Mississippi Mud Cake Recipe

Our Mississippi Mud Cake recipe is rich and fudgy, stacked with gooey marshmallows and warm chocolate frosting from edge to edge. Chocolate lovers light up at the first bite, and it brings a little celebration to every table.

This is the kind of decadent chocolate cake that makes people sneak seconds and swear it’s their first slice.

 

Mississippi Mud Cake made its way into American kitchens in the 70s, and it didn’t take long to become a Southern favorite. Not to be confused with its cold and creamy cousin, Mississippi Mud Pie, this version is baked and proudly messy with a dense chocolate cake base, gooey marshmallow topping, and thick chocolate icing that mimics the muddy banks of the Mississippi River.

It’s bold, it’s sweet, and it’s been the star of potlucks ever since.

Our Mississippi Mud Cake is easy enough for a Tuesday night but fancy enough to steal the show at the holidays.

With pantry staples and zero fuss, it’s the kind of homemade chocolate cake that delivers big with barely any effort.

If you love rich chocolate desserts, you don’t want to miss my recipe for Chocolate Lava Cake, with a warm, molten center that spills out like the best kind of surprise. Or treat yourself to my Chocolate Mousse Cake, stacked with soft chocolate cake and a silky mascarpone mousse frosting that’s as indulgent as it sounds.

Ingredients

Gather the ingredients to prepare our Mississippi Mud Cake recipe. Culinary professionals call this the “Mise en Place,” which means “everything in its Place.”

Setting up your ingredients not only helps speed up the cooking process but also ensures you have all the necessary ingredients on hand to make the recipe.

Can I Change Up the Recipe?

Absolutely. We made the cake with whole milk, but you can easily swap in low-fat milk or even buttermilk for a slightly tangier bite.

For a nut-free version, just leave out the pecans. It’ll still have that gooey marshmallow layer and rich chocolate icing that makes the cake shine.

If you’re out of mini marshmallows, you can use marshmallow fluff or marshmallow creme instead. Spread it gently over the warm cake so it melts into the top.

Want to dial up the chocolate? Stir some chocolate chips or chunks of your favorite candy bar into the batter.

You can also bake this in a jelly roll pan or deeper cake pans. Just make sure to adjust the bake time and keep an eye on the center.

How to Make Mississippi Mud Cake

Follow along with my simple step-by-step instructions to learn how to make Mississippi Mud Cake in your home kitchen.

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or spray with baking spray.

• Add the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, table salt, and baking soda to a large bowl.
• Whisk to combine the dry ingredients.
• In another large mixing bowl, add the granulated sugar, vegetable oil, whole milk, large eggs, and vanilla extract.
• Whisk to combine the wet ingredients.
• Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.
• Stir until smooth. Be Careful not to overmix.

• Add the butter to a small saucepan over medium-low heat.
• Heat until the butter is melted.
• Add the cocoa powder and whole milk to the butter.
• Whisk until well combined and smooth.
• Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract to the mixture.
• Whisk until smooth.

Remove the pan from the heat and keep warm until the cake is finished baking.

• Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan.
• Place the pan on the center rack of the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the center of the cake is springy to the touch.
• Remove the cake from the oven and immediately top with mini marshmallows and chopped pecans.
• Drizzle the warm chocolate glaze over the pecan and marshmallow layer. Let it spread and settle across the top of the cake.

Let the cake cool completely on a wire rack before slicing and serving.

That first indulgent bite of our Mississippi Mud Cake is dense, warm, and impossibly rich, with molten marshmallow and chocolate glaze melting into every crumb. When someone asks if it’s homemade, you’ll blush like it’s a proposal.

How to Store and Freeze

Let the cake cool completely, then cover it tightly with plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container. It will stay fresh at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the fridge for up to 5.

To freeze, wrap individual slices in plastic wrap and then foil, and store them in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 2 months. Let slices thaw at room temperature before serving.

If you want to warm up a slice for a softer, gooier experience, pop it in the microwave for about 10 to 15 seconds.

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