Description

This Crockpot Chocolate Lava Cake is an indulgent, fudgy dessert that combines the convenience of slow cooking with the rich, gooey texture of a molten chocolate cake. Perfect for gatherings or cozy nights in, this recipe yields a warm, luscious lava cake with a soft chocolate crust and a molten center, served best with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil or melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping

3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 3/4 cups hot water

Optional for Serving

Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream

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Instructions

Prepare the Crockpot: Lightly grease the inside of your crockpot with nonstick spray or butter to prevent the cake from sticking during cooking.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Stir until evenly mixed.
Add Wet Ingredients: Pour in the milk, vegetable oil (or melted butter), and vanilla extract into the dry ingredient mixture. Stir until you get a smooth batter with no lumps.
Transfer Batter: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared crockpot, spreading it out gently.
Prepare Topping: In a separate bowl, whisk together the packed brown sugar and additional unsweetened cocoa powder. Evenly sprinkle this mixture over the batter in the crockpot.
Add Hot Water: Carefully pour the 1 3/4 cups of hot water over the brown sugar and cocoa powder topping without stirring. This will create the lava effect as the cake cooks.
Cook the Cake: Cover the crockpot with its lid and set it to cook on high for 2 to 2.5 hours, or until the top appears set but remains slightly gooey in the center.
Cool and Serve: Turn off the crockpot and allow the cake to cool for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for an extra delightful experience.

Notes

Do not stir once the hot water is poured over the topping to maintain the lava cake’s signature molten center.
Cooking times may vary slightly depending on your crockpot model; start checking at 2 hours.
For a richer flavor, substitute vegetable oil with melted butter.
Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated gently before serving.