This marshmallowy treat holds a special place in Southern hearts.
Graham crackers, marshmallow, chocolate.
We’re not talking about s’mores.
Credit: Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Food styling: Torie Cox
MoonPies are an iconic snack made with these ingredients and their popularity reaches far beyond Southern states.
But the history of the MoonPie is much more storied.
Read on for everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the treat.
Credit: Courtesy of Chattanooga Bakery
Why Do They Call Them MoonPies?
TheChattanooga Bakerystarted as an offshoot of a flour mill the bakery owners had.
The owners thought they should start a bakery to use up the 10 percent of flour leftover from products.
It was a use-it-or-lose-it situation.
“Well, chocolate is pretty good.
The MoonPie was born.
Popular From The Get-Go
It wasn’t long before the MoonPie became popular throughout the South.
After all, it was considered a value for the size and cost.
The original MoonPie was four inches in diameter and cost only a nickel.
Some called it the working man’s lunch because it was big enough for a meal.
It was certainly big enough to take down into the coal mines all day.
Chocolate was the original and only flavor until the 1970s, when the bakery added banana and vanilla.
What Do MoonPies Taste Like?
MoonPies are soft and chewy.
Marshmallow cream is sandwiched between two graham cracker cookies and covered in chocolate.
They may sound like a convenient version of s’mores, but the two snacks have a different flavor profile.
Are MoonPies A Southern Thing?
How did the treat for coal miners go from lunch pails to Mardi Gras treasure?
So MoonPies, a value at just a nickel back then, became the thing to throw.
“We now sell millions of them during Mardi Gras,” says Johnston.
Today MoonPies, once a distinctly Southern treat, have made their way across the United States.
While the history is certainly tied to the South, they’re now beloved across the country.
“In the last five to seven years, we’ve really seen an uptick,” says Johnston.
“It’s a yummy product that definitely resonates in a hyper-inflation world.”
Facts About MoonPies
There’s more about MoonPies that you probably didn’t know.
From pop culture to The Masters, these treats have a sweet history.
Popular Culture
Flavors And Changes
Events
MoonPie.About us.
