RC Cola and MoonPies go together like
Fireworks and the Fourth of July!
If you live above the Mason-Dixon line, you’re probably not familiar with this famous culinary combo :)
Not to be confused with a Whoopie Pie, the Original MoonPie is a four-inch-round s’mores-ish sandwich cookie, made of marshmallow fluff layered between graham crackers and coated with chocolate, vanilla, or banana.
I picked up a box of Mini MoonPies at World Market right before Memorial Day, when I stumbled on this vintage-style metal picnic basket there.
In the mood for a taste of their compact size, served up with a little nostalgia, they seemed perfectly paired for our
Red, White & Blue Picnic.
I decided to dress them in anticipation of
Independence Day~ showing their patriotism
with a little Red, White & Blue!
I microwaved canned frosting in a bowl for about 10 seconds~ stirring until the frosting will smoothly coat the MoonPie and the excess frosting can drip back into bowl.
You can microwave 5 – 10 seconds more as you go, if the frosting becomes too thick for dipping.
I added Wilton Patriotic Mix Sprinkles and put the MoonPies in the fridge briefly to help the frosting and sprinkles set.
A little sweet taste of the history of MoonPies & RC Cola~
The MoonPie brand was born in 1917 at the Chattanooga Bakery.
It began when Earl Mitchell, a bakery salesman, visited a company store that catered to coal miners. The miners said they wanted something solid and filling because they often didn’t get time to break for lunch. “About how big?” Mr. Mitchell asked…a miner held out his hands, framing the moon, and said, “About that big!”
Returning to the bakery, Mr. Mitchell noticed some of the workers dipping graham cookies into marshmallow and laying them on the window sill to harden. Experimenting by adding another cookie and a generous coating of chocolate, samples of this new MoonPie were distributed with a response so overwhelming, that it became a regular item for the bakery.
As early as the 1930’s coal miners and laborers of all kinds could enjoy the biggest snack on the rack~ a MoonPie, and a 10-oz. RC Cola, each for a nickel~ a good deal, tasty & timely~ with Roosevelt’s New Deal during the Depression.
Royal Crown Cola was born from the efforts of a young pharmacist in Columbus, Georgia in 1905. After a disagreement with a local soda bottler, Claud Hatcher began creating his own soft drinks, never imagining that his experiments would ultimately become an American icon affectionately nicknamed RC Cola.
In the American Spirit of innovation, Royal Crown Cola while not as renowned as its rival, Coca-Cola, led the soft drink industry with a series of industry firsts – the first aluminum cans, first 16 oz. bottles, and first low-calorie and caffeine-free diet sodas.
~The popularity of this combination was celebrated in a popular song of the 1950’s, by Big Bill Lister, “Gimmee an RC Cola and a MoonPie” and was also the janitor’s lunch in movie The Green Mile.
~Millions of MoonPies are thrown from Mardi Gras floats each year.
~In 1998, the mini MoonPie was born, a snack size for kids~ young and old alike :)
For a chance to win this picnic basket,
for Independence Day
with a few MoonPies inside :)
leave a comment here.
A winner will be chosen June 25th!
The giveaway is now closed.
Congratulations to Linda @ More Fun Less Laundry!
Hi Mary, I do think that Moon Pies are a southern delight! I have never had one but yours look so tempting. I did see them in Cracker Barrel, with all the other old style goodies and southern specialties, and when I return I will be sure to bring some home with me. We are also missing a World Market up here! And I know you may not believe this, but I have never had an RC Cola, either. I see that I have some culinary exploring to do! Hope your weather is fine down there–we are expecting extreme heat and humidity today. I wilt in the heat unless I’m floating in the sea. I’m stocking up on iced tea and ice cubes! Linda
Mary, I love how you used mason jars for your beverages! That’s how we drink our bloody Mary’s when we are in Saratoga Springs for the horse races. The Moon Pies look scrumptious! I prefer RC cola over any cola products :-)
Great pics Mary, nothing better than red, white and blue! Lovin’ the patriotic sprinkles, I haven’t seen them yet with the stars:@)
I guess I will be seeing more moon pies and RC now when I visit my daughter who just moved to Franklin, Tennessee. Here in Maine, we have whoopie pies and everyone claims theirs is the best.
Although I live in FL now, I lived in NJ most of my life. My daughter competed in a swim meet in Raleigh NC and one of the awards for winning a race was an RC Cola and a Moonpie. They would also play the theme from the Andy Griffith Show on the loudspeaker. It was always a fun meet and this brings back some nice memories. As always, your presentation is perfect. You make soda and snacks look like art! Thanks for sharing!
