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Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Dessert

Slow Cooker Chocolate Cake

Updated: May 6, 2025 · Published: Jan 18, 2023 · Written by Dannii Martin · This post may contain affiliate links which earn us commissions if purchases are made · 11 Comments

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Diet: Vegetarian
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Slow cooker chocolate cake with a text title overlay.
Slow cooker chocolate cake with a text title overlay.

The easiest and most deliciously rich chocolate cake with a layer of gooey chocolate sauce, and it's all done in the slow cooker. If you haven't made desserts in the slow cooker yet, then you are missing out. Slow Cooker Chocolate Cake is our go-to family dessert.

A bowl of chocolate cake and ice cream, covered in chocolate sauce.

You know those self-saucing chocolate lava cakes? Well, this is like those, except it's done in the slow cooker. Of course it takes a bit longer, but you just dump it all in and leave. A rich and moist cake is foolproof and perfect served up with some ice cream and kids LOVE it.

If you are looking for more cake recipes, then why not try our zingy Courgette and Lime Cake, delicious Chocolate Loaf Cake, healthier Carrot Cake or quick and easy Healthy Chocolate Mug Cake?

Jump to:
  • Why You Will Love It
  • Ingredients and Substitutions
  • Variations
  • How to Make Slow Cooker Chocolate Cake - Step by Step
  • Top Tip
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Extra Tips
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Dessert Recipes
  • Recipe
  • Feedback

Why You Will Love It

  • Quick and easy to make - This slow cooker dessert might take an hour and a half to cook in the slow cooker, but the preparation only takes a few minutes.
  • Delicious and moist - This really is the most perfect chocolate lava cake. The incredible sauce keeps it really moist.
  • Adaptable - This slow cooker chocolate cake it adaptable and we have given our favourite ways to change it up below.
  • Can be kept warm - You can put this slow cooker chocolate cake on before you start making dinner and then just keep it on the warm setting until you have finished and are ready to eat.

Ingredients and Substitutions

All the ingredients needed for this recipe laid out with text overlay labels.

A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

  • Flour - We used self raising flour, to help the cake rise as there is no baking powder added to this.
  • Sugar - We put caster sugar in the actual cake mix and then brown sugar goes into making the sauce mixture.
  • Chocolate chips - It's not a chocolate cake without chunks of chocolate. We used milk chocolate chips, but you could use dark chocolate or white.
  • Cocoa powder - You want to use a really good quality unsweetened cocoa power here, not a hot chocolate mix.
  • Butter - We used unsalted butter and added a pinch of salt. If you are using salted butter then leave out the salt. You don't need to make sure it's room temperature, as you will melt it first anyway. You will need extra butter to grease the slow cooker bowl too. You could use oil instead.
  • Milk - We used whole milk.
  • Vanilla - This adds a real warmth. Make sure it is vanilla extract and not essence.
  • Salt - This brings out the sweet flavours.
  • Water - Boiling water is used to make the sauce.

Variations

This is a really simple slow cooker dessert, which is what we love about it. But, there are a few ways that you can adapt it.

We love the combination of chocolate and orange, so you could add in a little orange extract to the slow cooker chocolate cake mix. You could do a mint version with mint extract too.

You could use milk, white or dark chocolate chips or even add some chunks of fudge instead.

How to Make Slow Cooker Chocolate Cake - Step by Step

Prep: Grease the slow cooker bowl very well with butter.

A slow cooker bowl containing flour, sugar, butter, cocoa and chocolate chips.
  1. Step 1: Add the flour, caster sugar, chocolate chips, cocoa powder and salt. Mix well to combine.
Milk, butter and vanilla added to the slow cooker.
  1. Step 2: Add the melted butter, milk and vanilla.
Chocolate cake batter mixed in the slow cooker bowl.
  1. Step 3: Mix well to form a batter.
Chocolate sauce poured over the cake batter.
  1. Step 4: In a jug, mix the boiling water, remaining cocoa powder and brown sugar. Pour over the batter, but do not mix in.
A spoon lifting out some cake from the slow cooker.
  1. Step 5: Cook on high for 1.5 to 2 hours.

