12 Crockpot Dessert Recipes You Won’t Believe Are Slow-Cooked

Your Slow Cooker is Secretly a Dessert Genius: 12 Insanely Easy Recipes That’ll Blow Your Mind

Let’s be real. Your crockpot is probably your weeknight superhero, dutifully simmering soups and braising meats while you’re off living your life. It’s the reliable, no-fuss friend in your kitchen. But have you ever thought about asking it to whip up dessert?

I know, I know. It sounds a little wild. A cake… from the same appliance that made your chili? But trust me on this. Your slow cooker is a secret dessert wizard, capable of creating some of the most decadent, comforting, and downright magical sweets you’ll ever taste. The best part? It does all the work while you’re free to, you know, actually enjoy your evening instead of babysitting an oven.

So, let’s ditch the preconceptions and get ready to have your mind blown. I’ve gathered 12 unbelievably good crockpot dessert recipes that are so easy, you’ll wonder why you haven’t been doing this all along. Get ready to meet your slow cooker’s sweeter side.

1. Gooey Salted Caramel Fudge Cake

Short Hook / Why It’s Awesome → This is a self-saucing cake, which is a fancy way of saying it creates its own river of rich, buttery caramel sauce while it cooks. Magic? Pretty much.

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup milk
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• For the Topping: ½ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup cocoa powder, 1 ½ cups boiling water, and a generous pinch of flaky sea salt.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa, baking powder, and salt.
2. Stir in the milk, melted butter, and vanilla until you have a thick, luscious batter. Spread this evenly into a greased slow cooker.
3. In a separate bowl, mix the brown sugar and ¼ cup cocoa. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the top of your batter.
4. Now, for the magic trick: slowly and carefully pour the boiling water over the entire thing. DO NOT STIR.
5. Cover and cook on high for about 2-3 hours, or until the top is set and springy. A knife inserted will come out with moist crumbs, but not raw batter.
6. Let it sit for 20 minutes (if you can resist) before sprinkling with flaky sea salt and serving.

Why You’ll Love It

It’s a warm, pudding-like cake floating in a pool of its own dark, decadent sauce. The sprinkle of sea salt at the end cuts the sweetness perfectly. Serve it with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream and prepare for applause.

2. “Set It and Forget It” Peach Cobbler

Short Hook / Why It’s Awesome → The ultimate, no-fuss, classic dessert that fills your home with the smell of summer, even in the dead of winter.

Ingredients

• 2 (29 oz) cans of sliced peaches in syrup (don’t drain!)
• 1 box of yellow cake mix (yes, the boxed stuff is your friend here)
• ½ cup (1 stick) of melted butter
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• A handful of chopped pecans or walnuts (optional, but highly recommended)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Dump the undrained peaches into your slow cooker and give them a stir.
2. Sprinkle the entire box of dry cake mix evenly over the peaches.
3. Drizzle the melted butter over the cake mix, trying to cover as much surface area as possible.
4. Top with cinnamon and nuts if you’re using them.
5. Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 4-5. You’re looking for a golden, bubbly, and set top.

Why You’ll Love It

The cake mix soaks up the peach syrup and butter, creating a crispy, cobbler-like topping while the peaches underneath become impossibly tender. It’s stupidly easy and tastes like a hug in a bowl.

3. Molten Chocolate Lava Cake for a Crowd

Short Hook / Why It’s Awesome → Why make individual lava cakes when you can make one giant, oozing masterpiece to feed all your favorite people?

Ingredients

• 1 box chocolate fudge cake mix, plus the ingredients it calls for (usually eggs, oil, and water)
• 1 box (3.9 oz) instant chocolate pudding mix
• 2 cups cold milk
• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare your cake batter according to the package directions and set it aside.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk the instant pudding mix with the 2 cups of cold milk for 2 minutes until it just starts to thicken.
3. Pour the pudding into the bottom of your greased slow cooker.
4. Gently pour the cake batter over the pudding layer.
5. Sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the top.
6. Cover and cook on high for 2.5 to 3.5 hours. The edges should be set, but the very center might still look a little soft—that’s the lava!

Why You’ll Love It

When you scoop into this, you hit a layer of rich, creamy pudding and melted chocolate chips that acts as the “lava.” It’s a chocolate lover’s dream and the ultimate party trick.

4. Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding

Short Hook / Why It’s Awesome → This recipe takes store-bought cinnamon rolls and transforms them into a decadent, custardy bread pudding. Zero baking skills required.

Ingredients

• 2 cans (12.4 oz each) refrigerated cinnamon rolls with icing
• 4 large eggs
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Chop the uncooked cinnamon rolls into bite-sized pieces and place them in your greased slow cooker.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, vanilla, and cinnamon until smooth.
3. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the cinnamon roll pieces, pressing down gently to make sure everything gets soaked.
4. Drizzle about half of the included icing cups over the top.
5. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours, until the center is set.
6. Drizzle with the remaining icing right before serving.

