Classic Moonpies

Serves: 6

Terence Turner

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

47

Spice

56

Sweetness

51

Sourness

42

mins

Prep time (avg)

5.8

Difficulty

Ingredients:

3 cup

Water (cold)

1 tsps

Kosher Salt

1.25 cups

All-Purpose Flour

1 cup

Wheat Germ

1 tsp

Baking Soda

1 tbsp

Honey

Directions:

1

Place over moderate heat and bring to a full boil (the mixture will become clear), stirring until the sugar is dissolved

2

Put a candy thermometer into the boiling sugar syrup and continue boiling, without stirring, for 5 minutes, then increase the heat to moderately high and continue boiling, without stirring, until the thermometer registers 240°F (soft-ball stage), about 5 more minutes

3

Remove the saucepan from the heat and let stand until the bubbles dissipate slightly

4

With the mixer on low, pour the sugar syrup into the softened gelatin in a thin stream down the side of the bowl

5

Gradually increase the mixer speed to high and beat until the marshmallow forms a very thick ribbon when the whisk is lifted (the marshmallow will still be slightly warm), about 5 minutes

6

Scrape the marshmallow into the prepared pan (it will be very sticky) and use wet fingertips to spread it evenly; smooth the top with a wet offset spatula

7

Dust the remaining 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar over the top of the marshmallows, then cover the pan with plastic wrap, being careful not to let the plastic wrap touch the marshmallow as they will stick together

8

Set the marshmallow aside to firm up, at least 4 hours or overnight

9

Once the marshmallows are firm, use a 3-inch round cookie cutter to cut out 12 marshmallow circles—you will need to cut the marshmallows very close together so there are very few scraps

10

Dust the marshmallows with additional confectioners' sugar to prevent sticking DO AHEAD: Marshmallows can be stored, layered between sheets of wax or parchment paper, in an airtight container in a dry place at cool room temperature, for 1 week

11

Brush the bottom and sides of a 15- by 10-inch jelly roll pan with vegetable oil

12

Using a fine-mesh sieve, dust the bottom and sides of the pan with 1/4 cup of the sifted confectioners' sugar, leaving any excess in the pan

13

Place 6 tablespoons of the cold water in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment

14

Sprinkle the gelatin into the bowl and whisk briefly to make sure all the gelatin is in contact with water

15

Let soften while you make the sugar syrup

16

In a heavy, small saucepan, whisk together the granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt, and the remaining 6 tablespoons cold water

17

Place over moderate heat and bring to a full boil (the mixture will become clear), stirring until the sugar is dissolved

18

Put a candy thermometer into the boiling sugar syrup and continue boiling, without stirring, for 5 minutes, then increase the heat to moderately high and continue boiling, without stirring, until the thermometer registers 240°F (soft-ball stage), about 5 more minutes

19

Remove the saucepan from the heat and let stand until the bubbles dissipate slightly

20

With the mixer on low, pour the sugar syrup into the softened gelatin in a thin stream down the side of the bowl

21

Gradually increase the mixer speed to high and beat until the marshmallow forms a very thick ribbon when the whisk is lifted (the marshmallow will still be slightly warm), about 5 minutes

22

Scrape the marshmallow into the prepared pan (it will be very sticky) and use wet fingertips to spread it evenly; smooth the top with a wet offset spatula

23

Dust the remaining 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar over the top of the marshmallows, then cover the pan with plastic wrap, being careful not to let the plastic wrap touch the marshmallow as they will stick together

24

Set the marshmallow aside to firm up, at least 4 hours or overnight

25

Once the marshmallows are firm, use a 3-inch round cookie cutter to cut out 12 marshmallow circles—you will need to cut the marshmallows very close together so there are very few scraps

26

Dust the marshmallows with additional confectioners' sugar to prevent sticking DO AHEAD: Marshmallows can be stored, layered between sheets of wax or parchment paper, in an airtight container in a dry place at cool room temperature, for 1 week

27

Make the graham crackers: Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and a second rack in the lower third then preheat to 350°F

28

In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, pastry flour, wheat germ, salt, cinnamon, and baking soda

29

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes

30

Add the cane syrup and honey and beat until well combined, about 1 minute

31

Scrape down the sides and bottom of the mixer bowl then reduce the mixer speed to medium-low, add the flour mixture, and blend just until no streaks of flour remain, 1 to 2 minutes—the mixture will be a little crumbly

32

Divide the dough into 2 equal portions

33

Place 1 half on a large sheet of parchment paper then cover with a second large piece of parchment paper

34

Using a rolling pin, roll the dough, between the sheets of parchment paper, to a 1/8-inch thickness

35

Remove the top layer of parchment and use a 2 1/2 to 2 3/4-inch round cookie cutter to press as many circles into the dough as possible

36

Use a small offset spatula to transfer the graham crackers to a large rimmed baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch between them then re-roll and cut any scraps of dough to make more circles

