Moons Over My Hammy is a diner breakfast classic: a pair of golden, buttery toasted slices wrapped around folded scrambled eggs, thin-sliced ham and melted cheese. It is hearty, salty, and a little gooey, and it eats like a proper knife-and-fork breakfast even though it is technically a sandwich.
This copycat version uses ordinary grocery store ingredients and a single skillet. It is a homemade approximation of the restaurant favorite, built from the publicly known description of the dish: ham, eggs, Swiss and American cheese on grilled bread.
About Denny’s Moons Over My Hammy
What defines Moons Over My Hammy is the contrast between crisp, buttered bread and a soft, fluffy egg layer. The eggs are cooked as a flat, folded omelet-style patty rather than loose curds, so each bite holds together and the sandwich can be picked up. Thin ham, lightly seared, adds salt and a little caramelized edge.
The technique is simple. Toast the bread in butter until deep golden, griddle the ham briefly, cook the beaten eggs gently into an even round, and layer cheese on the hot ham and eggs so it melts without any extra heat. Assembly is fast, so everything should be ready before the eggs go in the pan.
Moons Over My Hammy: Restaurant vs. Homemade Cost
| At Denny’s | Homemade (2 sandwiches) | You Save |
|---|---|---|
| $13.49 | $4.71 | $8.78 (65%) |
Denny’s price is the approximate cost of a comparable order for two sandwiches. Homemade cost is an estimate from
US average grocery prices (US BLS Average Price Data, May 2026) and typical store prices for items BLS does not track (marked est.).
Ingredient cost breakdown
| Ingredient | Amount | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| thick-cut white bread or Texas toast slices | 4 each | $1.00 est. |
| butter, softened for the bread and the pan | 3 tbsp | $0.30 |
| large eggs | 4 each | $0.73 |
| milk | 2 tbsp | $0.03 |
| thinly sliced deli ham | 8 oz | $1.30 |
| slices American cheese | 4 each | $1.00 est. |
| shredded Swiss cheese (optional, to mix with the American) | 0.25 cup | $0.30 |
| salt and black pepper, to taste | 1 tsp | $0.05 est. |
| Total (makes 2 sandwiches) | $4.71 | |
Nutrition (estimated per serving)
Estimated from listed ingredients using USDA FoodData Central reference values. Actual values vary with brands, portions, and preparation.
How Much Does It Cost to Make Denny’s Moons Over My Hammy at Home?
A full batch makes 2 sandwiches for an estimated $4.71 in ingredients, roughly $2.36 per serving. Ordering the equivalent at Denny’s runs around $13.49 (approximate menu price), so making it yourself saves an estimated $8.78 (65%). The grocery figures are estimates based on US average grocery prices (US BLS Average Price Data, May 2026) and typical store prices for the rest; the per-ingredient breakdown is in the table above. Your local store and restaurant prices will differ, but the gap stays large because you buy staple ingredients instead of a prepared, served dish, and one batch stretches across several servings.
Why Make It at Home?
Making it at home gives you control over the things a restaurant version cannot adjust: how crisp the toast is, how soft the eggs are, how much ham and cheese goes in, and whether you add extras. It costs a fraction of ordering out, and it comes together in one pan in about the time it takes to wait for a table order to arrive.
Ingredients for Copycat Denny’s Moons Over My Hammy
Here’s the full ingredients list you’ll need to make Denny’s Moons Over My Hammy at home:
- 4 each thick-cut white bread or Texas toast slices
- 3 tbsp butter, softened for the bread and the pan
- 4 each large eggs
- 2 tbsp milk
- 8 oz thinly sliced deli ham
- 4 each slices American cheese
- 0.25 cup shredded Swiss cheese (optional, to mix with the American)
- 1 tsp salt and black pepper, to taste
A few ingredient notes:
- Bread: use thick-sliced white bread or Texas toast so it can hold the eggs without going soggy. Thin sandwich bread tears and steams instead of crisping.
- Ham: choose thinly sliced deli ham, ideally a smoked or honey ham. Thin slices sear quickly and fold neatly; thick slices stay rubbery.
- Cheese: classic American melts smoothest, and a little Swiss adds the nutty flavor associated with this dish. Slices melt better than pre-shredded cheese, which has anti-caking coating.
🛒 Shop the Ingredients & Tools
- Butter, softened for the bread and the pan
- Large eggs
- Milk
- Slices American cheese
- Shredded Swiss cheese (optional, to mix with the American)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Stainless steel mixing bowls
- Half sheet baking pan
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How to Make Denny’s Moons Over My Hammy at Home
Prep: 10 min · Cook: 15 min · Makes: 2 sandwiches
- Whisk the eggs with the milk, a pinch of salt and pepper in a bowl until fully uniform with no streaks of white.