Why You’ll Love It

It’s like the best parts of a cinnamon roll and French toast had a baby. The edges get a little caramelized and chewy, while the center stays soft and custardy. You’re welcome.

5. Lemon Blueberry Dump Cake

Short Hook / Why It’s Awesome → Bright, zesty, and bursting with berries, this is the dessert you make when you need a little sunshine on your spoon.

Ingredients

• 1 (21 oz) can of blueberry pie filling
• 1 box of lemon cake mix
• ½ cup (1 stick) of melted butter
• 1 fresh lemon, zested and juiced
• 1 tablespoon of poppy seeds (optional, for a little crunch)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Spread the blueberry pie filling evenly in the bottom of your slow cooker.
2. Stir the lemon zest and poppy seeds into the dry cake mix, then sprinkle this mixture over the blueberries.
3. Drizzle the melted butter and the juice from your lemon over the top.
4. Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours, until the topping is golden and the blueberries are bubbly.

Why You’ll Love It

The contrast between the tart lemon and the sweet blueberries is absolutely killer. It’s a fresher, brighter take on the classic dump cake that feels a little bit fancy, even though it took you 5 minutes to throw together.

6. Rich and Creamy Rice Pudding

Short Hook / Why It’s Awesome → Forget the stovetop version you have to stir constantly. This slow cooker method is completely hands-off and yields the creamiest rice pudding of your life.

Ingredients

• ¾ cup uncooked white rice (long-grain or Arborio both work great)
• 4 cups whole milk
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon, plus more for serving
• 1 pinch of salt
• ½ cup of heavy cream, stirred in at the end

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Combine the rice, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt in your slow cooker. Give it a good stir.
2. Cover and cook on low for about 3-4 hours, stirring once or twice if you think of it, until the rice is tender and the mixture has thickened.
3. Stir in the heavy cream right before serving. This is the pro-move that makes it extra luxurious.
4. Serve warm or cold with an extra dusting of cinnamon.

Why You’ll Love It

It’s the ultimate comfort food. This pudding is so creamy and rich, it puts all other rice puddings to shame. It’s like a warm blanket for your soul.

7. Apple Crisp That Tastes Like Grandma’s

Short Hook / Why It’s Awesome → All the warm, spiced, crunchy-topped goodness of a classic apple crisp, without ever turning on your oven.

Ingredients

• For the Filling: 6-7 cups of peeled and sliced apples (like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), ½ cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg.
• For the Topping: 1 cup old-fashioned oats, ½ cup flour, ½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup (1 stick) of cold, cubed butter.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Toss the apple slices with the brown sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Dump this into your slow cooker.
2. In a separate bowl, mix the oats, flour, and brown sugar. Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, work the cold butter into the oat mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Sprinkle the oat topping evenly over the apples.
4. Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 5-6, until the apples are tender and the topping is golden.

Why You’ll Love It

The slow cooking makes the apples incredibly tender and syrupy, while the topping stays perfectly crisp. It’s nostalgia in a bowl, and your house is going to smell absolutely incredible.

8. Decadent Triple Chocolate Brownies

Short Hook / Why It’s Awesome → Yes, you can make fudgy, dense brownies in your slow cooker. They come out insanely moist and are impossible to mess up.

Ingredients

• 1 box of your favorite brownie mix, plus the ingredients it calls for
• 1 cup of chocolate chips (milk, semi-sweet, or dark)
• Optional add-in: 1 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare the brownie batter according to the package directions. Stir in the chocolate chips and nuts.
2. Line your slow cooker with parchment paper (this is a game-changer for easy removal!) and spray it with non-stick spray.
3. Pour the batter into the prepared slow cooker.
4. Cover, but prop the lid open slightly with a chopstick or the end of a wooden spoon to let steam escape. This prevents them from getting too soggy.
5. Cook on high for 2-3 hours, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.

Why You’ll Love It

These brownies are the fudgiest, most chocolatey things you’ll ever eat. The slow cooker creates an incredibly moist environment that an oven just can’t replicate. You’ll never go back.

9. Tropical Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Short Hook / Why It’s Awesome → This retro classic gets a seriously easy makeover. The slow cooker steams the cake to perfection, making it unbelievably moist.

