Category Archives: Desserts

The Best Mississippi Mud Pie Recipe

Mississippi mud pie on a plate and in the pan

This Mississippi Mud Pie recipe was a family favorite when I was growing up. I’ve mentioned before that we were never fans of traditional birthday cakes, but Crazy Chocolate Cake and Mississippi Mud Pie frequently made an appearance.

We stumbled across this Mississippi Mud Pie recipe on a family vacation one year. We were staying at a ranch and one night this was served for dessert. After my entire family enjoyed it, the cook kindly gave my mom the recipe and it’s been a part of our family ever since.

Nope, it’s not “healthy” but we don’t make it often so I’m okay with that! A fun treat for a birthday celebration or company coming over for dinner.

What exactly is Mississippi Mud Pie? It’s an easy layered dessert that begins with a thin, shortbread crust and is topped with a layer of a cream cheese/whipped cream mixture followed by chocolate pudding and finished with whipped cream.

You may use nuts in the crust or leave them out.

The original recipe uses boxed pudding and Cool Whip. I will give the original recipe amounts, but also share how to do it with homemade whipped cream – my preferred method.

I have also made this with homemade pudding. You will need to use a recipe that call for 4 cups of milk and then decrease the milk to 3 cups. Do note that the homemade pudding won’t set up quite as nicely as the instant pudding but it does taste amazing.

Mississippi Mud Pie Ingredients

  • Flour
  • Granulated sugar
  • Butter, melted
  • Pecans, optional
  • 2 boxes instant chocolate pudding (3.4 ounces each) 
  • Milk
  • Heavy cream, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and cornstarch OR Cool Whip
  • Cream Cheese at room temperature
  • Powdered sugar

Mississippi Mud Pie Recipe Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and stir the melted butter, sugar, and optional pecans in a small bowl. Press into the bottom of a 9×13 inch pan. It will be very thin.

unbaked shortbread crust

Bake for 10-14 minutes, until barely turning golden. Remove from oven to let cool.

Pan with the baked crust

Beat room temperature cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth and creamy.

mixing bowl with the beaten cream cheese and powdered sugar

In a mixer, using the whisk attachment (or in a bowl with hand beaters) whip 1 cup of heavy cream until soft peaks are formed. Then drop the cream cheese mixture in several spoonsful over the whipped cream. Beat just until blended and spread over the cooled crust.
(If you use Cool Whip, simply combine 2 cups of cool whip with the cream cheese and powdered mixture until smooth)

Cream cheese mixture dropped on top of the whipped creamMixing bowl with the combined whipped cream and cream cheese

Make both boxes of instant pudding using only 3 cups of milk instead of 4. (If making homemade pudding, make sure it cools completely.) Spread over the cream cheese layer.

Chocolate pudding spread in the pan

Place 2 cups of heavy cream in the mixer (I used the same one that I used in the previous whipped cream step) and beat until soft peaks form. Add 2 teaspoons of cornstarch or arrowroot (this will help keep the cream stay set – if you are serving the same day, you can omit this), 2-4 tablespoons powdered sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Beat until heavy peaks form and plop spoonsful over the pudding layer and carefully spread. (It should be 4 cups of whipped cream.)
(If using Cool Whip, you can omit this step and simply spread the remainder or the 16 ounce container on top of the pudding layer – approximately 4 cups.)

Finished Mississippi Mud Pie in the pan

You can garnish with chopped nuts or chocolate pieces if desired.

Keep refrigerated until serving.

It is actually a really simple dessert and everyone loves it!

More Dessert Ideas:
Crazy Chocolate Cake
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Brownie Brittle

Picture of mississippi mud pie in a glass pan

Mississippi Mud Pie Recipe

Mississippi Mud Pie
Author: 
Recipe type: Dessert
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 12
 
