Hershey's Mississippi Mud Cake

A rich and decadent—thick-as-Mississippi-mud—chocolate pecan sheet cake, topped with marshmallow and chocolate buttercream frosting.

Recipe Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Dash salt
1 cup chopped pecans
6 cups (10.1/2-ounce package) miniature marshmallows

One-Bowl Chocolate Buttercream Frosting:
6 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
2 2/3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Chocolate Ganache:
1 cup whipping cream
1 1/2 cups HERSHEY'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Sweetened whipped cream
Additional HERSHEY'S Cocoa (optional garnish)
Fresh raspberries (optional garnish)

Cooking Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan.
2. Beat butter, sugar and vanilla in large bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
3. Stir together flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; blend into butter mixture.
4. Stir in pecans. Spoon batter into prepared pan.
5. Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until top springs back when touched lightly in center.
6. Prepare frosting.
7. For One-Bowl Chocolate Buttercream Frosting: Beat butter in medium bowl. Blend in powdered sugar and cocoa alternately with milk; beat to spreading consistency (additional milk may be needed). Blend in vanilla. Makes about 2 cups frosting.
8. Remove cake from oven; immediately place marshmallows over top. Return cake to oven 2 to 3 minutes or until marshmallows are soft. Gently spread marshmallows over cake; immediately spread frosting over marshmallow layer. Cool thoroughly before cutting cake into squares.

Makes 12 to 15 servings.

Recipe and photograph courtesy of the Hershey Kitchens, and reprinted with permission of The Hershey Company. © The Hershey Company.