Remember my sad oven story that I told you a couple of weeks ago about how my oven doesn’t hold consistent temperature? Well, it’s worse. It doesn’t work at all. And while that wouldn’t normally be a huge issue, I mean I spent all summer basically not using the oven, I now have the urge to bake like crazy. Whenever I think of an idea for dinner, it requires the oven. Want to make bread? Need an oven. Dessert? Yep, the kind I want requires the oven. So, I’ve had to get more creative with our menu.
Thankfully, I have not one, but two slow cookers. And, they both work. They have been getting a work out lately. My latest dessert? This slow cooker chocolate caramel pudding cake. Perfect for when you want rich chocolate cake and don’t have an oven to bake it in! The cake is almost like a gooey brownie that has been packed with caramel bits and drizzled in caramel.
During the cooking time, a chocolate sauce forms and makes the cake taste a lot like a chocolate lava cake. Cake on top and chocolate sauce on the bottom. Some of the caramel that is drizzled on top soaks through to the bottom and combines with the sauce giving the chocolate a rich, buttery taste. Not bad for a cake that wasn’t made in an oven!
- 1 C all-purpose flour
- ¼ C sugar
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- 3 tbsp unsweetened baking cocoa
- 2 tbsp olive oil (or canola oil)
- ½ C milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ⅓ C caramel bits
- ⅓ C semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ¼ C caramel sauce
- ½ C sugar
- 2 tbsp unsweetened baking cocoa
- 1½ C boiling water
- Spray the inside of a 3-4 quart slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking cocoa. Add in oil, milk, and vanilla extract. Stir until just combined. Stir in caramel bits and chocolate chips. Batter will be thick. Spread batter evenly in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Drizzle caramel sauce over the top and gently swirl through with a knife.
- In another, heat-safe, bowl, combine sugar, baking cocoa, and boiling water. Gently stir until sugar is dissolved. Carefully pour over the top of the batter.
- Cover and cook on high for 2½ hours or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean. Remove crock from slow cooker, if possible, and remove to a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes before scooping into bowls and serving warm.
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Meagan @ A Zesty Bite says
I think I’m in LOVE with this cake. It’s time to break out the slow cooker.
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
This cake looks amazing, Jessica! I so wish I had this for breakfast right now! š What a great idea to make this in the slow cooker. Pinned!
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says
I’m all about the slow cooker lately, but I have yet to make a dessert! Love the warm gooeyness of this pudding!
sheila says
I am literally drooling all over myself!! This sounds so amazing.
genevieve @ gratitude & greens says
I’m in the exact opposite predicament: got two ovens but no slow cooker, haha! I would love to have a slow cooker one day. I can only imagine how delicious and soft a cake made in the slow cooker would be!
Kelli @ The Corner Kitchen says
Oh my gosh, how have I never used my slow cooker to make cake?!?! I’ve got to try this!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
Sorry to hear about your oven, Jessica:( This cake looks fantastic though. Love that you made it in the slow cooker, that’s such a great idea!
Jenn @ Deliciously Sprinkled says
I’m so sorry to hear about your oven, I would be LOST without my oven! š But this slow cooker chocolate caramel pudding cake sounds and looks delicious! Pinned š
Meg says
Ooh, this looks great! Looks like you’re making the most of your lack of oven, though I’m sure that is frustrating! I’ve never tried making dessert in the slow cooker, though I could see adding some peppermint chips instead of caramel and having a great hit on my hands at upcoming holiday parties . . .
Nicole ~ Cooking for Keeps says
Ahhhh I’ve been craving chocolate for a few days now, and this just pushes me over the edge! Yum!
Alessandra // the foodie teen says
This looks RIDICULOUSLY amazing – yum! I’m loving my slow cooker in these chilly months and I think this’ll be one of my next ventures!
Jennifer | Bake or Break says
This may be the recipe that makes me break down and buy a slow cooker. Looks great, Jess!
Nutmeg Nanny says
Now this is an awesome way to use your slow cooker! Love this cake!
Anna (Hidden Ponies) says
I love the idea of slow cooker dessert, and this looks so cozy and decadent! Funny how now that your oven is broken all you want is to bake š Hope it’s fixed soon!
Ramona says
Slow cooker desserts are always fun… this one looks like a winner. š
Lisa {Sweet 2 Eat Baking} says
Oh golly gosh! Iām the biggest fan of puddings, probably because us Brits love a good pudding, but a slow cooker pudding, and caramel too?
All my favourite things rolled into one gorgeous and indulgent looking pudding. Gorgeous. I want to dive my spoon through the screen!
Pinning.
Ashley says
Oh no! I can’t believe it’s not working at all! But this looks awesome. All that chocolate! And perfect for when you don’t want to turn on your oven or need space in your oven for something else!
Joanne says
BOO to dysfunctional ovens but YES to this pudding cake! I mean, who needs regular cake when you have this?!
Jennie @themessybakerblog says
RIP, oven. Thank goodness you own two slow cookers. I love that you made cake, and it looks so moist.
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
agh! You poor thing! Bright side-necessity breeds invention and I am sooooo happy hat you made this amazing pudding cake! Crazy decadent!
Mary @StrawmarySmith says
This looks so delicious! I’m definitely going to try this. Quick question – do you use regular nonstick cooking spray or the “baking” nonstick spray? Thanks, it looks divine!
Jessica@A Kitchen Addiction says
I used regular nonstick cooking spray. Hope you like it!
Bobbie McCasland says
What changes will I need to make in the cooking directions if I want to double this recipe? It sounds AMAZING!!!
Jessica@A Kitchen Addiction says
I’ve never doubled the recipe, but you would probably want to use a 6-7 quart slow cooker and up the time to 2-3 hours on high. Just make sure to check it with a toothpick to see if it’s done.