This Mississippi Mud Pie recipe is easy & so good! It has been a family favorite for the last 20 years. It's a delicious layered dessert everyone will love.
Ingredients
  • ½ cup butter, melted
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 cup chopped pecans, optional
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
  • 3 cups heavy cream, divided
  • 2 packages instant chocolate pudding (3.4 ounces each)
  • 3 cups milk
  • 2-4 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch or arrowroot powder, optional
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • (OR substitute the last three ingredients and the heavy cream with a 16 ounce carton of Cool Whip - see recipe notes for instructions)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Mix melted butter, flour, 1 tablespoon of sugar, & pecans (if using) in a small bowl. Press onto the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan. Bake for 10-14 minutes (until barely turning golden). Let cool.
  3. Beat room temperature cream cheese and 1 cup of powdered sugar until smooth. In another bowl, beat 1 cup of heavy cream until soft peaks form. Drop the cream cheese mixture over the whipped cream and beat just until combined. Spread on cooled crust.
  4. Mix both packages of pudding with 3 cups of milk. Spread over the cream cheese layer.
  5. Use the remaining heavy cream to make whipped cream: Beat 2 cups of heavy cream until soft peaks form. Add powdered sugar, cornstarch, and vanilla. Beat until stiff peaks form. Carefully spread over the pudding layer.
  6. Optionally, garnish with chopped pecans and chocolate pieces.
  7. Refrigerate until serving.
Notes
If using Cool Whip:
In step 2 beat softened cream cheese with powdered sugar until smooth. Stir in 2 cups off cool whip until combined and spread on the crust.
In step 4, simply spread the remainder of the Cool Whip (about 4 cups) over the top of the pudding layer.
See recipe post for more information and details about using homemade pudding.

A piece of Mississippi Mud pie on a glass plate

 

The Best Crazy Chocolate Cake Recipe

Graphic of crazy chocolate cake

This crazy chocolate cake recipe is one we’ve been making for years. As in for over 30 years! This is probably the easiest chocolate cake you will ever make and it’s super cheap too.

What exactly is crazy chocolate cake, you ask? Well, it’s a dairy free, egg free cake that you mix right in the pan it’s baked in! Fewer dishes and no special ingredients are always a good thing!

When my siblings and I were little none of us were fans of the traditional frosted birthday cake. One year I begged my mom for one – it was white with blue flowers – and I hated it. Oops, sorry mom.

This exact recipe for crazy chocolate cake was our most common pick for a birthday dessert – it was a cake we actually loved! Angel food cake, Mississippi Mud Pie, and a few other things made an appearance as well.

I think I have only made one other type of chocolate cake in my life and now my non cake loving kids enjoy this too.

Crazy Chocolate Cake Ingredients

  • Flour
  • Sugar
  • Baking soda
  • Salt
  • Cocoa Powder
  • Vanilla extract
  • Oil
  • Vinegar
  • Hot water

Crazy Chocolate Cake Instructions

This cake is so easy! It’s the perfect recipe for your kids to add to their repertoire.

  1. Sift dry ingredients into a greased 9×13 inch pan. I have made this in both glass and metal pans. You can also make this is a 8 inch square pan by simply cutting all of the ingredients in half (and just watch your bake time). If I’m honest, on occasion I’ve even skipped the sifting step. Don’t tell anyone, just make sure you don’t have any clumps of soda or cocoa.
  2. Make three holes in the dry ingredients with a spoon. 2 small holes and one a little larger.
    Dry ingredients for crazy chocolate cake
  3. In one hole put the vanilla in another the vinegar and in the largest hole the oil.
    chocolate cake dry ingredients with oil, vinegar, and vanilla
  4. Pour 2 cups of warm water over the entire mixture! (I use water I heated in the microwave because I don’t like using our tap water. If you bake with tap water, you can use hot water right from the tap.)
    Crazy chocolate cake with hot water over the top5. Use a fork to blend the mixture gently but thoroughly.
    Mixed crazy chocolate cake
    6. Bake for 30-40 minutes at 350 degrees. Start checking at 30 minutes. What kind of pan you use and how your oven cooks will make the length very. A toothpick inserted into the middle should come out clean, but don’t overbake!7. Let cake cool and frost with your favorite frosting or one of the following 2 options.

Crazy Chocolate Cake Frosting:

1/2 cup butter, melted
3 heaping tablespoons cocoa powder
4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Place above ingredients into a bowl and add milk or half and half until smooth.
crazy chocolate cake frosting
Spread on cooled cake.
Frosted Crazy Chocolate Cake
The other frosting option is the one to use if you are dairy free!

Frosting Option 2:

  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/3 cup cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • dash of saltStir in water until the desired consistency.

