Mississippi Mud Bars

"Take a chocolate brownie layer topped with marshmallows, toasted pecans and chocolate frosting. Sound like the great makings for a dessert? Well it is what makes these Mississippi Mud Bars"----realmomkitchen.com

• Ready In: 1 hr 45 mins
• Serves: 15
• Yields: 15 bars

Ingredients

• 1  cup  chopped pecans
• 1  cup butter
• 1⁄2 cup  semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2  cups sugar
• 1 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 cup  unsweetened cocoa powder
• 4  large eggs
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1 (10 1/2ounce) bag miniature marshmallows

• frosting

• 1⁄4 cup butter
• 2 1⁄2 tablespoons  unsweetened cocoa
• 2 1⁄2 tablespoons milk
• 2  cups powdered sugar
• 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees,.
2. 2. Place pecans on a baking sheet.
3. 3. Place in a 350 degree oven for 4 minutes. Stir and bake another 4 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
4. 4. In a microwave safe dish, microwave butter and chocolate chips in a large on HIGH 30 seconds. Stir and microwave another 30 seconds. Stir until smooth.
5. 5. Combine the chocolate mixture with the sugar, flour, cocoa, eggs, vanilla, and salt. Stir until well combined.
6. 6. Pour batter into a greased or parchment lined 15- x 10- x 1-inch jelly-roll pan.
7. 7. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes.
8. 8. Remove from oven, and sprinkle evenly with miniature marshmallows; bake 4 to 6 minutes or until nice and puffy.
9. 9. Remove from oven and sprinkle with pecans.
10. 10. In a sauce pan, combine the butter, cocoa, and milk until combined.
11. 11. Then cook, stirring constantly, 2 minutes or until slightly thickened; remove from heat.
12. 12. Beat in powdered sugar and vanilla with an electric mixer until smooth.
13. 13. Place frosting in a quart sized freezer bag. Snip the corner with a pair of scissors and pipe over the bars.
14. 14. Cut into bars and enjoy. Makes 15 bars.