The Mighty Mallomar

I examine the Mallomar, a puff of marshmallow on a crumbly biscuit base, covered with a thinly-shattering chocolate coating. The stuff, apparently, of limited distribution and Tri-State Area-n dreams. And according to some, even, "the greatest cookie in the history of the world".

I take a bite and realize that, having grown up in a country where the questionably named creation called a Negerkuss reigns supreme over birthday parties and lunchbox choices, for me the Mallomar comes up screechingly short.

A Negerkuss is a towering mass of creamy marshmallow that sinks and melts under the pressure of your tongue, with a chocolate coating that melts upon contact, while the base is a snappily-sweet waffle round. Compared to that feat of German engineering, the Mallomar's marshmallow filling is too elastic, too gummy, while the base tastes suprisingly like nothing at all. The "pure" (as bellowed out from the box) chocolate coating feels like plasticine and after eating just one of these things, I feel slightly sick.

But what do I know? I put out the rest of the Mallomars on a table at the office and make a few snackers very happy indeed. I can cross one more food obsession off my list.

Comments

[Adrianna]

The Negerkuss is exactly the snack I used to love as a kid in Peru! We called them "besitos" (kisses). I miss them so...and nothing in Canada, where I now live, comes close.

Any chance you know of a place that sells these in/to North America? Thanks! (if only for the memories..the sweet, sweet gooey, chocolatey, marshmallowy memories..hehe)

[Cathy]

you may have crossed off one obsession, but now I'm stuck with a new one! Where can you find these, short of hopping on a plane to Germany?

[Lindy]

A couple of years ago I had a little obsession with the magic of homemade marshmallows. Reading about your disappointment, it occurs to me that a homemade mallowmaresque thing might be worth a try.
The cookie on the bottom is the question. What should it be? Something very thin, and snappy, possibly almond-y? Or an airy meringue? And the whole thing coated with some really great dipping chocolate?

[dana]

Have you tried Moon Pies yet? They're a more acquired taste than the Mallomar, but they seem to have an even more devoted following.

The Negerkuss website is my new favorite site ever. I've sent their e-cards to everyone I know.

[Julie]

It's been years since I had either one but I have to admit to a fondness for both Mallomars and Moon Pies (and I can't say or type Moon Pie without the NRBQ song "RC Cola and a Moon Pie" running through my head).

Negerkuss sounds like a more perfect version of both. I'd like to try one. You know, for comparison's sake.

[Maggi]

Oh, how I miss the negerkuss! I grew up in Germany eating these everyday. It's one thing that hasn't come across the pond, which has been both good and bad. Bad, because I miss them dearly, good because it hasn't been bastardized by some US company to make it better for "American" tastes. *sigh*

[Lisa (Homesick Texan)]

Yuck! Marshmallows! Can't stand them. Thanks for steering me away from this cookie!

[Luisa]

Adrianna - I think that in an attempt to defuse (diffuse?) racial implications, some Germans now call Negerkuesse Schokokuesse...so kisses like yours! I don't know where you can find them in the States, I've never seen them anywhere. Maybe on GermanDeli.com?

Cathy - I've never looked for them here...you might just need to buy that plane ticket! :)

Lindy - you are so enterprising. If you manage making these, I will bow down before you in awe. I think the base could be a nice, crisp almond cookie, or else a good, crisp waffle round.

Dana - What are Moon Pies? Like Whoopie Pies from Maine? Heh, glad you liked that site. The Germans, you know....

Julie - hmm, I clearly need to get myself acquainted with these Moon Pies of which you and Dana speak.

Maggi - I wonder why you can't find them here. Maybe they don't hold up to high altitude over the ocean? Or cabin pressure? I'm smelling an experiment... :)

Lisa - YUCK!?!? Really? Okay, I have to accept this food phobia. But seriously? What about toasted over a campfire? Or, or, how about the melting homemade City Bakery ones in their hot chocolate??

[Julie]

I have a serious mallomars addiction which I doubt anything will ever shake. So does my elderly father, and as soon as the fall hits, you can find me stocking up for both his household and mine. Someone brought me back some mallomaresque cookies from Germany last year -- they weren't negerkuss, but they also weren't a patch on mallomars, IMHO. In fact, I have three boxes sitting in my kitchen right now. I'd be happy to be part of the test kitchen, however, if Lindsey tries to create a homemade version.

[shuna fish lydon]

Count yourself lucky.

Mallomars are a North East thing.

Only.

I think I have found them here in Cali five times. Each time I have not shared.