Over the moon

I remember as a little girl getting these wonderful treats that you would put into the microwave and the Chocolate would melt and the marshmallow would grow.  Oh, so good just as wonderful as a s'more but not a s'more they are MOON PIES!!  I found through the blog of the novice chef (who has so many great things!!) how to make these yummy treats.  I made them as one of the four treats for my Birthday celebration. 

There are three parts in making these great treats so I thought I would split each one up in my explanations.
Part one the cookie:  Makes about 12-14 pies

Ingredients:
1 cup butter (room temperature)                                1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup light brown sugar                                          2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 egg                                                                          1/2 teaspoon salt
Plus extra flour for when you roll out the dough

Directions:   Oven 350 degrees  ( tip: you will need to refrigerate for a couple hours so plan for that)
1)  Cream the butter on medium speed until nice and creamy (about 3 mins).
2)  Add the brown sugar mix on medium-high another 3 mins.,  then low speed to medium and add the egg and vanilla extract, beat to combine.
3)  Lower speed to low then add flour and salt.  Mix until a soft dough is formed.
4)  Split the dough into half and roll  up in plastic wrap, place in fridge for around two hours.
5)  Prepare your cookie sheets with spray oil or parchment paper to prevent sticking.
6)  Once chilled add a little flour to your work surface, hands, and rolling pin.  Roll out 1/2 of the dough until about 1/8 inch thick.  (tip: if the dough is still really sticky then kneed with a little flour)  Cut out rounds with a cookie cutter or I used a wide mouth glass.  Place cut outs on the cookie sheets about 1/2 inch apart.
7)  Cook cookies for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.  Take out and let cool on a drying rack. 

Part two Marshmallow filling:

Ingredients:
2 egg whites                                            2/3 cup light corn syrup
Pinch cream of tartar                                 2  teaspoons vanilla extract
Pinch of salt                                               1 cup powder sugar

Directions:
1)  You will need a mixer with a whisk attachment.  Beat the egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt until white peaks are formed.  Start the speed at medium-low and eventually increase to medium-high.   The egg whites should double in volume and form stiff peaks.
2)  While the mixer is going get out a small sauce pan and add the light corn syrup.  Boil the corn syrup on high heat without stirring.  Use a candy thermometer and wait till it registers 230 degrees. (tip:  I did not have a candy thermometer so I used my meat one.  It was hard but it worked with a little patience.  You will know it is ready with the thread ball stage, which means when you stick something in the syrup and it goes to drip but makes a ball at the end of the drip it is done.)
3)  Once the corn syrup is ready it needs to be poured slowly into the egg mixture while the beaters are on medium-low.  (tip:  You can pour it into the mixer you are using but I found it was a little hard. Therefore I would bring out the hand mixer for this part.)
4)  Now it is time to beat in the vanilla and powder sugar.  Only beat until well mixed.
5)  Spoon the marshmallow into a piping bag or as I did into a gallon freezer bag.  Then I cut the corner off and piped the goodness onto one completely cooled cookie.   Take a second cookie and press them together till the marshmallow appears at the edges.

Part three Chocolate:

1)  You will need 12 oz. of semisweet choc.  and 1/4 cup veggie oil.  Add the two into a microwave safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds.  Once done stir and stir until nice and smooth.
2)   Place the cookies on a cooling rack with a cookie sheet under to catch the droppings of choc.
3)  Begin to spoon the Choc. on top of each cookie.  You will want to start in the middle of a cookie and spread the choc. around until the choc. is dripping off the sides.  Make sure the top is completely covered but it is ok if you can still see some of the sides. 
4)  Allow them to sit for a couple hours until the choc. has harden.  You can put them in the fridge to speed up the process. 

Well, I hope you will enjoy these home made MOON PIES as much as we did!!  You can even put them in the microwave like the store bought ones and eat them warm!!!