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Crockpot Lava Cake is a chocolate lover’s dream! Moist chocolate cake with gooey, fudgy filling, cooked magically in the slow cooker.
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Crockpot Lava Cake is one of my favorite hot fudge indulgences! Rich molten chocolate cake is a divinely decadent cake with a rich and creamy chocolate filling in the center. The liquid center can be chocolate, caramel, or any kind of fruit filling.
This crockpot chocolate lava cake gets its name because of the warm, liquid center. Using a Crockpot makes it so easy to throw ingredients in and watch them transform into a beautiful layered dessert. Serve with whipped cream or a giant scoop of vanilla ice cream and you have a sinfully sweet treat that everyone will love!
Ingredients in Crockpot Lava Cake
This slow-cooker chocolate lava cake is basically three layers of chocolatey goodness that bakes up beautifully in the crockpot. Here’s all you need:
Bottom Layer:
- Parchment paper – you’ll use this on the bottom of the crockpot so the cake doesn’t stick (see picture below)
- Devil’s Food Cake Mix – one box of your favorite brand of mix.
- Milk – I use whatever I have in my fridge, but whole milk will give this cake an extra creamy and rich flavor.
- Vegetable oil – half a cup.
- 3 eggs – three large eggs, or four medium eggs for this cake.
Middle Layer:
- Instant pudding mix – You’ll need one package of instant chocolate pudding mix (3.9 ounces). You’ll whisk the pudding into the milk.
- Milk – Again, use whatever you have on hand, but whole milk will make the pudding really rich and thick.
Top Layer:
- Rolo mini candies – sprinkle unwrapped mini Rolo candies on top of the batter. You can use dark chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips or another favorite chocolate candy here.
Instructions for Layering
- After placing parchment paper in the bottom of the crockpot, mix together the cake mix, milk, oil and eggs in a large bowl. Then pour into the slow cooker.
- For the second layer, whisk the chocolate pudding mix and milk in a medium bowl, then pour the mixture on top of the cake batter.
- Finally, sprinkle the candies on top. DO NOT mix any of the layers together.
How to Serve
Spoon into individual ramekins or dessert dishes and serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. The cake takes about three to five hours to cook, depending on your slow cooker. Cake is ready when a toothpick placed in the center half way down comes out clean. When it’s all done, the top layer will become the middle and underneath will be a gooey, chocolate caramel sauce.
Tips for Perfect Lava Cake in the Slow Cooker
- Follow the layering instructions outlined in the recipe card below. I know it seems strange to put the filling ingredients on top, but trust me on this. During the cooking process, the top becomes the outer layer of the cake and the bottom becomes a gooey, chocolate caramel filling. It magically reverses during cooking!
- Slow-cooker chocolate lava cake cooks for 3 hours. The first hour on high, and then switch to low heat for the following 2 hours. I like the convenience of being able to prepare this cake ahead and time it so we are ready for dessert right when the 3 hours are up. This also makes it a great dessert to have for hosting a shower, book club, or Bunco night. Rich chocolate fragrance fills the whole house while it’s cooking, which is one of my favorite parts!
- The ease and convenience of this recipe are a big bonus. Clean up is a breeze! Ingredients are layered in the slow cooker lined with parchment paper or a slow cooker liner, which keeps the sides from burning. If you have a slow cooker that tends to burn in one spot, you can place some aluminum foil under the parchment paper in that spot. Then the mess can all be crumpled up and thrown away when you are done.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crockpot Lava Cake
This cake stores nicely in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. To serve, remove from fridge and re-warm in the microwave.
You can! Use a gluten-free Devil’s Food Cake mix. There are several options at your regular grocery store.
Yes, but you will need to use two crockpots. The mixture won’t cook correctly if the ingredients are doubled in the same slow cooker. We use a six quart crockpot for this recipe.
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How to Make Crockpot Lava Cake
Crockpot Lava Cake
Video
Equipment
- Crockpot
Ingredients
For the first layer:
- parchment paper
- 1 box Devil’s Food Cake Mix
- 1 1/4 cups milk
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 3 eggs
For the second layer:
- 3.9 ounces instant chocolate pudding mix (1 package)
- 2 cups milk
For the top layer:
- 1 bag Rolo mini candies unwrapped
Instructions
- Cut out a large piece of parchment paper and place it in your slow cooker on low heat, then lightly spray with cooking spray.
- Mix together the cake mix, milk, oil, and eggs for the first layer and beat for two minutes. Pour into the parchment paper in the slow cooker.
- Mix together the instant pudding and milk and beat for two minutes, then carefully and evenly pour the pudding over the cake layer in the slow cooker. DO NOT MIX IT IN.
- Carefully arrange a layer or Rolo mini candies over the top of that. DO NOT MIX IT IN.
- Place lid on slow cooker and cook on high for the first hour, then switch to low heat for the following two hours. Cooking time will vary depending on your slow cooker, but we've found this method works very well.
