Moon Pies, according to their package, are, “the original marshmallow sandwich,” and they further claim to be “the only one on the planet†(in other words, the planet Neptune is stock full of off-brand Moon Pies). Moon Pies consist of Marshmallow squished between Graham Crackers and then the whole thing is dipped in chocolate. They don’t look like the moon (unless we were having a total eclipse of the moon), but they are circular like a pie.
Before I went out and purchased one though, I did some research on their official site. I found out that the Moon Pie has been around for almost 90 years! It also seems like it is very popular in the south (it was developed in Chattanooga, Tennessee). There are different flavors – Chocolate, Banana, and Vanilla (and Amazon offers Strawberry and Lemon) and three different sizes – Single Decker, Double Decker, and Mini.
Moonpie.com recommended that I drink an RC Cola (Royal Crown Cola) with my Moon Pie. So, I bought one with my Moon Pie this morning. Now let me just state this, I live in Oregon (USA), and I have never heard an Oregonian say, “Oh, YES, they’ve got Moon Pies in stock!” In other words, they are not extremely popular here. In fact, I had a hard time finding one that was not expired. I took the expired ones up to the customer service desk so they could dispose of them. I ended up with the “normal†Moon Pie: A Double Decker Chocolate one.
The first thing that caught my eye as I looked at the packaging was some instructions on the back. “Microwave instructions: Remove from wrapper and heat on high for 5 to 15 seconds.†Now, I know they did not have microwave ovens 89 years ago, so I assumed that these were optional instructions. So, I didn’t heat it… at first.
Upon opening the package, I smelled graham more than chocolate (which made me drool a little). I haven’t had a graham cracker since I was little. The chocolate coating was thinner than I expected – I could see the graham cracker color through it. My first bite. It is chewy. The overall flavor is sort of a muted graham taste. The marshmallow doesn’t have a very large flavor, and the chocolate just sort of keeps it together. After the third bite, I noticed that the Moon Pie was very dry. The RC Cola helped this a lot.
The Moon Pie sticks in your teeth, but that is kind of fun. I like candy that sticks around a little so you have to work at it with your tongue. The aftertaste is not bad at all. In fact, the bits that got stuck tasted quite pleasant.
Halfway through I decided to heat up the pie. Wow! That was enjoyable to watch. The marshmallow expanded and made the whole thing lopsided. As I bit into the heated Moon Pie, my first thought was how much like a s’more this should taste like. Heating it brought out the tastes a lot more, and it brought up the fun factor too.
It’s a lot fun watching a string of gooey marshmallow run from your mouth to a Moon Pie. The experience was close to a s’more with sticky marshmallow and chocolate getting on my fingers and that hot sugary taste in my mouth. It didn’t have that campfire s’more taste because the strong chocolate flavor was missing. I ended up finishing the whole thing very quickly.
Overall, I liked the Moon Pie when it was heated, but I didn’t like it as much at room temperature. I feel very full from it, and it’s a bit heavy for a snack / candy. It is a very unique candy/snack on the market, and it is an experience that everyone should try at least once. I know that it won’t be something that I’ll crave, but I might bring out some heated ones at a party some time. I need to find some mini Moon Pies.
Buy Moon Pies online:
I live in the South, Winston Salem, North Carolina to be exact. My family used to buy moon pies by the case before they changed the formula. The gramham crackers used to be harded and the chocolate tasted better. They were great frozen but they’d get so hard you’d nearly break your teeth which was great for loose ones. After they changed the formula we stopped buying them and now they’re virtually never seen in my house. Oh well.
September 7th, 2006 at 7:23 amlove the banana ones. Haven’t had one in years.
September 7th, 2006 at 12:47 pmI have a fondness for the banana ones. They have a terrible aftertaste, but I can’t help myself.
The chocolate ones … well, that’s not really chocolate on there, it may as well be carob.
September 7th, 2006 at 12:54 pmi had choco-pies before i had a moon pie. i still prefer choco-pies since they use a cake like ‘bread’ vs the graham cracker ‘bread’ though the name… moon pie – such good memories like honey bun lol ;)
September 8th, 2006 at 12:13 pmbtw choco-pies are korean [though there are SEVERAL knock-off types on the market]
hmm… i’d love to do the ‘asian’ candy/snack review for this site :P
Very descriptive! You make me want to go out and buy one!
September 11th, 2006 at 5:21 pmI saw both strawberry and orange flavored Moon Pies in a gas station in Alabama this weekend. Sadly, I didn’t have enough cash to buy any pies. Somewhat related, I was recently given a can of Sun Dried Possum. The label says “Best with RC Cola & a Moon Pie.”
October 8th, 2006 at 12:19 amThey must be a southern thing because I am originally from Iowa and had never really seen them up there until moving down to SC. They really kinda grow on you.
October 10th, 2006 at 11:24 pmI just need to say this , can you die from eating vinnilla moon pies?,because I just discovered them and I am addicted! I eat one every day, my wife doesnt know about ,this I think she going to kill me. really what can I do? I think this is serious.
October 11th, 2006 at 7:47 pmA moon pie is a certainly something the Gulf Coast knows about. Also we reference any company’s treat that resembles a moon pie, a moon pie. Also you would not catch anyone dead here calling it a scooter pie like they do up north. They are a VERY popular Mardi Gras throw. You will here people especially in Pensacola and Mobile screammming for moon pies during the parades.
Personally I never heat the moon pie…that is just not the moon pie way. Optional instructions indeed.
February 18th, 2007 at 9:02 pmWhere is the best or should I say the lowest price place online to buy these?
February 26th, 2007 at 1:53 ami have never ever had a moon pie before but i have read about them in books.
February 25th, 2008 at 10:55 pmWhat does RC Cola taste like? Pepsi, Coke, Rootbeer, Dr Pepper? Please tell me!!
February 25th, 2008 at 10:58 pmThere’s nothing quite like a vanilla mini Moon Pie heated in the microwave…They’re absolutely perfect. I don’t care much for RC Cola with them, though. And Vanessa, sine you asked: I think RC Cola tastes like a flat Pepsi. It’s very sweet, but not as fizzy. A Coke goes much better with Moon Pies.
February 26th, 2008 at 2:51 amI live in Ireland, where we have Wagon Wheels. I think these are the same as Moon Pies. I am hopelessly addicted to Wagon Wheels… never thought of heating them in the microwave, must try that! We only have regular ones or Jammie ones (with a bit of strawberry jam in the middle, along with the marshmallow). You can buy them individually or packs of 9… so why would anyone bother buying them individually?!?!?!
April 20th, 2008 at 6:01 pmI adore MoonPies! They are amazingly delicious.
September 8th, 2008 at 6:43 amWell I’m a 22 year old from San Antonio Texas, and I love moon pies. However today I feel like an idiot, because I never even thought of heating up a moon pie. I’ve always eaten them room temperature and as a kid they were sort of a special reward for me and my sisters. So I love them but heated up they look really good. I must try this at once.
P.S. If I never return, it is because I ate too many.
December 11th, 2008 at 6:48 pmI’m from Mobile, Al and moon pies are something we associate with Mardi Gras which starts Friday! They go hand in hand here and for me anytime I see them I get that nostaligic feeling sense I moved away and it makes me homesick
February 4th, 2009 at 10:25 pm