This Mississippi Mud Cake includes a homemade chocolate cake with melted marshmallows and warm chocolate frosting poured on top. Trust me, it's as delicious as it sounds!

A slice of Mississippi Mud Cake on a white plate.

When I think of a chocolate lover's dream, this is the cake that comes to mind! It's called a “Mississippi Mud” cake because of the layers of soft marshmallow and chocolate that make up the topping and frosting. It's one of the easiest cakes to make, baked in a simple 9×13” pan.

I adapted the recipe from my favorite Hershey's Perfectly Chocolate Cake recipe but instead of buttermilk I used milk and sour cream for an extra moist and tender cake. The warm chocolate frosting is the same recipe I use for this popular Texas Sheet Cake. It's SO GOOD!

How to Make Mississippi Mud Cake:

  • Combine dry ingredients: flour, sugars, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  • Add wet ingredients: Add oil, eggs, vanilla, milk and sour cream and mix until combined. Reduce speed and carefully pour in the boiling water. Beat on high speed for 1 minute to add air to the batter.
  • Bake: Pour batter into greased 9×13” pan and bake for 28-33 minutes.
  • Add marshmallows. Remove cake from oven and sprinkle marshmallows all over the top of the hot cake, completely covering it. Return to oven for 2-3 minutes until marshmallows are puffed up. Cool cake before frosting.
  • Make the Frosting: Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add milk and cocoa powder and whisk well. Cook for about 2-3 more minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and powdered sugar. Use an electric mixer to make the frosting smooth.
  • Drizzle frosting over cake.
Two process photos for adding marshmallows and warm chocolate frosting to a Mississippi Mud Cake baked in a 9x13 inch pan.

Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions:

The cake can be made 1-2 days in advance, stored covered at room temperature or in the refrigerator. The baked and frosted cake can be frozen for up to 3 months.

A pan of Mississippi Mud Cake with a spatula lifting out the first piece of cake.

More Chocolate Cakes to love:

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Recipe

A slice of Mississippi Mud Cake on a plate.
Prep 15 minutes
Cook 45 minutes
Total 1 hour
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Ingredients
  

For topping:

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9×13” baking pan.
  • In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, sugars, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  • Add oil, eggs, vanilla, milk and sour cream and mix until combined. Reduce speed and carefully pour in the boiling water. Beat on high speed for 1 minute to add air to the batter.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 38-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Remove cake from oven and sprinkle marshmallows all over the top of the hot cake, completely covering it. 
  • Return to oven (at 350 degrees F) for 3-5 minutes or until the marshmallows are just slightly puffed and melted. 
  • Allow cake to cool completely before drizzling frosting on top.

For the frosting:

  • Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. 
  • Add milk and cocoa powder and whisk well. Cook for about 2-3 more minutes, stirring constantly. 
  • Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and powdered sugar. Use an electric mixer to make the frosting smooth.
  • Drizzle warm frosting immediately over cake. Refrigerate cake for about 30 minutes or until frosting has set. Store at room temperature.

Notes

Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions: The cake can be made 1-2 days in advance, stored covered at room temperature or in the refrigerator. The baked and frosted cake can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 633kcalCarbohydrates: 104gProtein: 5gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 394mgPotassium: 224mgFiber: 2gSugar: 78gVitamin A: 300IUCalcium: 75mgIron: 2.1mg
Have you tried this recipe?!

RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience.x

I originally shared this post September 2015. Updated February 2021.

This post contains affiliate links.

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About The Author

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

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4.90 from 404 votes (356 ratings without comment)
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Amybass
5 months ago

I can’t believe all the rude comments! If they don’t like it, they need to keep it to themselves! I’m sure it will be great. How could it not be with those ingredients?

Courtney
5 months ago

5 stars
This turned out wonderful!! I had some trial/error issues with over-toasting the marshmallows but salvaged it well. Will definitely make this again!!

K K
5 months ago

4 stars
Absolutely delicious, loved it! Only criticism is that it was very very sweet, even though I halved the sugar.

Emily
6 months ago

1 star
had to bake 30 more minute because the cneter won’t cook. Now the outer edges are burnt. Garbage recipe.

Mickey
7 months ago

3 stars
Good flavor. The marshmallows are supposed to be correct melted and ooey gooey. Didn’t happen . Should’ve broiled them a bit

Sharon
8 months ago

Delicious, moist cake! The marshmallow topping and fudge frosting make it extra delicious!
I had no problems like some of the other posts had.
Definitely a keeper.

V johnson
10 months ago

1 star
This recipe is terrible.
* recommended pan size should be larger than 9×13
* cake requires significantly more baking time
* the cake itself is dry and bad flavor

I will not be making this again. I grew up with similar but much better versions.

Tammy wood
11 months ago

5 stars
Can’t wait to make this.yum thank you!

Kathy
1 year ago

5 stars
I’ve made this recipe multiple times and always follow the recipe, except a bake it and a half sheet pan instead of a 9 x 13. The baking time is perfect, it makes more servings, and doesn’t overflow or make a mess. Sometimes I add chocolate chips on top, just for fun. I’m sure nuts would also be a great addition. I always get rave reviews! Thanks for a great recipe !

P Fleak
1 year ago

2 stars
Flavor of the cake was good but the icing wasn’t firm enough and the marshmallow stretched like taffy. Will use marshmallow cream next time for sure.