37

Repeat this process with the remaining portion of dough

38

Bake the graham crackers, switching the baking pans between the upper and lower racks and rotating the pans about halfway through baking, until the graham crackers are firm around the edges and golden, 12 to 14 minutes

39

Transfer the graham crackers to a wire rack to let cool completely

40

DO AHEAD: Graham crackers can be baked ahead and kept, stored in an airtight container at room temperature, up to 1 week

41

Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and a second rack in the lower third then preheat to 350°F

42

In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, pastry flour, wheat germ, salt, cinnamon, and baking soda

43

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes

44

Scrape down the sides and bottom of the mixer bowl then reduce the mixer speed to medium-low, add the flour mixture, and blend just until no streaks of flour remain, 1 to 2 minutes—the mixture will be a little crumbly

45

Divide the dough into 2 equal portions

46

Place 1 half on a large sheet of parchment paper then cover with a second large piece of parchment paper

47

Using a rolling pin, roll the dough, between the sheets of parchment paper, to a 1/8-inch thickness

48

Remove the top layer of parchment and use a 2 1/2 to 2 3/4-inch round cookie cutter to press as many circles into the dough as possible

49

Use a small offset spatula to transfer the graham crackers to a large rimmed baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch between them then re-roll and cut any scraps of dough to make more circles

50

Repeat this process with the remaining portion of dough

51

Bake the graham crackers, switching the baking pans between the upper and lower racks and rotating the pans about halfway through baking, until the graham crackers are firm around the edges and golden, 12 to 14 minutes

52

Transfer the graham crackers to a wire rack to let cool completely

53

DO AHEAD: Graham crackers can be baked ahead and kept, stored in an airtight container at room temperature, up to 1 week

54

Melt the chocolate and assemble the moonpies: Sandwich 2 graham crackers around 1 marshmallow then repeat with the remaining graham crackers and marshmallows until you have 12 moon pie "sandwiches

55

" (There may be a few leftover graham crackers

56

) Coat a wire rack with nonstick vegetable oil spray and set it on top of a parchment paper– lined large rimmed baking sheet

57

Place about 2/3 of the chocolate in a dry metal bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water and stir until melted and warm, 2 to 3 minutes

58

Add the remaining chocolate to the bowl and remove the bowl from the top of the pot

59

Let cool 5 minutes then stir until smooth

60

Stir in the coconut oil until incorporated thoroughly

61

Hold 1 moonpie "sandwich" firmly in 1 hand and roll the sides through the melted chocolate, making sure the sides are completely coated so you don't see any marshmallow peeking through

62

Hold the moonpie over the bowl of chocolate and use a small spoon to pour and swirl chocolate over the top; invert onto the rack and coat the other side in chocolate

63

Repeat with the remaining graham cracker–marshmallow "sandwiches

64

" Transfer the chocolate-dipped moonpies to a cool place to let the chocolate coating harden for 1 to 2 hours

65

DO AHEAD: Moonpies can be made ahead and kept, layered between sheets of parchment paper in an airtight container at room temperature, up to 5 days

66

Sandwich 2 graham crackers around 1 marshmallow then repeat with the remaining graham crackers and marshmallows until you have 12 moon pie "sandwiches

67

" (There may be a few leftover graham crackers

68

) Coat a wire rack with nonstick vegetable oil spray and set it on top of a parchment paper– lined large rimmed baking sheet

69

Place about 2/3 of the chocolate in a dry metal bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water and stir until melted and warm, 2 to 3 minutes

70

Add the remaining chocolate to the bowl and remove the bowl from the top of the pot

71

Let cool 5 minutes then stir until smooth

72

Stir in the coconut oil until incorporated thoroughly

73

Hold 1 moonpie "sandwich" firmly in 1 hand and roll the sides through the melted chocolate, making sure the sides are completely coated so you don't see any marshmallow peeking through

74

Hold the moonpie over the bowl of chocolate and use a small spoon to pour and swirl chocolate over the top; invert onto the rack and coat the other side in chocolate

75

Repeat with the remaining graham cracker–marshmallow "sandwiches

76

" Transfer the chocolate-dipped moonpies to a cool place to let the chocolate coating harden for 1 to 2 hours

77

DO AHEAD: Moonpies can be made ahead and kept, layered between sheets of parchment paper in an airtight container at room temperature, up to 5 days

78

Make the marshmallows: Brush the bottom and sides of a 15- by 10-inch jelly roll pan with vegetable oil

79

Using a fine-mesh sieve, dust the bottom and sides of the pan with 1/4 cup of the sifted confectioners' sugar, leaving any excess in the pan

80

Place 6 tablespoons of the cold water in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment

81

Sprinkle the gelatin into the bowl and whisk briefly to make sure all the gelatin is in contact with water

82

Let soften while you make the sugar syrup

83

In a heavy, small saucepan, whisk together the granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt, and the remaining 6 tablespoons cold water

84

Add the cane syrup and honey and beat until well combined, about 1 minute