Where did the name come from? Who wants to eat something with mud in the title of the recipe?

You will, once you try these Mississippi Mud Brownies and Mississippi Mud Cake. Actually, I think the name came from the “Muddy Mississippi River” and how these desserts look like the thick brown mud along the Mississippi River. Many people make these to take along to a summer potluck or picnic.


Mississippi Mud Brownies

Gather all your ingredients and have them lined up on the counter before you start:

• 1 cup butter
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 c white sugar
• 4 eggs
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1 ½ c white flour
• ½ cup chopped pecans
• 1 (10.5 ounce) bag of miniature marshmallows

Frosting:
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup milk

Follow these steps:
1. Turn the oven on to 350 degrees F. to preheat.
2. Grease a 9x13 inch pan.
3. Use a large saucepan over medium heat- melt 1 cup of butter.
4. Remove the pan from the stove and stir in the cocoa until it is smooth.
5. In a large bowl mix the white sugar, eggs and 2 tsp. vanilla.
6. Pour mixture from saucepan into large bowl and continue to stir.
7. Mix the flour into this mix.
8. Fold in the pecans and marshmallows

Bake for 25-30 minutes in the oven and when the brownies start to pull away from the sides of the pan they are ready to come out of the oven.
Cool them in the pan.

Frosting:
1. Use a medium saucepan to melt ½ cup butter and 1/3 cup cocoa powder.
2. Mix in the powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.
3. Beat the milk to this mixture, but only about 1 Tbsp at a time until it is the spreading consistancy you want.


Mississippi Mud Cake

If you need to make a large dessert think “sheet cake”, and try this recipe for Mississippi Mud Cake—it is a delicious combination of sweet chocolate, crunchy pecans, and gooey marshmallows.
Gather these ingredients:
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 2 cups sugar
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1 ½ cups white flour
• 1 ½ cups chopped pecans, toasted
• 1 (10.5 ounces) bag of miniature marshmallows
• Chocolate frosting

Follow these steps:
1. Put the melted butter and sugar, cocoa, eggs, vanilla and salt in a large bowl.
2. Mix together.
3. Stir in flour and chopped pecans.
4. Pour batter into a greased and floured 15- x 10-inch jellyroll pan.
Bake at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
Remove from oven; top warm cake evenly with marshmallows.
Return to oven, and bake 5 minutes.
Drizzle Chocolate Frosting over warm cake. Cool completely.

A really good pan to use for the brownies Personalized Doughmakers Cake Pan and Lid, 9x13 Cranberry (I like the red lid that can be personalized, and the brownies stay fresh in the pan.) For the cake you need a jelly roll pan Chicago Metallic Non-Stick True Jelly Roll Pan, 15 by 10-Inch. Both are available on Amazon.