Banana Mini Moon Pies

Banana Mini Moon Pies

Over a year a ago, I hit a Cracker Barrel and picked up a pack of Mint Mini Moon Pies. Although I was less than excited at the results (Feb 2012 blog entry), when I saw the banana flavored version of the "Mini Pie" series this year at another Cracker Barrel, it didn't discourage me from wanting to give that a try since banana was one of the core flavors of the original Moon Pie line.

The Attraction

 I do have to fully disclose that I have had the full size version of the Moon Pie before and was quite surprised at how much I liked it. I'm not a huge fan of banana-flavored anything generally, but I enjoyed how the banana flavor wasn't too overwhelming and the overall pie wasn't too sweet.

Why bother trying the mini-version then?

The question begged to be asked; after being greeted with the surprisingly unpleasant crunchy shell of the mint flavored version, do all mini-pies have hard shells or was the mint version the exception? (Gosh, I sure hope so) 



The Review

It didn't hurt that I was already of the fan of the large size version.When I opened the package, the mini version of the moon pie looked just like that; a smaller version of the large pie. Only one way to know if it taste the same!

First bite in....and it's confirmed. The shell is like the original! Back was the familiar soft shell I had come to associate with Moon Pies and the fluffy marshmallow filling. What was surprising as I rejoiced in that knowledge was how much I enjoyed it. Dare I say even more than the original Moon Pie.

The smaller moon pie just isn't as dense as the original. It seemed easier to manage in my mouth and just somehow the ratios seem to work better. I think there's less of the marshmallow filling, but it works nicely in the smaller package. The banana flavor was consistent with the minis bigger brother; just the right balance. With 2 pies to a package, I doubt the second pie will stick around for very long.

The Sweet

This version of the moon pie is what it really it should have been all along; a smaller version of the original Moon Pie! With less marshmallow filling, it just seems to be a better product, IMHO. Do I still love the original? Yes, of course, but given the option, I think I would rather go the mini-pie route. (gasp!)

The Bitter

In the New York City area, it's sometimes hard enough to find Moon Pies, forget about minis. I've only seen minis at one place and one place only, Cracker Barrel. The idea of driving 2 hours to get a pack of Mini Moon Pies isn't very appealing.

For about $1 a pack ( I got them for half that), the price is right. It's hard to find and that might be the most annoying part of Mini Moon Pies. They got it right this time. If you like Moon Pies, you're going to like the minis. How much you like them will vary depending on how much marshmallow you like in your Moon Pie; like more, you might like the minis less; like less of the fluffy filling such as me, you might be pleasantly surprised how it's possible to improve upon an already proven formula.

Bob Evans Strawberry Bread with Icing

Bob Evans Strawberry Bread with Icing

What I saw...

On a recent road trip to Virginia, I happened upon a Bob Evans. OK, truthfully, the roads were littered with them, but due to hunger and convenience, we decided to venture in to see how the "Southern" half lives.

It was upon entering, that I saw that Bob Evans offered an assortment of baked breads for purchase. They came in assorted flavors like Banana Nut, Blueberry and the well advertised Strawberry Bread with Icing (there was a  2 x 3 banner up displaying a blown up image of a delicious looking slice of the aforementioned pastry). A man can only be so strong...

The Attraction

Aside from the "subtle" advertisement touting the heights of ecstasy you may reach when you consume a slice, I am a huge fan of freshly baked goods..even more so if the baked goods contain strawberries (or the essence of).


..what I got

The Review

The first thing I noticed was that the strawberry loaf was the only flavor that had icing on it. I immediately began to wonder to myself, "Is that because the bread isn't sweet enough on it's own? What if the bread is too dang sweet because of the icing and will cause me to instantly fall into a diabetic coma after shotgunning one of their sweet teas with the bread?"

Like every snack review pioneer before me, I knew what I had to do. This bread was bigger than me, bigger than any one man's glycemic index. I threw caution to the wind and moved onward...

I wisely opted to wait until I got back home to try a slice of the bread....and it was worth it. Just opening the bag that the bread was wrapped in revealed the smell of strawberries. I had to quickly cut a slice to see if this baby was as advertised.

Soft, but striking the careful balance of not being too airy like a cake, nor too dense like a scone, the texture was just right. The essence of the strawberry came through even without an assist from the cream cheese icing.

The Sweet

The consistency was perfect. It was able to convey a bit of a "home made" vibe, without bringing some of the common pitfalls of home made baked items (slightly overdone crust, cracking, uneven consistency). The strawberry flavor was present without overwhelming you with sweetness or having the flavor punch you in the mouth.

The Bitter

The icing isn't really necessary. I could have done without it. The sweetness of the bread can hold up on it's own, although I can see how the addition of icing could attract more interest and may please some more stubborn palates. To my understanding, the strawberry version of the bread is also only available seasonally.

Individually, each loaf sells for between $4.99-$5.99 a piece or $10 for 3 loaves. That pricing is fair, but works out much better if you opt to go the multiple loaves route.

Even with the addition of the "unneeded" icing, I would still gladly seek out this product. Making it a seasonal item may only add to it's allure.

I don't know if my travels will lead me to another Bob Evans, but should I begin to see those yellow and red signs along the highway again, I will look back at my experience not unlike that of a lost love or an old flame...a love in which perhaps the final chapter has not yet been written...