Make Gooey Chocolate Lava Cake in the Crockpot!
Turn a box of cake mix into a mouth-watering dessert with this easy chocolate lava cake made in your slow cooker.
Get your chocolate fix using your Crockpot!
Did you know you can make a delicious cake with very little effort right in your slow cooker? Try this amazing gooey chocolate lava cake recipe for your next gathering without ever turning on the oven! It takes just a few ingredients and is a cinch to put together.
The result is a slow cooker with warm gooey chocolate cake oozing with melted chocolate on top. The texture of the cake is light, fluffy, and truly irresistible. Scoop some into a bowl with vanilla ice cream for an over-the-top delicious dessert.
Slow Cooker Chocolate Lava Cake
yield: 12 SERVINGS
prep time: 15 MINUTES
cook time: 2 HOURS
total time: 2 HOURS 15 MINUTES
An easy, gooey chocolate cake to make in your slow cooker!
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 15.25 oz. box of chocolate cake mix
- 3 eggs
- 1 and 1/4 cups milk (I used 2%)
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
For the topping:
- 3.9 oz. size box of chocolate instant pudding (4 serving sized)
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
For serving:
- vanilla ice cream
Directions
1
To make the cake:
Beat together cake mix, oil, eggs, and milk with an electric mixer for a few minutes until the batter is smooth.
2
Spray slow cooker with nonstick spray so the cake won't stick. Pour mixture into the slow cooker and smooth over the bottom.
3
To make the topping:
Beat together the 2 cups milk and pudding and pour over the top in the slow cooker. Do not stir. Then sprinkle chocolate chips over top without stirring.
4
Cover and cook on high for around 2 hours, but start checking at 1 hour 45 minutes. You'll know when it is done when the outsides and top are set up like a sponge - the middle will be gooey.
5
Serve with vanilla ice cream if desired. Enjoy!
Additional Notes
(Adapted from Betty Crocker)
Tips for making the best slow cooker chocolate lava cake:
- Your cook time may vary a bit based on your slow cooker. I cooked mine on HIGH for around 2.5 hours in my Beautiful brand 8-court oval slow cooker and it worked well for me. When cooking on high, be sure to watch the cake so it doesn’t burn. I would start checking the slow cooker towards the end of cook time to make sure it isn’t burning. If you have a taller slow cooker, it may take longer.
- Feel free to try other cake and chip flavor combinations! Readers in the comments have stated that peanut butter chips or butterscotch chips are delicious. Another reader uses vanilla cake and banana-flavored pudding.
- If you are needing a gluten-free version, readers have reported back that gluten-free boxed cake mix works too!
- Don’t forget to spray the slow cooker with nonstick spray first. You could instead try using parchment paper or a slow cooker liner instead for easy clean-up.
Gooey chocolate cake heaven!
Get ready to enjoy some awesome hot lava cake that is so good and literally oozing with melted chocolate. My family really enjoyed this idea, and we’ve since taken this cake to a few potlucks with success as a fun and unique dessert!
Has anyone tried it in the new casserole crock pot? I got one for Christmas and want to make this in it. Was wondering if it altered the cooking time at all? Thanks!
Made this today in the casserole crock pot. 2 hours 45 minutes on high and it was perfect. A big hit at our church potluck!
Can I double everything to make it serve more than 12 people and just cook it longer?
Can u double this recipe? How long would it take to cook thank you
Hi, yes I am seeing online other examples where this has worked with a longer cook time of course. I haven’t tried it yet!
Hi, yes I am seeing online other examples where this has worked with a longer cook time of course. Let us know if you tried it.
I made this for my husband’s family on Easter. I cooking in the crockpot for about 2 hours and 45 minutes on high. It was great!
