A MoonPie is a marshmallow-filled snack made from two round graham crackers dipped in a flavored coating, traditionally chocolate.
Chattanooga Bakery in Tennessee introduced the snack in 1917. According to the company’s origin story, a traveling salesman asked a Kentucky coal miner what kind of snack he wanted, and the miner described a combination of graham crackers and marshmallow. The popular tale says he wanted it to be as large as the moon, inspiring the name.
MoonPies became strongly associated with the American South, where they were famously paired with RC Cola. The classic snack is about four inches across, and later versions included mini and double-decker formats. Double-deckers contain an extra graham cracker and another layer of marshmallow.
The name can cause confusion because MoonPie is a brand name, while similar marshmallow-and-cookie snacks exist elsewhere. Mallomars, Wagon Wheels, Choco Pies, and Little Debbie Marshmallow Pies are related products, but they are not the same Southern snack. MoonPies come in flavors including chocolate, banana, vanilla, strawberry, and seasonal varieties.