Forget sushi bake–this must-try baking trend can even help your immunity

They say that food brings Filipinos together.

This saying remains true even when we cannot hold social gatherings. One of the most fascinating collective experiences we have gained this year revolves around food. During this quarantine period, the food trends we see online and try to recreate while we stay safe inside our homes have brought us closer. 

With the surge of innovative recipes, the kitchen has become open not just to food enthusiasts but to everyone inside the house. Nowadays, even the most cooking-averse individuals have tried following the latest food trends even once. 

But what made these food trends so palatable to Filipinos? If we take a look at all these new recipes, they share one thing in common – they all teach us important lessons.

At the start of the lockdown, the first viral trend that came out was Dalgona coffee. There was a time when opening your social media accounts meant browsing past images of hand whisks or hand mixers whirring to get that perfect frothy Dalgona mix. As we struggled to get this texture, we were taught to value patience. After all, the perfect Dalgona coffee has to be whipped for at least 400 times.

Next came the ube cheese pandesal. Unlike the Korean import, this food trend innovatively paired a Pinoy breakfast staple with classic Pinoy flavors. We were able to see that Filipino foods can be elevated… and become viral, too!

Sushi bake, the latest of these trends, made the complicated art of sushi accessible for everyday cooks. With the general steps for this recipe going along the lines of gathering all the ingredients, mixing the right amounts, and baking, there is virtually no room for error. This trend cemented the idea that everyone can cook.

This latest food trend continues where sushi bake left off. These cookie sandwiches are also easy to make, which is perfect for bakers of all levels. But this rising trend introduces a new aspect: it’s also nutritious.

Created by Chef Miko Aspiras, the Quaker Oats Cream Pie makes use of rolled oats. Oats contain essential minerals that are needed to keep us healthy and strong. As a natural source of iron, the biggest nutritional benefit of these oat-filled cookies is its ability to boost immunity. It is appropriate for these times when the threat of the virus necessitates strengthening our immune system. 

Additionally, this recipe takes rolled oats to another level by pairing it with cream for a delicious filling. It brings together all the aspects of a viral food trend: it is a delicious, innovative take on an old favorite that anyone can create and enjoy. 

With this trend, we also get another realization: sweet desserts can be nutritious and delicious at the same time.

So, what are you waiting for? Master this new food trend by following the recipe below:

Quaker Oats Cream Pie recipe

Ingredients

Cookies

• 1 and ¼ cups (2.5 sticks or 290g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 1 cup (200g) packed dark brown sugar
• ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon dark molasses
• 1 and ½ cups (187g) all-purpose flour (spoon & leveled)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• 3 cups (240g) Quaker Rolled Oats

Cream Filling

• ¾ cup (1.5 sticks or 175g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 3 cups (360g) confectioners’ sugar
• 3 tablespoons (45ml) heavy cream
• 1 and ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• Salt, to taste

Steps

Cookies

1. Preheat oven to 190°C. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Set aside.
2. Cream the butter and sugars together with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and creamy, about 1 minute. Beat in the egg, vanilla, and molasses, scraping down the sides as needed. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and oats. 
4. On a low mixer setting, slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. The dough will be quite thick, so you may have to mix it by hand after a few seconds in the mixer. 
5. Drop dough onto your baking sheet with a large cookie scoop, or roughly 2 tablespoons per cookie. These will spread in the oven, so keep each ball 3 inches apart.
6. Bake for 10 minutes or until cookies are lightly golden around the edges. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Cream Filling

1. Using the paddle or whisk attachment on your mixer, beat butter on high speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Add confectioner’s sugar and beat on medium speed for 1-2 minutes. 
2. Pour in heavy cream and vanilla extract, then beat on high for 2-3 minutes until fluffy, taste and add a pinch of salt as needed. If the filling is too thick, add a few more teaspoons of heavy cream.
3. Spread 1 ½ tablespoons of filling between two cookies and press together. Repeat to make a total of 14-15 cookie sandwiches.

Don’t forget to tell us about your baking attempts in the comments! If you’re looking for other ways to eat your oats, you can also visit Quaker Oats’ Facebook page. – Rappler.com