Chocolate lovers rejoice! This might just be the ultimate chocolate pudding for those looking for pure indulgence. The slow cooker chocolate lava cake takes a little time, but the rewards are glorious.
Deliciously rich and insanely gooey, this is one recipe you won't be able to get out of your head!
Why you'll love this crockpot lava cake
- Nothing beats a gooey chocolate cake for pure decadent indulgence
- It's a super easy dessert recipe that never fails to impress family and friends
- Incredibly moist and wonderfully chocolatey
Equipment needed
- Mixing bowl – get a quality mixing bowl for your chocolate cake mix
- Slow cooker – a quality crock pot or slow cooker is key to getting that wonderful gooey consistency
How to make this recipe
You need flour, white sugar + brown sugar, milk, butter, vanilla essence, baking powder and cocoa powder for this recipe.
Add some of the cocoa powder and the rest of the dry ingredients (except the brown sugar) to a bowl.
Mix well.
Pour in the milk and melted butter.
Mix mix mix.
Transfer the chocolate batter to the slow cooker.
Mix the remaining cocoa powder, and brown sugar in a small bowl.
Sprinkle the cocoa mixture evenly over the batter.
Gently pour water over th slow cooker's contents. Don't stir! Cook on high for 3 hours.
After cooking, you'll be left with a sauce, dark chocolate pudding everyone will love. Serve with ice cream or custard. Enjoy!
Recipe tips
- Grease the inside of a 4-to-6-quart slow cooker generously with non-stick cooking spray before adding the batter.
- Spraying the slow cooker with nonstick spray prevents the cake from sticking.
- The cake may look raw in the middle, but this is due to the pudding and is safe to eat.
- The cake should be cooked on HIGH for three hours to achieve that wonderful gooey consistency.
- The cake is best served warm to maintain its gooey center.
- Using a clean dish towel under the lid of the slow cooker helps prevent condensation from dripping onto the cake.
- Avoid lifting the lid during the first 2 hours to maintain heat and moisture, reducing cooking time.
What to serve with this cake
The cake is typically served warm and can be topped with ice cream or whipped cream. You could drizzle hot fudge over the cake for extra indulgence.
Popular variations
- Chocolate lava cake can be customized with different pudding and cake mixes for unique flavor combinations. Common toppings for chocolate lava cake include ice cream, whipped cream, fresh fruit, and caramel sauce. You could also add heavy cream.
- You can add chocolate chips to the top of the cake batter before cooking for extra chocolate flavor.
What's the best cocoa powder for this gooey cake batter?
Dutch Process cocoa powder is produced with 'alkali', bringing a pure, smooth cocoa quality. I recommend using it for this recipe for best results.
What is the secret to a good lava cake?
Use high-quality ingredients and cook on a high heat, removing at the precise time. Follow my instructions below to ensure you remove the cake at just the right moment, avoiding overcooking it and achieving that perfect gooey consistency.
Is lava cake just underbaked cake?
No, it's far more than that. It's designed to be baked until just right, with a deliciously gooey center.
Can I use boxed cake mix?
No, instead of using instant pudding mix or fudge cake mix, following the ingredients and instructions below for the perfect cake mix.
Are there eggs in this dessert?
No, this is a completely egg-free cake.
Can I use chocolate chips?
Yes, by all means scatter chocolate chips into the mixture.
How do you know when a chocolate cake is done?
Check for doneness starting around the 2-hour mark to avoid overcooking, which causes the lava to disappear.
A toothpick inserted in the center should come out with some gooey sauce or moist crumbs; if it comes out completely clean, it is overcooked. The cake is done when the edges are set and spongy, but the center is still slightly jiggly.
Is the cake ready to eat as soon as it comes out of the crock pot?
I recommend you let the cake rest for 15-30 minutes after cooking to allow the structure to firm up slightly while keeping the center molten.
Do you serve chocolate lava cake hot or cold?
Chocolate lava cake is best served warm to maintain its gooey center.
How do you store leftovers?
Leftover chocolate lava cake can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker Lava Cake Recipe
- Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
Description
An indulgent slow cooker chocolate lava cake with a rich, gooey centre and soft, cake-like top. Easy to make and perfect served warm with cream or ice cream.
Ingredients
For the sponge:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- Pinch of sea salt flakes
- 1 cup whole milk
- ¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter, melted, plus extra for greasing
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the lava layer:
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 cups boiling water
Instructions
- Lightly grease the inside of your slow cooker with a bit of butter.
- To make the sponge, sift together the dry ingredients – flour, baking powder, sugar, cocoa powder, and salt in a large bowl.
- Create a well in the center and pour in the milk, melted butter, and vanilla. Stir until just combined; no need to overmix with an electric mixer.
- For the lava layer, mix together the brown sugar and cocoa in a separate bowl.
- Spoon the chocolate cake mix into the greased slow cooker, then sprinkle the cocoa–sugar mixture evenly over the top.
- Carefully pour the boiling water over everything. Do not stir! The hot water will sink to the bottom, forming a luscious chocolate sauce as it cooks.
- Cover with the lid and cook on high for 3 hours, or until the top looks set and the inside is gooey and super moist.
- Serve straight from the pot with a drizzle of cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Notes
For extra indulgence, sprinkle chocolate chips into the pudding mix before cooking. White or dark, both work beautifully, as desired.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 394
- Sugar: 51.1 g
- Sodium: 25.2 mg
- Fat: 7.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 82 g
- Fiber: 4.1 g
- Protein: 6.3 g
- Cholesterol: 15.9 mg
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