Crockpot Chocolate Lava Cake is a decadently rich dessert made in the slow cooker with a cake mix, a pudding mix, and chocolate chips. This easy recipe can be prepared in 10 minutes, then you set it and forget it as it cooks in the crockpot.

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Easy Crockpot Chocolate Lava Cake

Crockpot Chocolate Lava Cake could be the easiest, most straightforward dessert to make because the slow cooker does most of the work.

You only need a box of chocolate cake mix, a box of instant pudding mix, a few ingredients used according to the package, plus a bag of chocolate chips.

This simple recipe is known for its 3 luscious chocolatey layers – chocolate cake, chocolate pudding, and chocolate chips – with a gooey hot center of batter surrounded by a moist, dense cake.

This Crockpot Chocolate Lava Cake is the ultimate decadent chocolate-lovers dream; it’s an easy way to “bake” a cake without an oven and served by the scoop instead of by the slice!

Looking for more sweet treats to make in the slow cooker? Try my Crockpot Hot Chocolate, Crockpot Peppermint Hot Chocolate, and Crockpot Apple Sauce.

Why We Love This Lava Cake Recipe

  • Quick and easy to make in the slow cooker.
  • Uses 3 packaged ingredients plus 3 kitchen staples.
  • Warm, gooey chocolate “molten lava” sits inside the cooked cake.
  • Deliciously moist, rich, spoon-able dessert.
  • Perfect for dinner parties or for serving after supper with a scoop of ice cream.
crockpot lava cake with ice cream

Ingredients

  • Chocolate cake mix
  • Whole milk
  • Canola oil
  • Eggs
  • Chocolate instant pudding mix
  • Chocolate chips

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Substitutions and Additions

  • Choose Your Chocolate Chip: You can choose milk, dark, or semi-sweet chocolate chips to sprinkle over the pudding.
  • Tasty Toppings: Top with ice cream or whipping cream, a drizzle of hot fudge or caramel sauce, powdered sugar, or some chopped nuts for some crunch.
  • Make It Without Dairy Milk: feel free to use your favorite non-dairy milk in place of the whole milk. I recommend using cashew milk or coconut milk because of the rich flavor and creamy texture.
  • Crockpot
  • Non-stick spray
  • Whisk
making lava cake in a crockpot

How to Make Crockpot Chocolate Lava Cake

Crockpot Chocolate Lava Cake is the easiest way to make a decadent dessert without turning on the oven! In a matter of minutes, you can arrange 3 chocolate layers in a slow cooker, then set it and forget it until you’re ready to serve.

  1. Make The Cake Mixture: Mix together the cake mix, milk, oil, and eggs until smooth. Pour the batter into the crockpot and spread evenly.
  2. Prepare The Pudding: Combine the pudding mix and milk until smooth and has thickened slightly. Pour the pudding on the top of the cake batter.
  3. Cover With Chocolate Chips: Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the pudding.
  4. Cook: Cover the crockpot and cook on high for 2 1/2 hours.
  5. Serve: Serve warm with ice cream. Enjoy!
crockpot lava cake collage process

Tips

  • Your cook time will vary based on the size and shape of your slow cooker. 
  • You can make this lava cake gluten-free by using a gluten-free cake mix. The Jell-O pudding mix should be gluten-free but make sure to check ingredients.
  • You can make this cake it dairy-free by switching to a dairy-free milk option.

Storage Tips

  • To Store: You can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. 
  • To Reheat: Reheat your cake in a bowl in the microwave in 30-second increments until warmed through. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep this cake on the warm setting?

You can keep your lava cake on warm for up to an hour. Keep in mind that the longer the cake sits in the crockpot, the texture will slightly change.

What is the texture of this cake? 

This chocolate lave cake has a different texture than one that is baked in the oven since it is cooked in a crockpot. It has a slightly denser texture with a hot center of batter that has not been fully set. Making this recipe in the slow cooker allows the cake to cook up around the edges while still giving it a gooey center.

Is this cake safe to eat since the center does not fully set?

This lava cake is absolutely safe to eat! Although the center is not cooked all the way, it is baked long enough to cook the eggs. So eating lava cake is different than eating raw batter. 

crockpot lava cake served with ice cream

Other Easy Cake Recipes

5 from 6 votes
crockpot lava cake featured image

Crockpot Lava Cake

Serves — 12
Crockpot Chocolate Lava Cake is an easy way to make a rich and decadent dessert because the slow cooker does most of the work! It's decadent, rich, and downright delicious.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 40 minutes

Ingredients
  

Cake:

  • 1 15.25-ounce box chocolate cake mix
  • cup  whole milk
  • ½ cup canola oil
  • 3 eggs

Topping:

  • 3.9 oz box chocolate instant pudding mix
  • 2 cups milk
  • 11.5 oz bag chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • Spray your crockpot with non-stick spray.
  • In a large mixing bowl, mix your cake mix, milk, oil, and eggs until it’s smooth.
  • Pour the cake batter into the crockpot and spread it evenly.
  • In a medium mixing bowl, mix the pudding mix and milk until it’s smooth and has thickened slightly.
  • Pour the chocolate pudding on the top of the cake batter.
  • Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the pudding.
  • Cover and set the crockpot to high for 2 1/2 hours.
  • Serve warm with ice cream.

Jenn’s Notes

Storage :
  • To Store: You can store an y leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. 
  • To Reheat: Reheat your cake in a bowl in the microwave in 30 second increments until warmed through.
Tips:
  • Your cook time will vary based on the size and shape of your slow cooker. 
  • You can make this lava cake gluten-free by using a gluten-free cake mix. The Jell-O pudding mix should be gluten-free but make sure to check ingredients.
  • You can make this cake it dairy-free by switching to a dairy-free milk option.

Nutrition Info

Calories: 240kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 178mg | Potassium: 136mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 166IU | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 1mg

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Comments

  1. this is the only way I make cakes now! no more uneven cakes thank you for sharing your recipe with me. Lisa Chaika