Overhead shot of a slice of crazy chocolate cake

Check out these other desserts:

Crazy Chocolate Cake Recipe

Crazy Chocolate Cake Recipe
Author: 
Recipe type: Dessert
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 12
 
This is the easiest chocolate cake in the world! Not only is it easy, it's my kids' favorite cake recipe. Topped with a rich frosting this is perfection.
Ingredients
Cake
  • 3 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ⅓ cup cocoa powder (I use ½ cup)
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 tablespoons white vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • ¾ cup salad oil (or neutral oil of choice)
  • 2 cups warm water
Frosting Option 1
  • ½ cup butter, melted
  • 3 heaping teaspoons cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Milk (or cream or half and half)
Frosting Option 2
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • ⅓ cup cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • dash salt
  • water
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Grease a 9x13 inch pan.
  3. Sift the dry ingredients directly into the pan.
  4. Make three holes with a spoon. I one hole put vanilla in another vinegar and in the third the oil.
  5. Pour two cups warm water over the entire mixture and blend gently but thoroughly with a fork.
  6. Bake for 30-40 minutes (until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.)
  7. Let cool and frost.
Frosting 1
  1. Combine all ingredients except the milk. Stir and add milk or cream until frosting is smooth and spreadable.
Frosting 2
  1. Combined powdered sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla and salt in a bowl. Stir in water until desired consistency.

 

Easy & Delicious Brownie Brittle Recipe

Brownie Brittle on a white cloth

Fair warning. This treat is addictive! Chocolate goodness with the perfect crispy texture. This brownie brittle recipe is so good.

Even for those of us that prefer chewy cookies over crispy (that’s me) there is just something about this goodie that keeps pulling you back in.

All 3 kids and my husband also raved about this.

It’s a fast and simple recipe. You can save yourself money by skipping the prepackaged version and making it yourself.

Bonus, make and package it up yourself to use as a gift or part of a gift basket.

Affiliate links are used in these posts. See disclosure page for more details.

Brownie Brittle Recipe Ingredients:

Super simple ingredients. They are all things you most likely already have in your kitchen if you do any type of baking.

  • Egg whites
  • Sugar
  • Butter
  • Vanilla extract
  • Water
  • Flour
  • Salt
  • Baking soda
  • Cocoa powder
  • Chocolate chips

How to Make Brownie Brittle:

This is so easy to put together. I use my Kitchen Aid stand mixer with the whisk attachment. You could also use a  hand mixer. (Mine burnt out over year ago and I haven’t gotten around to replacing them – I just use the stand mixer more often)

Beat 2 egg whites until foamy. Add the sugar and beat some more.

egg whipped in mixing bowl

To the egg mixture you will add melted butter (that has cooled off), vanilla extract, and a little water and mix some more.

Into a small bowl, sift the flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda. Fold it into the wet batter.

dry ingredients sifted into a bowl

Next place a silicone baking mat or parchment paper onto a baking sheet. (I used a baking mat.) Spread the batter into a rectangle approximately 9.5 inches by 14 inches. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and then press the chips into the batter.

brownie brittle spread on silicone baking sheet

Last up is baking. You use a lower baking temperature so you can cook this longer to get the great crispy texture without the brownie brittle becoming burnt.

Bake at 300 degrees for 30-40 minutes. (Mine needed the 40 minutes, but every oven is different so start checking at 30 minutes.)

When it’s done, it will not be completely hard, remove from the oven and let cool completely. As it cools the brownie brittle with crisp up perfectly! The kids love to help break it into pieces after it’s hardened up.

baked brownie brittle on a baking mat

Hopefully your family enjoys this recipes as much as mine does.

Are you a brownie brittle fan? Any fun combinations I should try? Or any easy must make treats I need to know about?

Looking for some other chocolate desserts to try?
The Best Homemade Fudge
Dark Chocolate Pretzel Bark
Chocolate Crinkle Peppermint Cookies
Toll House Pie

Easy Brownie Brittle Recipe

Broken pieces of crispy brownie brittle on a white cloth

Easy Brownie Brittle Recipe
Author: 
Recipe type: Dessert
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 20 pieces
 
This brownie brittle recipe is spectacular and so simple to make! The great chocolate flavor of a brownie with a perfect crunch. Everyone will love this and it makes a perfect gift.
Ingredients
  • 2 egg whites
  • ⅓ cup white sugar
  • ¼ cup melted butter, cooled
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • ⅔ cup flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ⅓ cup cocoa powder
  • ½ cup chocolate chips
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
  2. Using a stand mixer (with the whisk attachment) or hand mixer beat the 2 egg whites until very foamy.
  3. Add the sugar and beat again.
  4. Make sure the melted butter isn't hot and add butter, vanilla, and water to the the egg mixer and beat until combined.
  5. Sift the flour, cocoa, salt, and baking soda into a separate, small bowl. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet.
  6. Line a pan with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. Spread the brownie brittle batter into a 9.5 inch x 14 inch rectangle.
  7. Sprinkle with chocolate chips (amount can be up to you) and then press the chips into the batter.
  8. Bake for 30-40 minutes, checking after 30 minutes.
  9. Remove from oven and let cool completely on the baking sheet. It should crisp up completely when cooled.
  10. Break into pieces. Store in an air tight container.