Robin
Robin Flies South
Wow!! Never knew any of this. Loved how informative this post was. I would love to bite into my first moon pie! What a great idea with the chocolate and sprinkles. You are just most creative. xo marlis
Yes, I remember Moon Pies and RC Cola. Whether I had them as a child or as an adult, when I lived in the south a number of years, I am not sure.
Your posts are always wonderful, Mary.
Moon Pies are sold here in the Kansas City area, but I have never eaten one. I know a lot of people really love them, though! I just can’t imagine eating them along with a sweet drink like RC Cola which I HAVE had in my lifetime. Yikes….I’d go into sugar shock!!!!!
We had RC growing up because it was one of my dad’s favorite sodas, along with birch beer. We had Scooter Pies in NJ, basically the same thing as Moon Pies. Never combined them, but it must be scrumptious! Love how you turned them into a patriotic treat! Thanks for sharing!
Oh, how cute the moonpies are!! I just love everything. We visited Bell Buckle, Tennessee last summer and it is home to a “RC Moonpie Festival.” They sold RCs and moonpies in all the stores. :)
The moon pies are the bomb diggity-love em.
Hello Mary,
My grandfather no longer with us use to have a moon pie everyday in his lunch I remember. That’s a cute idea.
Pat
Love, Love, Love your blog. I look forward to reading and viewing your wonderful blog. Many of your pictures take me back to summer days on my grandfather’s farm. Whole bottles of “pop”, homemade buttermilk biscuits, riding a cow back to the barn in the evenings, playing in the hayloft and homemade ice cream on the backporch. Carefree days for sure!
I haven’t had a moon pie in 30 plus years! What a walk down memory lane. I love how you gave them patriotic pizzaz! I could pour over your beautiful pictures for hours!!!! How can you make a simple moon pie look like a little work of art? Magic!!!!
Thanks for your friendship and support and for joining TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS…. and giving it a shout-out on this gorgeous star spangled post!
Love your patriotic post! The moonpies are adorable….I do remember them from childhood….haven’t had one in forever!
Well first, now I’m hungry. I’ve already eaten dinner so there is simply no excuse. Second, I love what you did with these and have pinned it already to be sure to copy at some point.
And third? I didn’t know either story so Ioved reading the history of RC cola and moon pies.
Oh Mary, your moonpies and RC Cola combination look like wonderfully nostalgic treats for the Fourth of July. I love how you jazzed them up so patriotically. This was a fun post!
I’ve never tasted a Moon Pie, although I’ve read about them. RC Cola is familiar! This was a very interesting post – and that old-timey picnic tin is gorgeous.
Soooooo typically Southern…..and we even throw Moon Pies from Mardi Gras floats along with beads and doubloons! ;P
LOVE this post, Mary. I grew-up on this Southern snack!
xo,
RJ
Love what you did with the “Moon Pies!”
Please stop by my blog if you get a chance and enter my SUMMER TIME GIVE AWAY… Its a $50.00 Gift Certificate for Novica!
http://theprojecttable.blogspot.com/2012/06/its-summer-time-giveaway-from-project.html
Oh man! I love Moon Pies and RC Cola. We have Moon Pies here but it’s hard to find RC. But it’s still my fav cola drink. Your Moon Pies look fantastic!
Loving the creative festive and patriotic moon pies! Hope your summer is off to a great start.
Mary, you are just the cleverest!!! I adore moon pies….haven’t eaten one in, well, several moons ago!! I’ll be making a trip to World Market to see if they still have them. My grands (and me!) will love them.
Simply adorable! You never cease to amaze me!!
Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
I have never had a moon pie, always wanted to though.
Patriotic moon pie … what fun thing are you going to come up with next??? !!!I loved RC cola …. memories!!!
Darn, I am so sorry I missed this post in time for the giveaway. BUT, I enjoy your CREATIVITY so much it makes up for it! Now, hold onto your socks here: I have never had a moon pie OR a RC Cola!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! However, after seeing this post I am going to the store and getting some for our 4th!!!! You are so amazingly talented, I am in awe at every post. I wish you had a BOOK!!!!!!!!!!! It would surely be a best seller. XO, Pinky
SO sad that I missed the Giveaway, but SO happy that I found this post! I grew up in Louisiana and yes, Moon Pies were a big part of our little lives. I live in Minnesota now and Nope! No Moon Pies! I’m thinking I’ll have to order them online. I love the mason jars, too. I Use them regularly for my Sweet Tea. Hey, you can take the girl from the South, but you can’t take the South from the girl! Hugs, Karen JO
How wonderful is this entire post!? I love your photos, your great idea to dip the mini moon pies in warmed icing and then add sprinkles, and the history of the pies AND the RC Cola! I saw your post over at Metamorphosis Monday.