Description
A rich, fudgy, and gooey chocolate lava cake made in a slow cooker with just three main ingredients. This hands-off dessert is perfect for last-minute entertaining, requires minimal cleanup, and delivers a molten center that rivals restaurant-quality treats.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces (340g) semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
- 1 box (5.1 ounces) chocolate instant pudding mix
- 1/2 cup (120ml) vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
- 1/2 cup chocolate syrup (optional, for extra gooeyness)
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans (optional)
- Non-stick cooking spray (for greasing the slow cooker)
Instructions
- Spray the inside of a 6-quart slow cooker insert generously with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the chocolate chips and instant pudding mix. Stir with a spatula until evenly distributed.
- Pour the vegetable oil over the dry mixture. Stir until the chips are well coated and the mixture resembles wet sand. It will look chunky and oily, which is normal.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared slow cooker and spread it out evenly. Press down slightly to remove air pockets.
- If using, drizzle chocolate syrup on top or sprinkle chopped nuts over the mixture.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 to 3 hours. The cake is done when the top looks set but still slightly soft and jiggly in the center. Check at 2 hours and then every 15 minutes to avoid overcooking.
- Turn off the slow cooker and let the cake rest for 5 minutes to allow the center to thicken slightly.
- Serve warm, topped with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or powdered sugar.
Notes
[“Do not overcook the cake, or the center will solidify and lose the ‘lava’ effect.”, ‘Greasing the slow cooker is crucial as the chocolate mixture is very sticky.’, ‘Use good quality chocolate chips for the best flavor; avoid cheap baking chips.’, ‘Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the microwave for 30-60 seconds.’, ‘This recipe can be made dairy-free by using dairy-free chocolate chips and coconut oil, though the pudding mix usually contains dairy.’, ‘For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free chocolate chips and gluten-free pudding mix.’]
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 2-3 hours
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of the cake
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 32
- Sodium: 180
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 4
Keywords: crockpot dessert, slow cooker chocolate cake, 3 ingredient dessert, easy lava cake, chocolate pudding mix recipe, gluten-free dessert option, dairy-free dessert option