Have you noticed a relatively recent resurgence of nostalgic American desserts? They seem to be popping up in bakeries and on food blogs everywhere we turn these days. And really, what’s better than a gooey, homemade strawberry pop-tart or a rich, chocolatey whoopie pie? How about a moon pie?
If you’ve done any traveling in the South or are prone to road trips and bad truck stops, you’ve probably come across moon pies. They’re strangely soft graham cracker cookies filled with marshmallow fluff and then the whole sha’bang is dipped in chocolate. According to the Moon Pie website, the Southern treat was born in the 1930’s as part of the working man’s lunch. A moon pie and an RC Cola were a famed combination—you could actually buy both for a mere nickel. The two were so popular that in the 50’s, the classic country song, "Give me an RC and a moon pie" played on radios across the nation.
Today, some things have changed and others have remained exactly the same. You can still find packaged moon pies at many a gas station and novelty food shop. But bakers and pastry chefs are taking the old-school confection and making it their own. In fact, the September issue of Food and Wine has a drop-dead gorgeous photo of Chocolate-Peanut Butter Moon Pies.
• Get the recipe: Chocolate-Peanut Butter Moon Pies at Food & Wine
Now of course, this isn’t the traditional version, but they look darn fine. We’re talking crisp sugar cookies filled with chocolate and peanut butter and gobs of marshmallow. If bakers and bloggers are doing wacky, innovative versions of cupcakes and whoopie pies, what’s next to come for the moon pie? We’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions!
Megan Gordon is a food writer based in the Bay Area.
Related: Found: Artisan Bacon & Maple Moon Pie
(Images: Flickr member grovesa16 licensed for use under Creative Commons; Con Poulos/Food & Wine)
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The recipe looks worth trying, but I have to admit even when my folks and I lived in Alabama, I was never really wild about Moon Pies.
Something about the cookie part never really was enticing to me.
I've never heard of a moon pie, but thanks to your article I now know and are very excited to try one! Even make my own with the recipe posted. Mmmm...
My parents used to buy a huge box of Moon Pies. They both enjoyed eating them after a couple seconds in the microwave, but I preferred them straight from the package. And yes, an RC cola went with it just fine. Or, a Ski!
How fun! I love nostalgic desserts. I've always wanted to try a moon pie - the homemade version sounds amazing! I'm going to be in the South next week - maybe I'll have to pick one up for comparison's sake!
How 'bout slicing a bit of banana for these? Would be like an Elvis Moon Pie. Mmm, thanks for posting.
Oh, I love moon pies and I am not even from the south. I use to sneak them into Christmas stockings but have not done so in years, since I have not been able to find them in the Bay Area. I actually have them on my "must make" list for 2010 and have been tossing around ideas of adding bittersweet chocolate or salted caramel. Yummy post!
What a lovely post! I hadn't really considered the re-emergence of "nostalgic American desserts," but then I remembered that a friend of mine for her wedding several years ago replaced the traditional wedding cake with individual whoopie pies for guests. Now that I have relocated to the South, I'll have to be on the lookout for these special desserts!
My mouth is watering just thinking about these! I like that its like a new, fancier version of smores- perfect summer treat!
In truck stops and novelty shops?? Clearly you've never been to a grocery store in the south. In the cookie aisle you'll find a variety of original moon pies :) Heck, I've seen them sold in Michigan at the grocery!
I've made them myself and they just never match up to the taste of the prepackaged ones as silly as that sounds.
Fun fact about moon pies- in Louisiana we (most I know at least) associate them with Mardi Gras because for some odd reason every parade you go to, you at some point or another will have someone throw you a moon pie. All the kids (and adults) stand there eating them between floats.
Moon pies are easy to find in the grocery store where I live, in a few flavors to boot.
The one snack that I've been surprised to find in the bakery area lately are whoopie pies. A treat I used to only find in the Northeast while I was visiting family and only at the flea & farmer's markets (usually sold by Amish and Mennonites). It's definitely not in the culinary vocabulary where I live.
I think the peanut butter moon pie looks delicious although I usually don't like things that sweet. I have seen the original through the years on various road trips but never been tempted. I have had a high end pop tart too and it was pretty tasty. I like the concept of a mediocre treat taken to new levels.
This recipe is just what I've been looking for. One of my favorite Los Angeles bakeries just started doing moon pies and it has rekindled my childhood obsession with these lunar lovelies.
I love peanut butter and chocolate, and a little more sugar can only make it better! Will definitely be making these fabulous treats.
Yum! Ive never heard of these before... probably because I grew up in Colorado... would love to sample nostalgic desserts from around the country!
I make my own, and they are both delicious and fun to make!
I live in Vermont, so I call them Moonlight Pies:
http://www.knowwhey.com/2010/05/moonlight-pies-in-vermont.html
I love moonpies! Bring them back! Bring them back! This recipe looks delish!