been working on my Southern vegan cookbook for a few years now, and for some reason, I've saved the dessert development for last. I have plenty of recipes for the other sections (breakfasts, soups, entrees, etc.), but I'm still hard at work inventing new cookies, cakes, and pies.

My latest creation may be one of my favorites so far. Behold the Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cream Pie:

I knew I wanted an oatmeal cream pie recipe because that seems pretty darn Southern. And I'd been contemplating developing a peanut butter oatmeal cookie until a quick glance through the Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar index revealed that Isa and Terry had already tackled that one. I wanted to make something original.

And then it hit me. Why not combine the peanut butter oatmeal cookie idea with the cream pie? Amazingly, these came out pretty darn good on the first try. They were quickly gobbled up by my co-workers, but thankfully, I saved a few for myself at home.

Clarification: Just to be clear, I did not consult the recipe from VCIYCJ. In fact, I only saw it listed in the index. I used a non-vegan oatmeal cookie recipe, veganized it, added PB, and made a few other changes. I only looked through VCIYCJ to see if there was already a PB Oatmeal recipe. I know better than to try and improve on anything from Isa and Terry. :-)

Two announcements:

• The Middle Tennessee State University Raiders Against Animal Cruelty has launched it's 2010 College Veg Pledge campaign. They're trying to get thousands of college students to sign up and pledge to try a vegetarian diet for the month of May. I'm not in college anymore, so I don't know a lot of students. But I'll bet some of you guys do! Sign up on the Veg Pledge website and spread the word.

• Don't forget to enter my American Vegan Kitchen cookbook giveaway. I'll be choosing two lucky random winners on Thursday. Click here for details.