Mississippi Mud

My mother-in-law introduced me to this delicious cake that she has made for her family for many years. It is so moist and incredible.

Mississippi Mud

Melt 2 sticks of butter (1 cup) in a medium sauce pan. Add 1 cup of water and bring to a boil. In a large bowl, mix 2 cups of granulated sugar, 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 4 tablespoons cocoa powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon. Add butter/water mixture to dry ingredients and beat slightly. Add 2 eggs, 1/2 cup buttermilk and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat well. Bake in greased and floured 17" jelly roll pan at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes.

Frosting

Melt 1/2 cup butter (1 stick). Add 2 tablespoons cocoa powder and stir. Add 6 tablespoons milk and 1 cup of small marshmallows. Stir well and cook slowly until completely melted and smooth. Add up to 1 pound of powdered sugar (you want a fairly runny consistency) and mix well. If desired, add a cup or so of chopped walnuts or pecans to frosting. Pour frosting over warm cake while frosting is still hot.

Sugar Cookies

I received the sugar cookie recipe from my mom and the frosting recipe from a friend. The combination is divine, in my humble opinion. They are the best sugar cookies I have ever eaten.

Sugar Cookies

1 pound butter, softened to room temperature
3 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
6 cups all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cream sugar and butter. Beat in eggs and vanilla, mixing well. In a separate bowl mix the baking powder and soda and flour. Add half of the flour mixture to the butter/sugar mixture and mix well. Add the other half of the flour mixture and mix well. Refrigerate dough for 20-30 minutes. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out and cut into shapes. Bake on a lightly greased cookie sheet for 10-12 minutes. Cool on cookie racks and then decorate.

Frosting

1/2 cup (1 cube) melted butter
1 tablespoon flour
1 tablespoon vanilla
1/3 cup evaporated milk
4 cups (or so) powdered sugar

Mix together the first four ingredients until smooth. Add in the powdered sugar and mix until creamy and smooth (you can add more powdered sugar if mixture is too runny). Add desired food coloring and decorate cookies. We like to add a few cinnamon red hots to each cookie, as it adds a nice flavor. They are great without them, too.

Cream Cheese Frosting

This is my favorite frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 cup butter room temperature
8 oz cream cheese room temperature
1-2 teaspoons vanilla (I usuall use 1 tsp)
approximately a half pound of powdered sugar

Cream butter and cream cheese together. Add vanilla and mix well. Then add powdered sugar until you get your desired consistency (I usually end up using a half pound). Tint with food coloring, if desired. Add to cupcakes, cakes or any other place you'd prefer.