Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

A Mississippi mud cake is universally appreciated at Southern events.

Why Is It Called Mississippi Mud Cake?

Why the name Mississippi mud cake?

Southern Living Mississippi Mud Cake sliced on plates to serve

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Freeze for up to three months for longer storage, either sliced (for quick grabbing) or whole.

Bring to room temperature before serving.

bag miniature marshmallows

Chocolate Frosting:

1/2cupunsaltedbutter

1/3cupmilk

6Tbsp.unsweetenedcocoa

1 (16-oz.

Southern Living Mississippi Mud Cake ingredients

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Bake at 350F for 8 to 10 minutes or until toasted.

Make cake batter:

Whisk sugar and next 5 ingredients into chocolate mixture.

Pour batter into a greased 15- x 10- x 1-inch jelly-roll pan.

Southern Living Mississippi Mud Cake toasting the pecans

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Partially bake cake:

Bake at 350F for 20 minutes.

Add marshmallows, and continue baking:

Remove from oven, and sprinkle evenly with miniature marshmallows.

Bake 8 to 10 more minutes or until golden brown.

Southern Living Mississippi Mud Cake melting the chocolate and butter together

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Mississippi Mud Cake Variations

Kitchen Express Mississippi Mud Cake:

Prepare pecans as directed.

Substitute 2 (6-oz.)

packages fudge brownie mix for batter.

Southern Living Mississippi Mud Cake whisking together the cake batter

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Prepare mix according to package directions; pour batter into a greased 15- x 10- x 1-inch jelly-roll pan.

Bake at 350F for 25 minutes.

Remove from oven, and top with marshmallows; bake 8 to 10 more minutes.

Southern Living Mississippi Mud Cake spreading the batter in the pan

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Proceed with recipe as directed.

Note: For testing purposes only, we used Duncan Hines Chocolate Lover’s Double Fudge Brownie Mix.

Caramel-Peanut Mississippi Mud Cake:

Omit pecans.

Southern Living Mississippi Mud Cake baking the cake

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Prepare and bake Mississippi Mud Cake as directed.

Microwave 1/2 cup bottled caramel sauce at HIGH 15 seconds.

Drizzle over browned marshmallows.

Southern Living Mississippi Mud Cake adding the marshmallows

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Drizzle with Chocolate Frosting, and sprinkle with 1 cup dry-roasted peanuts.

Mississippi Mud Cupcakes:

Prepare pecans and Mississippi Mud Cake batter as directed.

Spoon batter evenly into 24 paper-lined muffin cups.

Southern Living Mississippi Mud Cake baking until the marshmallows are toasted

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Bake at 350F for 20 minutes or until puffed.

Sprinkle evenly with 2 cups miniature marshmallows, and bake 5 more minutes or until golden.

Remove from oven, and cool cupcakes in muffin pans 5 minutes.

Southern Living Chocolate Frosting beating until smooth

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Remove cupcakes from pans, and place on wire rack.

Drizzle warm cakes evenly with 1 1/4 cups Chocolate Frosting, and sprinkle with toasted pecans.

Reserve remaining 3/4 cup frosting for another use.

Southern Living Mississippi Mud Cake adding the frosting and pecans to the cake

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Frequently Asked Questions

These two desserts are similarboth are incredibly decadent and chocolatey.

Freeze mud cake whole or sliced for up to three months.

Bring to room temperature before serving.