Chocolate Crockpot Lava Cake

This gooey and rich chocolate Crockpot Lava Cake is divine and so easy to make! It’s the perfect homemade slow cooker dessert recipe no one can resist. 

Crock Pot desserts like this cake and Slow Cooker Apple Cake are recipes you'll make all the time!

There’s nothing better than a fudgy, decadent chocolate cake. This slow cooker lava cake is made from scratch (no cake mix or instant pudding) but is so easy you’ll make it all the time. 

Bonus! No baking skills are required!

Here’s the secret to this slow cooker cake. The cake batter bakes over the topping, creating a perfect cake with moist, gooey chocolate lava underneath. 

Another great thing about this recipe is that it’s a family-size lava cake, so it feeds a crowd perfectly. 

If you're new to slow cooking, check out our CROCK POT TIPS AND TRICKS.

Jump to:

• Ingredient Notes
• Variations
• How to Make a Slow Cooker Lava Cake from Scratch
• Serving Suggestions
• Recipe Tips & Tricks
• How to Store
• More Delicious Chocolate Desserts
• More Crockpot Desserts
• Printable Recipe

Ingredient Notes

This crockpot molten chocolate cake without pudding uses pantry staples to “bake” up a moist and indulgent cake. 

For the Cake

• all-purpose flour 
• granulated white sugar
• cocoa powder
• baking powder
• salt
• milk
• butter - melted
• pure vanilla extract - good quality vanilla makes a big difference

For the Topping

• granulated white sugar
• brown sugar
• cocoa powder
• hot water

Variations

PEANUT BUTTER - Add a few tablespoons of creamy peanut butter on top of the cake batter before adding the topping mixture and pouring the hot water over the top. You could also stir in up to ½ cup of mini peanut butter cups or peanut butter chips to the cake batter.

MARSHMALLOWS - Add a cup of mini marshmallows on top of the cake batter before adding the topping mixture, and pour the hot water over the top. 

CHOCOLATE CHIPS - For more chocolate flavor, fold in ½ cup of chocolate chips to the cake batter like dark chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, or semi-sweet chocolate chips.

CAKE MIX - Swap the dry ingredients in the homemade cake mix with a box of your favorite chocolate cake mix to make this recipe even easier. Try devil’s food cake mix or chocolate fudge cake mix. Yum!

How to Make a Slow Cooker Lava Cake from Scratch

To Make The Cake Batter:

1. PREP - Gather your ingredients and spray the inside of a 6-quart crock pot with non-stick cooking spray. 
2. MIX CAKE INGREDIENTS - Whisk together the milk, melted butter, and vanilla in a large bowl. Then, add the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt and mix until just combined.
3. ADD TO CROCKPOT - Pour the batter into the bottom of the crock pot. 

To Make the Topping:

1. MIX TOPPING INGREDIENTS - In a medium bowl, mix the sugar, brown sugar, and cocoa powder until combined. 
2. TOP THE CAKE BATTER - Sprinkle evenly over the cake batter in the crockpot. 
3. ADD HOT WATER - Pour the hot water over the cake batter and topping. DO NOT STIR. 
4. COOK - Cover and cook on HIGH for 2.5 to 3 hours or LOW for 4 hours. The cake is done when the top is dry and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
5. SERVE - Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream, and don’t forget to spoon some of the chocolate sauce from the bottom of the slow cooker over the top. 

Serving Suggestions

You can add chopped nuts on top, drizzle with caramel sauce or chocolate sauce, or dress it up with fresh fruit like berries. 

Pro Tip: Serve it with peppermint ice cream during the holidays!

Recipe Tips & Tricks

• This dessert is extra gooey, so it’s important to spray the crock with non-stick cooking spray to avoid a sticky mess. You can also line the inside of the crock with parchment paper.
• Make sure not to stir the topping and batter with the hot water, or the recipe won't turn out right.
• Scoop and serve. Unlike a traditional cake, you will not be able to remove this cake from the slow cooker in its entirety. To serve, just scoop out individual portions into a bowl.
• All slow cookers cook differently, so cooking times are always a basic guideline. Recipes should always be tested first in your slow cooker, and cooking time should be adjusted as needed.

How to Store

FRIDGE: Transfer leftover your Slow Cooker Lava Cake to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat, warm in the microwave in 30-second intervals. 

Given the nature of the molten lava center with the delicate cake, we don’t recommend freezing. 

More Delicious Chocolate Desserts

Chocolate Trifle
Fudgy Chocolate Brownies
Brownie Strawberry Shortcake
Cherry Chocolate Trifle

More Crockpot Desserts

Crock Pot Apple Dump Cake
Slow Cooker Cinnamon Roll Casserole

All your favorite holidays deserve this ooey gooey crock pot chocolate cake for dessert. Bonus! It’s half the work of traditional lava cake. Think Valentine’s Day, Christmas, and even Thanksgiving!

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Printable Recipe