Everyone loves chocolate cake, but this one takes the cake. A popular potluck item, Mississippi Mud Cake, sets the bar waaay higher than any other cake can reach! We’re talking moist, rich, chocolate-intense cake with layers of sweet-tooth-satisfying goodness. Oh, YUM! I don’t discriminate against any baked goods (hey, I love them all), but this easy mud cake is irresistibly drool-worthy. That soft melted marshmallow on top takes it over the top. Even hubby, who isn’t a dessert fan, goes for seconds. So, let’s get down to business and discover what makes this cake extra special! Chocolate overload!!! Is that possible? We’ll find out with this drool-worthy recipe for Mississippi Mud Cake.
What Is a Mississippi Mud Cake?
Mud cakes seemed to have been popular back during WWII, though the origin is hotly disputed. Some claim that the Mississippi mud cake is actually a brownie upgrade invented sometime in the 1970s. Toppings include marshmallows, pecans, walnuts, and chocolate pudding, so feel free to get creative for a super easy Mississippi mud cake.
What You Need to Make It
How to Make Mississippi Mud Cake
Mud Cake
Preheat oven to 350℉ (180℃). Lightly grease a 9″×13″ baking pan. Sift – In a medium mixing bowl, sift flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set it aside. Wet Ingredients – Beat the oil, eggs, vanilla extract, milk, and sour cream until thoroughly combined in a large mixing bowl. Be careful not to overmix because overmixing can make a tough cake. Hot Water – On low speed, carefully mix in the boiling water. Beat at high speed for a minute so air bubbles form. Hot water creates a richer texture and activates the baking powder more efficiently. Finish Batter – Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well. Bake – Pour batter into the greased cake pan and bake for 30 minutes. Test the mud cake with a toothpick or tester to see if it’s done. If the tester comes out clean, your cake is ready. Marshmallows – Remove the cake from the oven, cover it with mini marshmallows, and put it back in the oven for 2 minutes or until the marshmallows melt slightly. Cool – Take the cake out of the oven and allow it to cool completely.
Mud Cake Frosting
Melt butter in a small saucepan while the cake is cooling. Flavor – Gradually add the heavy cream and cocoa powder, mixing well with a wooden spoon. Cook for 2 minutes or so while stirring constantly. Final Stretch – Remove from heat and mix in the vanilla extract and powdered sugar with an electric mixer. Beat until smooth. Assemble – Immediately drizzle over the cooled mud cake. Refrigerate for 25-30 minutes until the frosting has set.
Recipe Notes and Variations
Make-Ahead, Serving & Storage
Mississippi mud cake makes a great make-ahead because it tastes better the following day. The chocolate has time to set and develop its flavor. Serve this deliciousness at room temperature with a good cup of coffee or chai tea latte if you don’t do coffee. Vanilla ice cream and homemade whipped cream are also classic pairings. Store leftovers in an airtight container for a few days at room temperature, up to three weeks in the fridge, or up to six months in the freezer.
More Classic Southern Cake Recipes to Try
Watch How to Make It
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”Ht3aSyoE” upload-date=”2023-02-06T18:59:55.000Z” name=”KROGER REC 4 Mississippi Mud Cake.mp4″ description=”Homemade MISSISSIPPI MUD CAKE is a rich, dense, decadent chocolate cake covered in melted gooey marshmallows and warm chocolate frosting.” player-type=”collapse” override-embed=”false”] This blog post was originally published in August 2020 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video
