Moon pies: A homemade version to bring back all the childhood feels.

Mars Pies

On a chilly and rainy day atypical of early June here in New England, I tackled one hell of a baking recipe.

A seemingly benign recipe entitled Mars Pies (they really are Moon Pies) lay ahead of me but little did I know (because why would I read a recipe in advance of when I plan to make it?), Rebecca Rather recommends making the recipe in stages over the course of two days.  Pssshaw.  With a forecast full of showers, what else is there to do on a Saturday with a silent house all to myself?  Bake the day away, of course!

Softball Stage Sugar

A rack full of graham cookies, a mixing bowl brimming with mocha caramel ganache, and a stand mixer whirring around my first batch of homemade marshmallow later, my kitchen was full of life.  All pulled together, these three components could be likened to a batch of grown-up s’mores but instead, when coated with a final glaze of rich bittersweet chocolate, the end result was a decadent sandwich cookie that tugs at your memory and begs for a glass of cold milk.

These Moon Pies will pull you back to those long summer days, chocolate melting onto your fingers, the sprinkler in the front yard as your only savior from the insipid humidity.  They are a meal unto themselves but at the same time, satisfy every ounce of chocolaty-ooey-gooey-marshmallow cravings you could ever have.

Mars Pies
As Shawnda chose this recipe for this week’s Project Pastry Queen, I can only imagine what her summer days are like in Texas.  I don’t envy her as we plunge deeper into the belly of the summer oven (even though I was insanely jealous in February when she was planting her seedlings!), but we have one thing in common: these Moon Pies.

They are the ties that bind.  For a few great tips and to see everyone’s takes on these Moon Pies, be sure to check out this post – I especially loved Shawnda’s tip to whip the marshmallow filling for 2-3x longer than the recipe says and then pour the remaining filling into a pan to set for marshmallows.  Homemade marshmallows = heaven!

. . . . .

Looking for more classic recipes from your childhood? Check these out!

thick & chewy chocolate chip cookies

thick and chewy chocolate chip cookies

chocolate pudding without a mix

Dark Chocolate Pudding with Espresso Whipped Cream

cake doughnuts

Classic Cake Doughnuts

fudgiest brownies

The Baked Brownie

yellow butter cake with chocolate frosting

Yellow Butter Cake with Chocolate Frosting

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Leave a Comment

  • June 12, 2011 at 9:45 AM

    Gorgeous pictures! I used to love moon pies as a kid so I can’t wait to try this homemade version. I hear you on the rainy start to June, this has been a perfect weekend for baking here 🙂

  • June 12, 2011 at 12:58 PM

    Oh my goodness, Tara! Those look amazing. I doubt I will be attempting to make them – seems so hard! But you did a fabulous job, and always make it look so easy!

  • June 12, 2011 at 2:02 PM

    Oh my deliciousness!! They look amazing! I bet these do satisfy all those cravings for everything sugar and chocolate and marshmallows. 🙂

  • June 12, 2011 at 3:27 PM

    I am filled with awe. I have never made marshmallows before and whenever I see something like this I am encouraged to do so. How lovely.

  • Liz
    June 12, 2011 at 9:30 PM

    Tara, if my kids see your photos, they will be begging me to make these. Beautiful…AND delicious!

  • June 13, 2011 at 9:09 AM

    Literally, the prettiest moon pies ever. Bet they are delicious to boot.

  • June 13, 2011 at 10:16 AM

    I adore moon pies, yours look amazing!

  • June 14, 2011 at 2:34 PM

    homemade marshmallows truly do = heaven, no question about that! Amazing pictures!

  • June 14, 2011 at 9:25 PM

    Oh my goodness! I had never heard of moon pies until now but I already know I would love one (or two!)

  • June 15, 2011 at 12:57 PM

    I just happened upon this recipe a couple of weeks ago in my PQ cookbook and I thought it looked great. Now your pictures have me dying to try it! These look great, Tara!

  • June 16, 2011 at 4:43 PM

    Oh these look good. If only I had one right now…ok maybe two. 😉

  • August 30, 2011 at 7:25 AM

    wow. we used to get these (what we called wagon wheels) in primary school lunch deliveries and I haven’t seen them since but am often nostalgic for them, trying to imagine what they were like. Thank you so much for sharing! i have officially bookmarked this page!!

  • Penny Carey
    October 8, 2011 at 1:24 PM

    Moon pies were my very favorite as a kid (okay, even still today) !!! Is this recipe posted anywhere so I can make it … got my ice cold glass of milk waiting. 🙂

    • October 8, 2011 at 2:31 PM

      Penny: Shawnda’s blog (Confections of a Foodie Bride) has the recipe and you can click on the link of her name above to get right to the recipe. Hope that helps!

  • June 10, 2012 at 3:33 PM

    Those look absolutely amazing! Wonderful photography, too! I love all of the circular elements in your final composition. It keeps the eye swirling around and around to the moon pies. Clever.

  • Erin @ Making Memories
    January 6, 2013 at 1:56 AM

    These look wonderful!!!!

  • July 18, 2013 at 9:43 AM

    Yes please! Why did I miss out on these during my childhood I do not know!

    • taraliptak
      July 18, 2013 at 11:08 AM

      I feel the same way! I never ate one until I made these. lol

  • August 18, 2013 at 9:39 AM

    Wow these look delicious! I can’t wait to try them.

  • August 18, 2013 at 9:42 AM

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  • Denise
    August 10, 2018 at 9:31 PM

    I hate when it takes me as long to find the recipe as it does to make it!!!