Slow Cooker Hot Fudge Pudding Cake an easy crock-pot dessert perfect for freeing up your oven. With the best fudgy molten sauce that forms beneath the cake. So easy to customize with 4 fun toppings like an ice cream sundae! Plus a step-by-step video!
With the busy holiday season upon us, slow cooker recipes are back in full force around here.
This gooey Hot Fudge Pudding Cake was actually a dessert I made for my stepdad who usually helps me take most of the desserts I make off my hands.
He grew up on a gooey chocolate pudding cake from his mom and grandma, who were both amazing bakers. Since this Pumpkin Pecan Pudding Cake was such a hit, I thought I’d make this chocolate version in the slow cooker as well.
Recently, his doctor told him to cut back on certain foods in his diet, so we’ve been trying to add healthier spins on the desserts he loves.
This Hot Fudge Pudding Cake recipe is vegan and has NO refined sugar. Instead, we use melted coconut oil and coconut sugar. If you’d rather make this the classic way, I’ve also included options to use easier pantry-friendly ingredients like vegetable oil and brown sugar instead.
The homemade cake batter comes together easily in just ONE bowl and you just spread it into your slow cooker.
The best part about this dessert is how EASY it is to customize. Leave it as is or add in your favorite toppings. I have 4 fun options:
- chocolate chips
- white chocolate chips
- shredded coconut
- chopped nuts
Then just mix together some coconut sugar and cocoa powder and sprinkle it over the entire dessert and pour hot water over top.
The batter cooks up in the crock-pot into a rich and dreamy moist cake with a warm and fudgy pudding center hidden inside! The chocolate flavor is spot-on and the combo of cake with creamy fudge is just heavenly!
Serve with a spoonful of vanilla ice cream and toppings of your choice and you’ve got one amazing dessert perfect for any chocolate fan!

- 1 cup white-whole wheat flour or all purpose flour
- 1 cup coconut sugar or packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup almond milk or milk of your choice
- 2 Tablespoons coconut oil melted (or vegetable oil)
- 1/2 teaspoon oure vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1-3/4 cups hot or boiling water
- Paleo-friendly chocolate chips or semi-sweet
- White chocolate chips
- Shredded Coconut
- Chopped Nuts
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Pour in the milk, butter, and vanilla and mix until just combined.
Spread into a 3-qt. slow cooker coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with optional toppings using any combination equaling out to one cup and press gently into the batter so they stick.
- For the Cocoa fudge mixture, combine sugar and cocoa and sprinkle over the batter in the crock-pot. Pour hot or boiling water over the cocoa powder (do not stir).
- Cover and cook on high for 1 3/4 - 2 1/2 hours or until a toothpick inserted near center of the cake comes out clean. Every slow cooker cooks differently so if your slow cooker runs hot, be sure to check on the batter at 1 hour and then every 20 minutes after that.
- Serve warm with ice cream and top with fruit if desired.
Recipe Video
If you need to find some holiday cookies, you can find all my cookies HERE or stop by my cookies or cake board on Pinterest and follow along to stay up to date.
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice -
Kelly, this looks AMAZING! I’ve made a pudding cake once before in the slow cooker, but your version sounds so much better. And I like how it’s on the healthier side, too. And 4 ways?! SOLD! I wish I could devour this for breakfast right about now. This looks so incredible!
Megan - The Emotional Baker -
Vegan?!? Awesome!! This cake looks heavenly – now I just need a slow cooker 😉
Monica -
This is so perfect for the slow cooker. I love a warm dessert, especially when it’s set against some cold ice cream! This is heavenly, my friend!…I can totally picture you having a slow cooker party at your house with all kinds of savory things waiting in slow cookers at one counter, and one laid out with sweets/desserts. You’ll find me hovering and scooping from the one with the hot fudge pudding cake! ; )
Robin Ervin -
Can you use regular flour instead of the white whole wheat flour?
Sues -
Mmm I’ve never had a cake like this before, but I am so down! It looks so gooey and delicious!