Mud Hens
You can eat a mud hen? I’m so glad you didn’t know either. At first, I was worried mud hens were a Texas dessert that had eluded my childhood, given that a dessert with a funny name is most likely Texan (see Scotcheroos, Hello Dolly bars, Better Than Sex Cake, dump cake, divinity, petit fours, moon pies, etc). I almost called my Mom to declare I wasn’t raised properly. Thank goodness I didn’t because mud hens are a Deep South dessert, not Texan.
I discovered mud hens in Christy Jordan’s wonderful Southern Plate cookbook. It was the first recipe I made from the book and it was delicious. And no, she didn’t pay me to say that—I paid full price for her book and waited in line for her to sign it just like everyone else at Food Blog South in Alabama. And let me tell you, it was worth the wait. Christy is so sweet and charming and friendly and pretty and gracious and joyous and fun. Well, I feel this way about almost everyone in the South, but she must be the one teaching everyone their manners and niceties down there because she really sets the bar high.
I made these bars for a cook-out and made the mistake of setting them out before dinner—they were gone before the meat came off the grill.
Mud hens = chocolate chip cookie base + marshmallow-nut layer + brown sugar meringue.
If you would like to make a full 9×13″ pan of these babies, check out Christy’s full recipe here.
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon shortening, plus extra for pan
- 6 tablespoons sugar
- 1 large egg, separated
- ½ cup flour
- ⅛ teaspoon baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons chocolate chips
- ¼ cup chopped pecans
- ¼ cup marshmallows
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- Grease a 9″ x 5″ x 3″ loaf pan with shortening. Preheat oven to 350.
- In a medium bowl, beat together with an electric mixer the butter, shortening, and sugar. Beat this mixture very well before adding the egg yolk and continuing to beat.
- Sprinkle the flour, salt and baking powder over the top and beat until the dough comes together in a mass. At first it will be crumbly, but keep beating and it will firm up. Spread the dough in the bottom of the loaf pan evenly.
- Sprinkle on top the chocolate chips, lightly pressing them into the dough. Next sprinkle the marshmallows and pecans on top.
- Next, beat the remaining egg white until stiff. Add the brown sugar and fold it in well. Spread it on top of the nuts and marshmallows. Don’t worry if the marshmallows and nuts get all mixed up into the meringue–you want this.
- Bake for 23-27 minutes, until the meringue is nicely browned. Let cool in the pan for an hour before removing them from the pan (or else the bottom might get soggy).
I’m about to call my mom up and gripe about how I was raised — because despite living in the South, I’ve never had a mud hen! I guess my midwestern parents missed that boat. These look fantastic, though — can’t wait to try them!
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Mud Hens…I’ve seen other people make them before and always wondered about that name.
There’s also a dessert called ‘haystacks’.
Usually the funnier the name, the better the dessert tastes
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when i first heard about the southern names for desserts i was a little afraid to try them. one day i did, and loved every bite!
i’m sure these mud hens would please me well!
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I could mud hen my face all OVER that thing.
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I’ve never heard of mud hens before but these sound awesome with marshmallow, nuts AND chocolate?! winner in my book!
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I can’t believe I’ve never heard of a mud hen before! I was born and raised in the South, but this is completely new to me. Looks delicious! And I do love Christy Jordan!
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i’ve actually heard of them before and made them, but yours look infinitely better! completely drool-worth
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I love these bars!
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I have never heard of mud hens either but they look so good. It’s always great to have dessert before the meal:)
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Mud Hen sounds like a southern name… but once I looked at the ingredients I knew for sure this was a baby of the south. GREG
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I have never had a mud hen either
But I DO own that cookbook–and it’s one of my all time FAVORITES!! And you’re right–Christy is sweet and kind and a true example to southern women (have you made the sweet potato casserole from that cookbook yet OMGGOMAKEITNOW)
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I’ve never had a mud hen but I know I would love that! And if most southern women are as nice as you, then maybe I should move to the south:-)
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i want one right NOW
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Brown sugar meringue? Yes, please! I’ve never had a mud hen and only heard of it when traveling to the south. These do NOT exist in NY!
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I have never heard of mud hens, they look amazing!!
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Well I’ve never heard of a mud hen either but I sure want one now!
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i’ve never heard of a mud hen but they sound amazing! lots of yumminess going on in there
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Wow, these look interesting. I wonder where it gets the name “mud hen” oh well. It looks like a giant chewy cookie, which I happen to like.
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I’m so glad you scale down desserts for two — I’d be in big trouble if I made a 9 x 13 pan of these!
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Love the smaller recipe scalin, of course having leftovers to stash in the freezer isb’t bad either.
These sound wonderful!
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Never hear of mud hens before. Sounds like a fun cake with chocolate chips and marshmallows
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I’ve never heard of these before, but I need them in my life!
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Wow! {Just like everyone} I’ve never heard of Mud Hens before, but I am SO happy you introduced them to me… They look SO delicious
!
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How have I never tried these? They sound like everything perfect about a treat…they are definitely going on the Christmas baking list!
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I have never heard of these bars! They sound totally naughty!
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Never heard of mud hens before, but they look awesome and I have all the ingredients!
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