
I am not the sharpest tool in the shed...that thought had never occurred to me.

{This is one well-used, well-loved muffin tin.}
It's my new rule now. If I'm dropping a cake off someplace, I make a cupcake, too. It serves two purposes: 1. to make sure it tastes ok. 2. I get to eat cake.
We'll be using instant espresso powder to make this Mississippi Mud Cake into a MOCHA Mississippi Mud Cake. Look for it near the Sanka in your coffee aisle...or on Amazon. It looks like this:

This Mocha Mississippi Mud Cake was actually heading to a funeral reception. If you like to bake or cook, check into the funeral food ministry at your local church. Food equals comfort, and it's such an easy way to give. I think sometimes we get so wrapped up in trying to "give big" that we forget that the little acts of giving count for something, too.


Mocha Mississippi Mud Cake
for the cake:
1 & 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon espresso powder
2 sticks salted butter, melted
1/2 cup dutch-process cocoa powder
4 eggs, room temperature
2 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 & 1/2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
for the topping:
1 (10 oz.) bag mini marshmallows
1/2 stick salted butter
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon espresso powder
1/2 cup dutch-process cocoa powder
4 cups powdered sugar
Preheat the oven to 350. Lightly grease a 9 x 13" pan. (If making a cupcake, line one muffin tin with a cupcake liner.) Set aside.





{Sing it with me: "I always feel like somebody's watching meeee...."}
Make the topping: in a medium saucepan, combine the butter, milk and espresso powder over medium heat until the mixture comes to a simmer. Remove from the heat and whisk in the cocoa powder. Return the pan to medium heat and whisk constantly until smooth.
Whisk in the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time. Continue whisking and cooking until the mixture has come to a simmer. Pour the hot topping evenly over the marshmallows. Cool completely before serving.
The cake may be kept in the refrigerator for 1 week.
{Recipe adapted from Cake Ladies Mississippi Mud Cake}

Have (or give) your cake and eat it, too? You bet!
I never thought of doing that either!
ReplyDeleteI love that your church has a funeral food ministry, SUCH a great idea! I have not heard of that, just family/friends delivering food when there's a funeral. I'll have to ask about this! Also, your cake looks fantastic :)
ReplyDeleteI would have never thought of that either, oh my gosh!!! See you aren't the only one :)
ReplyDeleteMaking a cupcake is GENIUS - great idea!
ReplyDeleteThat's a Great idea! Make a Cupcake to taste the cake! It looks delicious!
ReplyDelete:-)
wow wow wee!!! This looks great! Almost too good to give away! Clever idea making a mini taste of the cake!
ReplyDeleteI've never thought of making a cupcake either...genius!
ReplyDeleteJust halved the recipe & made them as cupcakes. Tried one & loved it! Can't wait to share them with my friends tomorrow :)
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas.........the cupcake AND baking for funerals.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea and the cake looks great! Giving in this way is wonderful and the little things do mean a lot...always.
ReplyDeleteyou would think that being a baker we would totally figure out how to do this and be able to to try our creation when we are sending it somewhere, I cannot believe I never thought of that, so funny, but so happening from now on!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this gentle reminder of how bakers can give back! I felt that I needed to be doing something more, so thank you! I will be checking in a food ministry ASAP : )
ReplyDeleteI grew up with my mom bringing food for funeral luncheons, such a wonderful and thoughtful tradition of giving. This cake looks so simple and delicious!
ReplyDeletewhat a fantastic idea!! both the cupcake taster and the funeral food ministry! must try this recipe too!!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, I always have the same problem!
ReplyDeleteOkay ... so the cupcake idea? Why have I never thought of that? Perfect. Maybe it would work for small pies too? Totally going to remember that little trick.
ReplyDeleteAnd YUUUUUM on the recipe!
I must be a dull tool in the tool shed too because I would never have thought of this. lol It's a great idea and I love the recipe too!
ReplyDeleteDuh! What's the matter with us? How on Earth did such veteran bakers not think of making a simple cupcake to taste-test when making cakes for gift-giving? LOL! Recipe looks scrummy! And, Bridge...thanks for pointing out the Funeral Food Ministry and their needs. We all need to be good shepherds.
ReplyDeleteAnother dull tool here - great idea and this looks as yummy as Texas Sheet Cake!
ReplyDeleteThis cake looks so great. And our church has a ministry like this!
ReplyDeletevery clever idea! The cake looks like it wouldn't last a day in my fridge :) YUMMY!
ReplyDeleteNothing wrong with chocolate!
ReplyDeleteThat was always my favorite part of making a cake when I was a kid helping my mom. Many times we would bake cakes for church or to give to someone and she had a mini sized cake pan that we always poured our "tester" cake in to sample. Mom always thought the best time to eat anything was when it was fresh and warm. I have my own small cake pan and do the same.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't have thought to do the cupcake thing either - that's brilliant!
ReplyDeleteI love that you save back a little batter in a cupcake. Sometimes, that's ALL I want....is just that 1 glorious cupcake or a few bites and the rest I can give away. Although, this looks too good to give away!
ReplyDeleteWhoa! Yum!
ReplyDeleteHi, congrats, this looks more than great!
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Photorecipe
So smart!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! Thank you:) The cake looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteP.s. I bought your book! I love it:)
ReplyDeleteThat is such a smart idea! Why have I never thought of that!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a genius idea! I will absolutely be incorporating it into my cake-baking routine. Thanks for sharing all of your amazing tips!
ReplyDeletewell alrighty then!
ReplyDeleteit's been ages since I've had mud cake!
I never thought of doing an individual cupcake when doing cake! I'd even do it when making a cake that I'm not giving away (you get to eat it earlier!)
ReplyDeletePS: Gotta love the above comment :) Sounds like a harsh lawsuit :)
I never even thought about that either, DUH, lol!
ReplyDeleteAt that place was 'no discrepancy' o'er accounts he had given MP s is on appeal. intimately, merchandising -- the USDA Food safety device and review armed service FSIS has some stern rules more or less what these labels should mean. They want to be through and through enzymatic processing and then added to food products as a lifelike sweetener.
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Looks amazing, Bridget! And I love the cupcake idea - brilliant!! :-)
ReplyDeleteI love the funeral food ministry AND the extra cupcake idea. And I want that cupcake.
ReplyDeleteA chocolate cake delight. Yum!
ReplyDelete