- Cake is ready when a toothpick placed in the center half way down comes out clean.
- When finished cooking, the top will become a layer of chocolate cake, and underneath will be a gooey, chocolate caramel sauce.
- Spoon into individual bowls, and serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
Notes
-
- Please don’t mix the layers! During the cooking process, the top becomes the outer layer of the cake and the bottom becomes a gooey, chocolate caramel filling. It magically reverses during cooking.
- If you have a slow cooker that tends to burn in one spot, you can place some aluminum foil under the parchment paper in that spot.
- We’ve tested cooking times since first publishing this recipe. Originally, we cooked this cake for 3-5 hours on low. Most people were finding it took closer to 5 hours. After testing, we recommend cooking the cake on high for 1 hour, and then reducing heat to low for 2 hours.
What size slow cooker do you need?
We used a 6 quart!
Can you double the recipe for a large crowd
You can double it, but you will need two slow cookers. It won’t cook correctly in one slow cooker with double the ingredients. Thank you for asking!
Do you think this can be assembled in the crock and sit for several hours (cold) before cooking?
I haven’t tried this before, so I’m not sure how it would work. I would be worried that the layers would mix together while sitting and it wouldn’t have the right consistency.
If i prepare separately and put into individual Tupperware and assemble later, do you think that would work?
Btw test running it tonight but subbing with gluten free cake mix & f/f lactaid milk!
That might work!! Let us know how it turns out!
Love this! A great way to enjoy baked goods without heating up the kitchen. I’m excited to try it! Also great tip on lining the slow cooker with parchment paper — I love the liners but when we’re out of them I just resign myself to having to wash the insert. Great idea!
Am I able to double the recipe? If so what are the cooking times. How many does it serve
I have never tried doubling it but I imagine that cooking time would be the same. Let me know how it turns out!
Have you ever doubled the recipe. Does it come out ok
Excellent recipe!!!! My kids loves this cake very muchh. This cake is better also for for kids than others. Thanks alot!!!
Mine has been in there for 5 hours and still not cooked. Would it hurt to put it on high?
You can try putting it on high to see if it cooks through faster. Are the edges cooked at all?
I just put it on high after 3.5 hours. It is starting to cook faster.
Do you actually make the pudding, from directions or is the mix dry?
The mix is dry when you add it with the 2 cups milk for the second layer. Thanks for asking!
Do you have to use parchment paper? I prefer just to spray crock pot?
Yes, you can make this without the parchment paper if you prefer. Do spray the crock pot so it doesn’t stick to the sides. Thanks for asking!
What could u substitute to make it white chocolate? White cake mix vanilla pudding but what candies?
That’s a tough question. I think I would probably try white chocolate chips and caramel bits. The caramel bits can be found near the chocolate chips in most grocery stores. It sounds good – let me know how it turns out.
I can’t wait to try this recipe. I’m going to use sea salt caramels instead of Rolos, I hope it works. I love chocolate, caramel, and sea salt together. Could you substitute a white cake mix with vanilla pudding and peanut butter chips? I love peanut butter and white chocolate together too.
The white cake mix with vanilla pudding and peanut butter chips should work great. It sounds delicious!
4hrs on low & still not cooked! Will definitely give it longer next time!
I am having the same problem! It is taking way longer. Good to know I didn’t mess something up!
it took about 5 + hours to cook!!!! I am thinking maybe you should tell us what size crockpot you used to have it cook in 3 hours!!!! although it took so much longer….it was quite delicious….I can’t wait to make it again…but this time I’m either going to have to start in many hours in advance or try a larger crock pot to do this recipe
You were the hit of the potluck! My crockpot might be bigger; I accidentally made a family-sized pudding recipe and barely had enough to cover the cake layer. My temp might be different as well — it needed about 3.5 hours on low to set to my liking.
If anyone is on the fence about this, give it a go. Seriously, amazing. I was practically signing autographs and getting papped before the potluck was over. Thanks so much!
That is fantastic! Thank you for sharing your experience with this recipe. I’m so glad it was a hit!
What is the pax for this recipe ?
I’m not sure what you mean by “pax”? Can you elaborate?
No parchment paper, no problem..I just used cooking spray on the crock pot. In addition, I couldn’t find the Rolos, so I went with Carmel Kisses.. yes a lot of unwrapping but oh so worth it.. my family and friends raved, (and drooled) and begged for more.
So happy you liked it! Caramel kisses would be great! yum!
I cooked this exactly like the recipe. At three and a half hours it was still like soup. Continued on for another 30 minutes and still the same. I know crock pots are different but I would have thought that at least by 4 hours it would have set at least some, but it never did. Any suggestions on maybe what went wrong? We still loved it even though it was like pudding. Thank you very much.
Sorry, I’m not sure what went wrong. Did you stir it all together?