Craving Chocolate? This is a Sure Fix!

Mississippi Mud Cake has long been a favorite of mine ever since my classmate, Brett, first shared it with me in junior high.  In fact, I still make it by following the original recipe printed in the school newsletter.  It's super easy to make with simple kitchen ingredients and is great for taking to a family needing a meal (well, as the dessert), a potluck, or just plain spoiling your family.  I've never had the opportunity to freeze it as it gets eaten way too fast at my house.

This week I tried a variation by making a batch of brownies and baking them about 5 minutes less than the package directions before adding the marshmallows and chocolate fudge icing.  My sons liked this version better as the brownies are a sweeter base than the cake.  You'll just have to make it twice and decide for yourself.  :)

Another variation which I am testing tonight is serving each piece with a generous sprinkling of chopped Junior Mints to accomodate a "minty" sweet tooth in one of our guests.  (And this was much enjoyed, too!)

Original Recipe for Mississippi Mud Cake:

1 stick of butter, softened
1/2 C shortening
4 T cocoa
2 C sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
dash of salt
2 C flour

1 bag of mini marshmallows
1 batch of icing, see below

Place all the ingredients into a mixing bowl.  Using an electric mixer, mix until well combined.  Batter will be thick.  Pour into a greased 9" x 13" pan.  Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes.  Cover with mini-marshmallows and return to oven for 3-5 minutes until marshmallows get puffy.  Spread hot icing over hot cake and let set for 10 minutes before serving.  Good pairings for this dessert are coffee, vanilla ice cream or milk.

Optional: Add 1/2 C nuts to batter before placing in pan, or sprinkle over part of the hot icing if not everyone enjoys nuts in their chocolate.

Icing:
Melt 2 sticks of butter.  Add the following and stir until smooth.  Pour over hot cake.

1 lb. (1 box) powdered sugar
4 heaping T cocoa
2 tsp. vanilla
4 T canned milk or whipping cream or even just milk