 

Easy Dark Chocolate Pretzel Bark

Plate with pieces of dark chocolate pretzel barkYou need this dark chocolate pretzel bark as part of your recipe repertoire! A dark chocolate base topped with pretzel pieces and sea salt it’s a combination you are sure to love!

Think a quicker, fancier, and tastier version of dipped pretzels!

So, if you are looking for the easiest treat ever, this is the one and it’s also relatively healthy. With appropriate pretzels, this is even gluten free!

It’s a great dessert to bag up and use for gifts or to include as part of a treat platter you are giving to the neighbors or to bring to a Christmas party.

After you’ve made it once, you’ll come back to it again and again (and again)!

This is a great Christmas treat! It’s a nice contrast to the normal holiday desserts that are very sweet. Using dark chocolate (and that is the only form of sweetener in the recipe) tones down the sugar. The pretzels give it the perfect crunch and the salt that great salty sweet combination.

If you use your freezer to speed up the cooling process, you can have this ready to go in 10 minutes!

Be aware that the chocolate will melt, so you will want to avoid contact with a heat source (or too warm of a house) to keep it from turning into a soupy mess. Depending on the temperature of your home, you might want to store it in the refrigerator. (If you keep your house cold, like I do, room temperature won’t be a problem.)

hardened chocolate with pretzel pieces pressed in

Dark Chocolate Pretzel Bark Ingredients

All you need are 4 simple ingredients!

  • Dark chocolate chips
  • Pretzels (gluten free or regular, twists or sticks – but I think twists look a little better)
  • Sea salt
  • Coconut oil

Technically, you can do without the coconut oil but I prefer the texture with the oil a little more.

Dark Chocolate Pretzel Bark Instructions

Break pretzels into pieces until you have 1/2-2/3 cup.

Take the chocolate chips and put them in a glass bowl. You can use a double boiler or simply put them in the microwave.

chocolate chips melting in a bowl

Microwave the chocolate chips for 30 seconds. Stir. Microwave another 30 seconds. Add the coconut oil and stir the chocolate until smooth. If your chocolate chips aren’t yet completely melted, microwave in 10 second increments.

melted chocolate chips

Place parchment paper on a baking sheet. Pour the melted chocolate onto the paper and spread into a 9×12 inch rectangle.

melted chocolate spread onto parchment paper

Sprinkle pretzels over the top of the chocolate. Be sure to press pretzels into the chocolate. (If you don’t push them into the chocolate, they will fall off when you break it into pieces – I always remember this the hard way)

Sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt.

Let harden in the fridge. After completely hardened, break into pieces and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. (It will be fine at room temperature to serve at a party, I’ve done it many times.)

Plate of broken pieces of dark chocolate with pretzels pressed into it.

Other Treats You Will Want to Make:
My Go To Sugar Cookie Recipe
Molasses Cookies
Rich and Creamy Fudge
Dark Chocolate Fudge
Russian Tea Cakes
Peanut Butter Fudge

Dark Chocolate Pretzel Bark Recipe

Dark Chocolate Pretzel Bark
Author: 
Recipe type: Dessert
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 20 pieces
 
This dark chocolate pretzel bark is such an easy and tasty treat that's not overly sweet! Perfect for gifting too.
Ingredients
  • ½-2/3 cup broken pretzel pieces
  • 12 ounces (2 cups) dark chocolate chips
  • ½ teaspoon coconut oil
  • pinch of sea salt
Instructions
  1. Set out ½-2/3 cup of broken pretzel pieces. (Amount depends on your desired chocolate to pretzel ratio).
  2. Melt chocolate chips and coconut oil using a double boiler. Or microwave in a glass boil. To microwave cook for 30 seconds, stir, and put in for another 30 seconds. Add coconut oil and stir until smooth. (If not smooth, microwave for 10 second increments stirring each time).
  3. Place a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet.
  4. Spread melted chocolate onto the paper in a 9x12 inch rectangle.
  5. Drop the pretzel pieces over top of the chocolate. Press pretzels down into the chocolate.
  6. Sprinkle chocolate with a pinch of sea salt.
  7. Let harden in the fridge. After completely hardened, break into pieces, Store in the fridge (or cool location) in an airtight container until ready to enjoy!

