Viral Crock-Pot Self-Saucing Pudding Cake

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In a recent article, Chef Suzanne Vizethann mentioned she often makes cakes in her Crock-Pot, noting they're an easy, oven-free option for entertaining. The idea immediately intrigued the author, who then saw versions of pudding cakes popping up on TikTok and food blogs, promising a hands-off dessert that magically makes its own sauce as it cooks. The author decided to give the viral Crock-Pot pudding cake a try, following a recipe from Savory Nothings with a few small tweaks.

Why it matters

The author's experiment with a Crock-Pot chocolate pudding cake highlights an innovative way to make a warm, gooey dessert without turning on the oven, which can be especially appealing during the colder months or for hosting gatherings. The recipe's popularity on social media also suggests a growing interest in easy, hands-off baking methods.

The details

The author followed a slow-cooker chocolate pudding cake recipe from Savory Nothings, with a few tweaks like using butter instead of oil, adding more chocolate chips, and using vanilla paste in addition to vanilla extract. The process involves mixing the cake batter, topping it with cocoa powder, brown sugar, and chocolate chips, then pouring boiling water over the top before cooking on low for about 2 hours. The result is a warm, gooey cake with a delightful pudding sauce.

• The author saw versions of the pudding cake popping up on TikTok and food blogs around the same time as the Crock-Pot cake recommendation from Chef Suzanne Vizethann.
• The author made the Crock-Pot chocolate pudding cake recently during the gloomy, cold weather in upstate New York.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The author plans to experiment with using the Crock-Pot method for other types of cakes and desserts, such as citrus-forward cakes, berry-heavy versions, cobblers, or anything that allows skipping the oven during warmer months.