Make Gooey Chocolate Lava Cake in the Crockpot!

Slow Cooker Chocolate Lava Cake

yield: 12 SERVINGS

prep time: 15 MINUTES

cook time: 2 HOURS

total time: 2 HOURS 15 MINUTES

Ingredients

For the cake:

For the topping:

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!

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Turn a box of cake mix into a mouth-watering dessert with this easy chocolate lava cake made in your slow cooker.
scoop of lava chocolate cake

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.

bowl with chocolate lava cake in a slow cooker

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.

ingredients for chocolate lava cake on counter

combining cake mix eggs and oil

mixing cake in a mixing bowl with beautiful hand mixer

pouring chocolate lava cake into the slow cooker

mixing pudding with milk

chocolate chips in a slow cooker

slow cooker with gooey chocolate cake


Print

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:

For the topping:

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)

Brought to you by Hip2Save.

bowl of lava cake with vanilla ice cream scoop

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.
  • 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!


Try my family’s very favorite sherry poppy seed bundt cake!


About the writer:

Lina has a Bachelor's Degree from Northern Arizona University with 11 years of blogging and photography experience having work featured in Today.com, Martha Stewart, Country Living, Fox News, Buzzfeed, and HGTV.


Join The Discussion

Comments 131

  1. Jennifer

    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!

    • Jennifer

      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!

  2. Kenia

    Can I double everything to make it serve more than 12 people and just cook it longer?

    • Chris mcevoy

      Can u double this recipe? How long would it take to cook thank you

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      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!

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      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.

  3. Judy

    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!

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      Great! Thank you for sharing!

  4. Megan Ryan

    can you put it in the fridge over night then bake it in the crockpot

    • Lina (Hip's Modern Martha)

      Ya I’m not seeing a reason why that wouldn’t work out. – Thanks Megan 😀

  5. Colleen Mc

    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.

    • Lina (Hip's Modern Martha)

      That sounds yummy! Thanks Colleen

  6. skater82

    Are you mixing the milk and pudding to just blend it together or are you actually making the pudding?

    • Kelsey

      How was it . Wanting to make it but all I have is the pudding cups

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      Yes, just mix the powder with the milk, then pour it on top.

  7. L A

    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?

    • Lina (Hip's Modern Martha)

      I think it’s best scooped out if the crock pot 😀

  8. Alison

    Can you use vanilla pudding?or premade pudding?

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      Yes, that would most likely work in my opinion.

  9. Jess

    Have this in the crock pot now! Anyone know best way to store leftovers/reheat?

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      I just scooped it into a large container and covered it with a lid in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave as desired.

  10. Eunice

    Can you double the recipe for 24 servings? If so, how long do you cook it for… on high?

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      I haven’t tried it, but assuming it could take 3-4 hours. If you are anyone else has tried let us know! 🙂

  11. Shuntae Richardson

    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

    • Lina (Hip's Modern Martha)

      Thanks for the tip! 👍

  12. Joy

    How about lemon cake w lemon pudding and White choc chips?

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      Sounds yum, let us know!

  13. Sandy

    Can you make a double batch in a 10 quart crock pot.

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      Yes, we have read examples of that online, although would lengthen the cooking time significantly.

  14. Erica Hebert

    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 :/

  15. LeeAnn

    Made this yesterday for Easter dinner. Served with vanilla ice cream. Holy hell it was sinful!! Delicious

  16. Donna

    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.

  17. Jacob hughes

    Looks delicious! All tho can we use like butterscotch chips instead?

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      Sounds like a great option!

  18. Gscribble

    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?

    • Anniegirl

      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.

  19. Christal

    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?

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      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.

  20. LaDonna

    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

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      Oh nice! Sounds yum!

  21. CJ

    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

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      I think it’s the pudding/milk I believe. Fingers crossed she loves it too <3

      • CJ

        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!

      • CJ

        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 💕

        • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

          Oh yay! That is so sweet CJ. Thanks for being here with us and <3 Merry Christmas Bestie!

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