 

 

The Easiest Dark Chocolate Fudge Ever

Cut pieces of dark chocolate fudge on a white cloth

It’s the best time of the year and that means all sorts of yummy Christmas treats. Today’s recipe is for the easiest ever dark chocolate fudge! Though, I would say fudge is one of those goodies that can be enjoyed year round.

Affiliate links are used in these posts. See disclosure page for more info.

There’s no secret that I love fudge.

I have a more traditional fudge recipe on the blog (my absolute favorite) that involves boiling sugar and evaporated milk and beating in butter and chocolate. An amazing rich and creamy recipe, but it does take a bit more time than this dark chocolate fudge recipe.

You can also check out this recipe for chocolate peanut butter fudge – another that we love.

As far as simplicity goes, today’s recipe takes the cake.

Sweetened condensed milk and chocolate chips in a pan

2 main ingredients (plus a little salt and vanilla extract) and you can have it poured into the pan to cool in less than 5 minutes. A great easy fudge recipe that would be a little less dangerous to have the kids make than standing over a pot of boiling sugar.

Not only do I love fudge, I also love dark chocolate. The depth of flavor and being able to taste the almost bitterness of the chocolate mixed with a little sweet. It’s just so good.

Dark Chocolate Fudge Ingredients

Check out how simple these are:

Dark Chocolate Chips
Sweetened Condensed Milk
Salt
Vanilla Extract

Use your favorite dark chocolate chips, because they are what you get the chocolate flavor from. You will need 3 cups, which is usually 1 1/2 bags.

All you need is a pinch of salt. You can pinch it out or do what I did and use these fun measuring spoons:

One change you can do is to swap out the vanilla extract for peppermint extract to make a dark chocolate peppermint fudge – yum!

Dark Chocolate Fudge Instructions

These instructions will convince you these is the easiest dark chocolate fudge ever.

Grab a pot and pour in a can of sweetened condensed milk. Add the dark chocolate chips and heat over medium low heat until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.

(If you are feeling fancy, you can stir in a couple tablespoons of butter at this point it’s totally not necessary.)

Stir in the salt and vanilla extract.

Stirring salt, vanilla, and butter into melted chocolate chips

Pour into a 7-8 inch square baking pan (mine is 7.6 inches) that is lined with parchment paper.

square baking pan lined with parchment paper

Let cool on the counter. After completely cool, use the parchment paper to remove fudge from pan and use a sharp knife (run knife under hot water and then dry for the cleanest cut) to cut into squares.

Dark chocolate fudge poured into panTo store fudge: Store fudge in an airtight container in the freezer. Let come to room temperature before serving. (Or if you can’t wait, eat it cold!)

cooled and hardened dark chocolate fudgeFudge add-ins: You can make your fudge even fancier by adding in extra ingredients with the salt and vanilla. Think of things like:

  • Chopped pecans
  • Chopped walnuts
  • Peanuts
  • Chopped candy bars
  • M&Ms

close up of dark chocolate fudge square on white napkin

Easy Dark Chocolate Fudge Recipe

Easy Dark Chocolate Fudge
Author: 
Recipe type: Dessert
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 49 1-in squares
 
This is the easiest dark chocolate fudge ever. A few simple ingredients and in 5 minutes this will be in the pan waiting to cool. Perfect for a rich treat or homemade gift.
Ingredients
  • 1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk
  • 3 cups dark chocolate chips
  • pinch salt
  • 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. Line a 7 to 8 inch square pan with parchment paper.
  2. Pour the sweetened condensed milk into a saucepan. Add the chocolate chips and stir over medium low heat until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.
  3. Remove from heat and stir in the salt and vanilla extract. (You may also add in any extra ingredients at this point - chopped nuts, chopped candy bars, m&ms etc.)
  4. Pour into the lined pan. Let cool on the counter - can put in the fridge to speed up the process.
  5. After cool, use the parchment paper to remove fudge from pan. Cut into squares.
  6. You can store leftover fudge in an airtight container in the freezer.