Mississippi Mud Cake

Rich, gooey, and unapologetically indulgent — Mississippi Mud Cake is a Southern classic that combines layers of moist chocolate cake, melted marshmallows, and a decadent fudge frosting. Each bite is pure comfort, with a melt-in-your-mouth texture and deep chocolate flavor that makes it perfect for gatherings, holidays, or anytime you crave something truly special.

Ingredients

For the Cake

• 2 large eggs

• 1 cup whole or 2% milk

• ½ cup sour cream

• 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, divided

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 cup packed light brown sugar

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• ½ cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder

• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

• ½ teaspoon kosher salt

• 1 (10-ounce) bag mini marshmallows (about 4 cups)

For the Frosting

• ½ cup unsalted butter

• ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

• ⅓ cup milk

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 3 ½ cups powdered sugar, sifted

• 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat and Prep
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.

2. Mix the Wet Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, sour cream, 1 cup vegetable oil, and vanilla extract until smooth.

3. Combine the Dry Ingredients
In another bowl, sift together the flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

4. Make the Batter
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Be careful not to overmix — you want a tender crumb.

5. Bake the Cake
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

6. Add the Marshmallow Layer
Remove the cake from the oven and immediately scatter the mini marshmallows evenly over the hot surface. Return to the oven for 3–5 minutes, just until the marshmallows puff up and begin to melt.

7. Make the Fudge Frosting
While the cake cools slightly, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the cocoa powder and milk, bringing the mixture just to a simmer. Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla extract and powdered sugar until smooth and glossy.

8. Frost and Finish
Pour the warm frosting over the marshmallow layer, spreading gently with a spatula. Sprinkle with chopped pecans or walnuts if desired.

9. Cool and Serve
Let the cake cool completely before slicing. The result: a gooey, fudgy masterpiece with a cloud-like marshmallow topping and rich chocolate glaze.