I is dense and more brownie-like. For this reason you can substitute a brownie recipe or a mix for the cake part and nuts are optional (I love them but kids and husband act like I'm trying to poison them if I put nuts in something). I give this five stars with one simple fix for the topping (this recipe is all about the topping).... Reviewers had complained about the marshmallows not melting -- the key is that RIGHT before the brownies come out of the oven, stir the mini-marshmallows into the frosting mix and IMMEDIATELY after the brownies come out piping hot, spread the whole frosting-marshmallow mixture on top -- as it cools the marshmallow melts and a thin coat of cocoa fudge goodness floats to the top of the frosting giving a layered effect. It IS sweet, like blow-your-mind sweet, but so are many other recipes on this site and it will become your go-to crowd pleaser when you have a bunch of kids or adults with sweeth tooths (sweet teeth?) and no one fears a hyper-glycemic episode. I made it today with the variant of peppermint-flavored marshmallows. My kids say "to die for!"