Top Tip

The number one tip for this recipe is when you pour the sauce mix on top of the cake batter, DO NOT STIR! This needs to sit on top to create the sauce.

Serving Suggestions

Well, this causes a big debate in our house. Some of us think vanilla ice cream and some of us think custard. I am team ice cream, with extra chocolate sauce drizzled on top. You could even crush some nuts on top too.

If you want to give it a more retro feel, you could top it with a glacier cherry.

Chocolate sauce dripping down the side of some chocolate cake.

Extra Tips

  • This slow cooker chocolate cake can't be sliced like a normal chocolate cake can, so it won't be winning any presentation awards. You will need a big spoon to scoop it all out into a bowl.
  • You can mix all the ingredients in a bowl first and then pour it into the slow cooker, or you can just mix it in the slow cooker to save on washing up.
  • You can leave this cake in the slow cooker on the "warm" setting for about an hour and a half and still have a gooey and fudgy cake.
  • Sieve the flour and cocoa powder before mixing to make a really light and smooth cake.
A spoon lifting some cake and sauce out of a bowl.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why cook chocolate cake in the slow cooker?

This does take longer than cooking a cake in the oven, but we find it much more convenient. I put this on before I start making dinner, and by the time that dinner is ready, the hot pudding it ready to eat. You can also leave it in the slow cooker on warm a little longer if dinner runs late, doing that in the oven would make the cake go dry. We also just love finding new ways to use our slow cooker. It's also good if you are short on oven space.

How to store leftover slow cooker chocolate cake

This slow cooker cake is best eaten straight away, so you have all the sauce. However, any leftovers can be stored in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. It won't have any sauce with it though, as it will all soak it. You will be left with really moist cake though. You can reheat it in the microwave, or just pour some hot custard on it.

Can I double the recipe?

Yes, you can double all the ingredients and then cook it on high for 3-3.5 hours. You can also halve the ingredients, but in a bigger slow cooker it's a bit flat.

What slow cooker should I use?

There really is no rule here, just make sure that all the ingredients can fit in your slow cooker. We use a Crock Pot DuraCeramic Slow Cooker and we love it. What I love most about it is that you can put the bowl insert on the hob too - not necessary for this recipe, but helps with others. I also love that it has a clear lid, as I am so impatient that I want to keep looking and seeing what it is doing. If you don't have a clear lid, then lifting it to see will release lots of the heat and add to the cooking time.

Can I make a vegan version?

For a vegan version, use a vegan butter and milk alternative and make sure your chocolate chips are vegan.

Is this cake gluten free?

If you use gluten free flour and make sure that there is no cross contamination, then this can be gluten free.

Do I have to add the sauce topping?

Yes, you do. We have tried it without, as it does make it a little lighter, but it's a really dry cake. The "topping" is actually an under layer of sauce, as it all soaks down to the bottom when cooking and also stops the cake sticking and burning.

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If you’ve tried this slow cooker cake recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

Recipe

Slow cooker chocolate cake in a bowl with a ball of vanilla ice cream.

Slow Cooker Chocolate Cake

By: Dannii Martin
Slow Cooker Chocolate Cake is the easiest and most deliciously rich chocolate cake with a layer of gooey chocolate sauce.
An illustration of a v-shaped plant.
Vegetarian
4.93 from 13 votes
Pin Print Save recipe Saved!
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: British
Prep: 5 minutes mins
Cook: 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
Total: 1 hour hr 35 minutes mins
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 371kcal
Allergens:
An illustration of a carton of milk.
Dairy
An illustration of two ears of wheat.
Gluten

Ingredients

For the cake:

  • 225 g (1.75 cups) Self-raising flour
  • 175 g (0.88 cups) Caster sugar
  • 60 g (0.25 cups) Milk chocolate chips
  • 40 g (0.5 cups) Cocoa powder
  • 120 g (0.5 cups) Butter - melted
  • 170 ml (0.75 cups) Whole milk
  • 1 pinch Sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract

For the sauce:

  • 200 ml (0.85 cups) Boiling water
  • 2 tablespoon Cocoa powder
  • 2 tablespoon Brown sugar

Instructions

  • Grease the slow cooker bowl very well with butter.
  • Add 225 g Self-raising flour, 175 g Caster sugar, 60 g Milk chocolate chips, 40 g Cocoa powder and 1 pinch Sea salt. Mix well to combine.
  • Add 120 g Butter (melted), 170 ml Whole milk and 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract.
  • Mix well to form a batter.
  • In a jug, mix 200 ml Boiling water, r2 tablespoon Cocoa powder and 2 tablespoon Brown sugar. Pour over the batter, but do not mix in.
  • Cook on high for 1.5 to 2 hours.

Recipe Tips

  • The number one tip for this recipe is when you pour the sauce mix on top of the cake batter, DO NOT STIR! This needs to sit on top to create the sauce.
  • This slow cooker chocolate cake can't be sliced like a normal chocolate cake can, so it won't be winning any presentation awards. You will need a big spoon to scoop it all out into a bowl.
  • You can mix all the ingredients in a bowl first and then pour it into the slow cooker, or you can just mix it in the slow cooker to save on washing up.
  • You can leave this cake in the slow cooker on the "warm" setting for about an hour and a half and still have a gooey and fudgy cake.
  • Sieve the flour and cocoa powder before mixing to make a really light and smooth cake.

Nutritional Information

Serving: 1portion | Calories: 371kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 114mg | Potassium: 187mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 411IU | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.

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Comments

  1. Stella Farrell says

    December 08, 2024 at 5:51 pm

    Your recipe card says to set the slow cooker to "warm". This is not correct. The cake can be kept in the "warm" slow cooker AFTER it's cooked. The preamble bit you've written clearly says "high" but I didn't read this and have just ruined a cake and no-one is getting dessert. Please fix your recipe card. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Dannii Martin says

      December 18, 2024 at 10:44 am

      This recipe is correct. It is cooked on high, as the recipe states, and you can keep it on warm after until you are ready to serve. I am not sure why you have sauce no-one is getting dessert, as if you followed the recipe and cooked it on high, then you will have a delicious cake.

      Reply
  2. Stephanie says

    January 25, 2023 at 2:34 pm

    5 stars
    I've never tried making a cake in the slow cooker before, but I have to say that this might be the recipe that pushes me to do it! It looks so delicious!

    Reply
  3. Traci says

    January 25, 2023 at 2:25 pm

    5 stars
    Wow! So fun and easy for the kids! This one is going into the snow-day rotation. Thanks for sharing another winner!

    Reply
  4. Carrie Robinson says

    January 25, 2023 at 2:01 pm

    5 stars
    Such a great idea! I just love how ooey, gooey, and fudgy this looks! :)

    Reply
  5. Katherine says

    January 25, 2023 at 1:40 pm

    5 stars
    This cake is so easy in the slow cooker!

    Reply
  6. Toni says

    January 20, 2023 at 4:21 pm

    5 stars
    I tried it and turned out really good!! Thanks so much for the recipe!

    Reply
  7. Savita says

    January 20, 2023 at 4:10 pm

    5 stars
    This was soo good. Soft and delicious, loved the recipe.

    Reply
  8. Beth says

    January 20, 2023 at 3:47 pm

    5 stars
    This looks absolutely delicious. I've never made a dessert of any kind in my slow cooker, so I'm eager to give this a try.

    Reply
  9. Ned says

    January 20, 2023 at 3:12 pm

    5 stars
    Yes! I practiced making this with the possibility of making it for Valentines Day and it lived up to the yumminess! Thank you!

    Reply
  10. Amanda Wren-Grimwood says

    January 20, 2023 at 8:29 am

    5 stars
    You may need to spoon it but it still looks gorgeously gooey. Love this sort of pud and so easy too.

    Reply
4.93 from 13 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.

Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

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