A decadent treat for chocolate lovers, Mississippi Mud Bars are one of baker Jo Pettit’s early creations.

Make sure the marshmallows, pecans and frosting are prepped before the bars finish baking, as the final steps come together quickly.

Mississippi Mud Bars
By Jo Pettit, Jo’s Sweet Indulgence

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, melted
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
10-ounce package mini marshmallows
1 cup chopped, toasted pecans
Frosting, recipe follows

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 12-by-18-inch sheet pan.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Add melted butter, eggs and vanilla. Mix until evenly combined, making sure not to over mix.
3. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake 15-20 minutes until a toothpick in the center comes out clean. Prepare frosting while bars are baking. Watch the cake carefully that you don’t over bake. Remove pan from oven, and top with marshmallows and pecans. Bake for 3 to 5 minutes more until marshmallows are softened.
4. Remove from oven, and pour warm frosting over cake. Spread with a knife if necessary. Cool completely in pan before cutting into squares.

Frosting

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Melt butter in a medium saucepan, over medium heat. Whisk in milk, cocoa and vanilla. Bring to a boil, whisk constantly. Remove from heat. Whisk in powdered sugar until smooth.

About Jo’s Sweet Indulgence

Jo Pettit, founder of Jo’s Sweet Indulgence bread and pastry truck, cuts Mississippi Mud Bars into servings.

“I absolutely love every time I step on that truck, despite that I get up at 4 a.m. It’s the hardest work I will ever love,” said Jo Pettit, founder of Jo’s Sweet Indulgence bread and pastry truck.

“Brick and mortar was not for me. I like the mobile truck; you can just pick up and go,” she said.

Pettit’s truck is fully-equipped with a 20-quart mixer, oven, refrigerator, freezer — everything needed to create a tantalizing mix of savory and sweet offerings, such as her everything bagel pretzel sliders with homemade pimento cheese.

“One of the things I really love about bread is it’s just water, flour, salt and yeast. So few ingredients, but you can do so much with it,”said Pettit, a Holly Springs resident.

Find Jo’s Sweet Indulgence at special events and community gatherings, or request a special order.

(984) 297-0202
jossweetindulgence.com