Ingredients

• ¼ cup (½ stick) butter, melted
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 (20 oz) can of pineapple rings, juice reserved
• Maraschino cherries
• 1 box of yellow cake mix, prepared according to package directions (using the reserved pineapple juice in place of some of the water for extra flavor!)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Pour the melted butter into the bottom of your slow cooker and sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over it.
2. Arrange the pineapple rings and place a cherry in the center of each.
3. Gently pour the prepared cake batter over the pineapple layer.
4. Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours, until a toothpick comes out clean.
5. Let it cool for 30 minutes, then carefully invert it onto a serving platter.

Why You’ll Love It

The caramelized pineapple topping is sticky, sweet, and gorgeous. Using the pineapple juice in the batter infuses the whole cake with tropical flavor. It’s a total showstopper.

10. Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake

Short Hook / Why It’s Awesome → No water bath, no cracked top, no stress. The slow cooker creates the perfect, gentle heat for a silky-smooth, perfectly set cheesecake.

Ingredients

• 2 (8 oz) blocks of cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup canned pumpkin puree
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 pre-made graham cracker crust

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. With a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
2. Beat in the pumpkin, eggs, vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice until everything is well combined and creamy.
3. Pour the filling into the graham cracker crust.
4. Carefully place the cheesecake (in its pie tin) into your slow cooker.
5. 5. Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours, until the center is just set.
6. Let it cool completely in the slow cooker with the lid off before chilling for at least 4 hours.

Why You’ll Love It

It’s foolproof! The texture is unbelievably creamy and lush. It’s the ultimate dessert for fall, but let’s be honest, pumpkin spice season is a state of mind.

11. Sticky Toffee Pudding

Short Hook / Why It’s Awesome → A British pub classic that you can now make at home. It’s a moist date cake absolutely drowned in a rich, buttery toffee sauce.

Ingredients

• 1 cup chopped, pitted dates
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¾ cup boiling water
• ¼ cup butter, softened
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 ⅓ cups self-rising flour
• For the Sauce: ½ cup butter, ½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup heavy cream

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. In a bowl, combine the dates and baking soda. Pour the boiling water over them and let it sit for 10 minutes.
2. In another bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Beat in the eggs, then fold in the flour and the date mixture.
3. Pour the batter into a greased slow cooker.
4. Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours until a knife comes out clean.
5. For the sauce, combine the butter, brown sugar, and cream in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook for 3 minutes until thickened.
6. Poke holes all over the cooked pudding and pour about half the sauce over it. Let it soak in for 10 minutes. Serve with the remaining sauce.

Why You’ll Love It

It’s warm, sticky, sweet, and deeply sophisticated. The dates make the cake incredibly moist and complex. This one will impress everyone.

12. S’mores Dip

Short Hook / Why It’s Awesome → The campfire classic, reimagined as the world’s easiest, most shareable dip. It’s pure, unadulterated fun.

Ingredients

• 2 cups milk chocolate chips
• 1 (14 oz) can of sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup mini marshmallows
• Graham crackers, for dipping

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Combine the chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk in your slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on low for 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
3. Sprinkle the mini marshmallows over the top, cover for a few more minutes until they get soft and puffy.
4. Switch to the “Warm” setting and dive in with graham crackers for dipping!

Why You’ll Love It

It’s a communal, gooey, messy, and absolutely delicious experience. Perfect for a movie night or a party. IMO, it’s way better than trying to balance a marshmallow on a stick.

🔥Recommended Slow Cooker Essentials

 Here are a few of my favorite slow cooker essentials that make crockpot cooking easier, faster, and way more fun.

1. Crock-Pot 8-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker
   Perfect for big families or meal prepping — set it, forget it, and come home to tender, juicy meals every time.
   Check it out on Amazon
2. Hamilton Beach 8-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker
   Reliable, easy-to-use, and keeps food warm automatically — ideal for busy weeknights.
   See today’s price on Amazon
3. Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker PRO (8-in-1 Multi-Cooker)
   Slow cook, sauté, roast, and more — one appliance that does it all for your crockpot dinners.
   View it on Amazon
4. Silicone Slow Cooker Divider Insert
   Cook two different meals at once — perfect for picky eaters or meal prep variety.
   Grab it on Amazon
5. Fix-It and Forget-It Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes Cookbook
   Packed with easy, flavorful slow cooker chicken ideas your family will love.
   Get the cookbook on Amazon

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So, Is Your Mind Officially Blown?

See? I told you your crockpot was hiding a serious talent. From gooey cakes to creamy cheesecakes, this humble appliance is your ticket to effortless, unforgettable desserts. The best part isn’t just the incredible flavors—it’s the freedom. You get to be the dessert hero without being chained to the kitchen.

So, go on. Pick a recipe, throw the ingredients in that pot, and let your slow cooker do its sweet, sweet magic. Your future self, lounging on the couch with a bowl of warm peach cobbler, will thank you for it. Now, which one are you making first?