1-First Step: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Measure out 1 box devil’s food cake mix, 1/2 cup oil, and 2 eggs. This mise en place keeps things smooth. Room temperature eggs mix better, avoiding lumps for uniform soft snack cakes.

2-Second Step: In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, oil, and eggs. Stir with a wooden spoon or mixer on low speed for 1-2 minutes until a thick dough forms. It should hold together like cookie dough but softer. Avoid overmixing to prevent tough cakesters. If dough seems dry, add 1 tsp water. This step takes 5 minutes and sets the chewy texture for your Oreo Cakesters.

3-Third Step: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions (about 1.5 tablespoons each) of dough. Roll lightly into balls and place 2 inches apart on prepared sheets. Flatten slightly with your palm or glass bottom for even sandwich shapes. Bake one sheet at a time for 10-12 minutes. Edges set but centers stay soft. Watch closely; overbaking leads to crisp edges. Rotate sheets midway for even heat. Cool on sheets 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks. Total bake time per batch: 12 minutes.

4-Fourth Step: While cakes cool fully (about 30 minutes), make the filling. In a stand mixer or bowl, beat 1/2 cup shortening until creamy, 1 minute. Gradually add 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, and 2 tbsp milk. Beat on medium 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy. Taste and adjust milk for spreadability. For extra smoothness, sift sugar first. This classic Oreo creme elevates your creme filled soft snack cakes.

5-Fifth Step: Pair similar-sized cooled cakes. Spread 1-2 tablespoons filling on flat side of one cake. Top with matching cake, pressing gently. Smooth edges with a knife if desired. Repeat for all. Yields 20 Oreo Cakesters ready for snack packs. For perfect soft Oreo Cakesters for snack packs, chill assembled cakes 15 minutes to set filling.

6-Final Step: Dust tops with powdered sugar or dip edges in chocolate for flair. Store in airtight container. Serve solo, in easy dump cake-inspired snack packs, or crumbled over ice cream. Total time: 45 minutes active, plus cooling. Pro tip: Bake extras for freezing. These steps ensure Oreo Cakesters chocolate sandwich snacks taste just like the original. For a store-bought shortcut, grab them from the OREO Cakesters product page.