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What is a Moon Pie?

Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

In the Deep South region of the United states, few snack foods have reached the iconic status of a Moon Pie. Combined with an RC or Double Cola, the Moon Pie is considered a nearly perfect meal for many native Southerners. While other regions of the country may have their Scooter Pie or their Whoopie Pie, only one bakery in Chattanooga, Tennessee can claim ownership of the original Moon Pie recipe.

According to legend, the Chattanooga Bakery Company was formed in order to find uses for its parent company's excess flour. An employee named Earl Mitchell spoke with a number of coal miners in the company's sales territory and asked them what an ideal snack would look like. They described a substantial cookie and marshmallow snack that could fit in their lunch boxes. When Mitchell asked how large this proposed snack should be, one miner is said to have pointed at the full moon.

Legend says a miner pointed to the moon when asked how large the treat that would become known as a Moon Pie should be.
Legend says a miner pointed to the moon when asked how large the treat that would become known as a Moon Pie should be.

Mitchell then took these ideas back to the bakery, where he happened to notice some graham cracker cookies covered with a marshmallow fluff cooling on a windowsill. Mitchell added a second graham cracker cookie and dipped the entire concoction in chocolate. The result was the first Moon Pies, and the bakery decided to produce the snack on a much larger scale, eventually dedicating all of its production lines to Moon Pie manufacturing.

During Mardi Gras celebrations in Mobile, Alabama, it is not unusual for parade participants to throw Moon Pies to the crowds along the streets.
During Mardi Gras celebrations in Mobile, Alabama, it is not unusual for parade participants to throw Moon Pies to the crowds along the streets.

The original Moon Pie produced exclusively by the Chattanooga Bakery, Inc. is still being sold around the world today. The original chocolate flavored coating has been supplemented with vanilla, banana, strawberry and other flavors. A miniature version of the Moon Pie has also been developed. As of this writing, there is no diet or low-carb version of the snack available, but homemade variations using alternative ingredients are still possible.

Moon pies can be a late night snack.
Moon pies can be a late night snack.

During Mardi Gras celebrations in Mobile, Alabama, it is not unusual for parade participants to throw Moon Pies to the crowds along the streets. The small town of Oneonta, Alabama still holds an annual Moon Pie eating contest, with RC Cola as the only sanctioned soft drink available to contestants. The contest is said to have started when the manager of a local Walmart store accidentally ordered too many Moon Pies and needed to find a way to eliminate the overstock.

Snack foods similar to the original Moon Pie include Scooter Pies and Whoopie Pies, although many Moon Pie enthusiasts would say those offerings are mere imitations of the one and only Moon Pie brand manufactured in Chattanooga, Tennessee since 1917.

Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

A regular DelightedCooking contributor, Michael enjoys doing research in order to satisfy his wide-ranging curiosity about a variety of arcane topics. Before becoming a professional writer, Michael worked as an English tutor, poet, voice-over artist, and DJ.

Learn more...
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

A regular DelightedCooking contributor, Michael enjoys doing research in order to satisfy his wide-ranging curiosity about a variety of arcane topics. Before becoming a professional writer, Michael worked as an English tutor, poet, voice-over artist, and DJ.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon249322

What is that recipe?

anon81478

Having grown up in the Northeast, I'd say the Scooter Pie (which I had as a kid) was certainly a "clone" of the Moon Pie, but the Whoopie Pie is something quite different from either of those. To call a Whoopie Pie a "mere imitation" of the Moon Pie is also incorrect, as the Whoopie derives from a traditional Amish desert that predates the Moon Pie.

These days, commercially made Whoopie filling tends to be too sugary sweet and frosting-like for my taste, but we can still get locally made ones that have that great creamy filling that's "just right". Although the chocolate Whoopie with vanilla creme filling is traditional, pumpkin Whoopies are a great treat at Thanksgiving, as are cranberry Whoopies with nuts. A blueberry Whoopie makes a great sugar-rush breakfast on the go.

anon45501

Moon Pies are kind of gross.

anon32082

While it's true about the grape soda, a grape Ne-Hi and a Moon pie, were always secondary to an RC(a big Neddy) and a Moon Pie. I had forgotten about those in my youth, in the south. My old buddy and I used to consume many.

anon31977

"What's an RC?"

Royal Crown cola.

anon31971

RC [Royal Crown] Cola is just a brand of soda/pop that originated in Georgia and is most popular in the south-east.

On a separate note, Moon Pies are also pretty popular in S. Korea. (pronounced 'choco moon pa-ees')

Diwiyana

The Moon Pie is also readily available in Texas, which ain't hardly *deep* South, but Southwest. I have eaten it also in Oklahoma. But a diet version?! I mean really!! What would be the point? If you want to go on a diet, go eat rabbit food. If you want somethin' that tastes good, have a Moon Pie and an RC Cola and git yer sugar rush. Cain't git no sugar rush with celery.

Goosebeat

What is an RC?

anon31948

In the deep South in factories moon pies tend to be consumed with grape soda.

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    • Legend says a miner pointed to the moon when asked how large the treat that would become known as a Moon Pie should be.
      By: tomreichner
      Legend says a miner pointed to the moon when asked how large the treat that would become known as a Moon Pie should be.
    • During Mardi Gras celebrations in Mobile, Alabama, it is not unusual for parade participants to throw Moon Pies to the crowds along the streets.
      By: WideAwake
      During Mardi Gras celebrations in Mobile, Alabama, it is not unusual for parade participants to throw Moon Pies to the crowds along the streets.
    • Moon pies can be a late night snack.
      By: Michael Pettigrew
      Moon pies can be a late night snack.