- Spread the softened butter on one side of each bread slice. Toast the slices butter-side down in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes until deep golden, then set aside on a plate, toasted side up.
- Wipe out the skillet, add a little more butter, and sear the ham slices over medium-high heat for about 1 minute per side until the edges just begin to brown. Remove and keep warm.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and melt a small amount of butter in the skillet. Pour in half of the beaten eggs and tilt the pan to form an even round about the size of the bread.
- Cook the eggs gently for 1 to 2 minutes without stirring until the edges are set and the center is almost firm, then fold the round in half, or in thirds, so it fits the bread.
- Lay half of the ham over the egg, then top with two slices of American cheese and a sprinkle of Swiss. Cover the pan for 30 seconds to melt the cheese.
- Slide the egg, ham and cheese stack onto a toasted slice and top with a second slice, buttered side facing out. Repeat with the remaining eggs and ingredients.
- Cut each sandwich in half on the diagonal and serve immediately while the cheese is still melted.
Tips for the Best Results
- Cook the eggs over medium-low heat so they stay tender and pale yellow instead of browning and turning rubbery.
- Use a lid or an inverted pan over the eggs for a moment to melt the cheese without flipping the delicate egg round.
- Have the toast and ham ready before the eggs go in, since the eggs finish in just a couple of minutes.
- Fold the egg round to roughly the size of the bread slice so the sandwich is even and does not slide apart.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using high heat on the eggs, which makes them tough and brown instead of soft and fluffy.
- Skipping the butter on the bread, which gives pale, dry toast without the signature diner crispness.
- Piling on too much ham, which makes the sandwich slippery and hard to hold together.
- Letting the finished sandwich sit, which allows steam to soften the toast and the cheese to set.
Variations to Try
- Add thin slices of tomato or a spoonful of caramelized onions between the ham and egg for extra moisture and sweetness.
- Swap in sourdough or brioche for a tangier or richer take on the grilled bread.
- Make it spicy with pepper jack in place of the Swiss and a few dashes of hot sauce in the eggs.
Storage & Reheating
This sandwich is best eaten right away, but components can be prepped ahead. Cooked egg rounds and seared ham keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. Reheat the egg and ham gently in a skillet or microwave, then toast fresh bread and assemble so the sandwich does not turn soggy. A fully assembled sandwich can be wrapped and refrigerated for a day, then reheated in a skillet over low heat with a lid so the cheese melts and the bread re-crisps.
What to Serve It With
Serve Moons Over My Hammy with crispy hash browns or breakfast potatoes, a side of fresh fruit, and hot coffee. For a fuller diner plate, add a pickle spear or a small side of seasoned home fries. A little ketchup, hot sauce or a smear of Dijon mustard on the side lets everyone customize their sandwich.
The Bottom Line
Denny’s Moons Over My Hammy is one of those dishes that feels like it should be hard to make and expensive to buy, but at home it’s neither. For an estimated $4.71 in everyday ingredients you get 2 sandwiches, fresh and warm, for roughly 65% less than ordering out. Make it once and it’ll join the short list of recipes you reach for without thinking. Bookmark this one, grab the ingredients, and keep an eye on CopyKitchen for more copycat favorites with an estimated cost to make them at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Moons Over My Hammy?
It is a breakfast sandwich served at Denny’s made with scrambled or folded eggs, sliced ham and cheese between slices of grilled bread. This copycat recipe recreates that style at home with simple grocery ingredients.
What kind of cheese goes on Moons Over My Hammy?
The commonly described version uses a combination of Swiss and American cheese. American gives a smooth, creamy melt, while Swiss adds a mild nutty flavor, and using both closely approximates the classic combination.
What bread works best for this sandwich?
Thick-sliced white bread or Texas toast is the best choice because it crisps well with butter and holds up to the egg and ham. Sourdough also works if you want a slightly tangier result.
How do I keep the eggs fluffy instead of rubbery?
Cook them over medium-low heat and avoid stirring them constantly. Adding a splash of milk to the beaten eggs and removing them from the pan as soon as they are just set keeps the texture soft and tender.
Can I make Moons Over My Hammy ahead of time?
You can cook the ham and egg rounds ahead and refrigerate them for a couple of days. For the best texture, reheat them and toast the bread fresh just before assembling, because assembled sandwiches lose their crispness quickly.
Can I make this with turkey or bacon instead of ham?
Yes, thin-sliced deli turkey or a few strips of crisp bacon can stand in for the ham. The flavor will be different from the original, but the egg and cheese layers work well with either swap.
Cost figures are estimates for comparison, based on US BLS Average Price Data (US city average) and an approximate menu price; your local grocery prices and Denny’s current menu price will vary. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. CopyKitchen is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Denny’s or any brand mentioned; this is an independent, homemade copycat recipe, and all trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