Great! Thank you for sharing!
can you put it in the fridge over night then bake it in the crockpot
Ya I’m not seeing a reason why that wouldn’t work out. – Thanks Megan 😀
Tried this today, so yummy! Didn’t have chocolate cake mix but had vanilla so I used banana pudding and added two over ripe bananas to the mix. What a great dessert idea, especially in the summer when you don’t want to heat the house up with the oven.
That sounds yummy! Thanks Colleen
Are you mixing the milk and pudding to just blend it together or are you actually making the pudding?
How was it . Wanting to make it but all I have is the pudding cups
Yes, just mix the powder with the milk, then pour it on top.
Can you turn it out of the crockpot and decorate it like a standard cake?
Or is this best served scooped out of the crockpot?
I think it’s best scooped out if the crock pot 😀
Can you use vanilla pudding?or premade pudding?
Yes, that would most likely work in my opinion.
Have this in the crock pot now! Anyone know best way to store leftovers/reheat?
I just scooped it into a large container and covered it with a lid in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave as desired.
Can you double the recipe for 24 servings? If so, how long do you cook it for… on high?
I haven’t tried it, but assuming it could take 3-4 hours. If you are anyone else has tried let us know! 🙂
I tried my luck and made the cake. I followed the recipe and that part turned out great. My issue was I cooked the cake as stated on the recipe and my cake ended up overcooking. Although it was overcooked, we were able to sort of eat around the dry parts. I guess I would suggest really watching the cake after 1 1/2 hours just in case your slow cooker cooks faster. Overall, its a quick and easy dessert.
Shuntae
Thanks for the tip! 👍
How about lemon cake w lemon pudding and White choc chips?
Sounds yum, let us know!
Can you make a double batch in a 10 quart crock pot.
Yes, we have read examples of that online, although would lengthen the cooking time significantly.
I followed the recipe to the T and after 3 and a half hours on high, it’s still completely liquid. I don’t understand :/
Made this yesterday for Easter dinner. Served with vanilla ice cream. Holy hell it was sinful!! Delicious
I made last night in same size crock pot as pictured and it turned out good! It looked done at 2 hours on high, so I turned it down to warm at that point. I think I agree with another reviewer that and hour and a half or maybe 1 hour & 45 minutes might be better if you want a “lava” texture. Mine cooked into a nice moist cake because I had to wait to serve until my guests arrived.
Looks delicious! All tho can we use like butterscotch chips instead?
Sounds like a great option!
Hmm, I got rid of my crockpot when I got my instant pot. I’m wondering how I can convert the recipe. Does anyone know?
I was thinking of using the crockpot function on the instant pot. Sadly I don’t have the ingredients right now and we are trying not to go to the grocery store more than once a week.
Hi, sounds amazing. I have 2 questions. If I don’t have coconut oil, can I use a different kind? Also, how do you store the leftovers?
Yes definitely use another oil such as vegetable oil and then I would store leftovers in the fridge in a covered container for up to a few days.
Been making another variation of this for 25 years in my crockpot called hot fudge cake it just uses flour and cocoa etc, no boxed mixes
Oh nice! Sounds yum!
Lina, I’m making this for a family party this weekend. What makes it gooey, the milk and pudding or is any of the cake mix still gooey? I personally love gooey (undercooked) brownies and raw cookie dough, so clearly I’m not bothered by undercooked. I know my mother in law is going to think it’s “raw” cake or undercooked and won’t eat it, so I wanted to be able to convince her it is. TIA
I think it’s the pudding/milk I believe. Fingers crossed she loves it too <3
Well, truth be told, she’s pretty hard to please. I’m making it anyway and my kids and grand kids will LOVE it I’m sure! What’s not to love??? Gooey chocolate and vanilla ice cream???? My mouth is watering already. I ordered the ingredients this morning, thanks!
Oh and I’m telling her I got the recipe from one of my besties and it’s safe 😉. I consider Colin and all of the side kicks my besties 💕
Oh yay! That is so sweet CJ. Thanks for being here with us and <3 Merry Christmas Bestie!