Description
An easy, hands-off dessert made in a slow cooker that results in a fluffy cake with a warm, liquid chocolate molten center. It requires only pantry staples and no oven.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar (for batter)
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (for batter)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (for sauce)
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (for sauce)
- 3/4 cup boiling water
- Optional: 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Grease the inside of a 4-quart slow cooker insert generously with cooking spray or butter. Optionally line the bottom with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 cup cocoa powder. Slowly whisk in 3/4 cup boiling water until smooth and syrupy. Pour this mixture into the bottom of the greased slow cooker.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
- In another bowl, whisk together 1 cup milk, 1/4 cup oil, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk until just combined. The batter should be thin like pancake batter.
- Gently spoon the batter over the chocolate sauce in the slow cooker. Do not stir; just spread it evenly to cover the sauce.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 2 to 2.5 hours. The top should be set, but a toothpick inserted into the center should come out with wet batter or sauce.
- Let the cake cool in the slow cooker for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Do not peek during cooking as it releases heat. Ensure water is boiling for the sauce to bloom the cocoa. Do not stir the layers or you will lose the molten center. If using a 6-quart cooker, the cake may be thinner and cook faster. For gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. For dairy-free, use almond or oat milk.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2.5 hours
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice with sauce
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 45
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 65
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 5
Keywords: slow cooker dessert, molten chocolate cake, easy chocolate pudding, crockpot cake, no oven dessert, chocolate lava cake