
Hot Fudge Lava Cake
A rich, gooey slow cooker chocolate lava cake that practically makes itself. Dark chocolate and butter melt into a fudgy batter that self-sauces as it cooks low and slow, creating a tender cake top with a molten hot fudge layer underneath. Perfect for feeding a crowd with minimal effort — just scoop and serve warm with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.
8 servings · Prep 15 min · Cook 150 min · Total 165 min
American · Dessert
Ingredients
Open in recipe scaler →Main
1 cup all-purpose flour
0.75 cup granulated sugar
0.5 cup unsweetened cocoa powder divided
1.5 tsp baking powder
0.25 tsp fine salt
0.5 cup whole milk room temperature
4 tbsp unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
vanilla ice cream
powdered sugar for dusting
Topping
0.75 cup packed brown sugar light or dark
dark brown sugar
4 oz bittersweet chocolate 60–70% cacao, roughly chopped
1.5 cup boiling water
Equipment
Stovetop
Slow Cooker
Parchment Paper
Mixing Bowl
Cooking Spray
Paper Towel
Lid
Measuring Cups
Ice Cream Scoop
Whisk
Spatula
Rubber Spatula
Measuring Spoons
Mixing Bowl (4 Quarts)
Instructions
- Lightly grease the insert of a ~[4- to 6-quart]~ slow cooker with @[Butter] or #[Cooking Spray]. Line the bottom with a piece of #[Parchment Paper] if desired for easier cleanup.
- In a #[Mixing Bowl], whisk together the @[All-Purpose Flour], @[Granulated Sugar], ¼ cup of the @[Unsweetened Cocoa Powder], @[Baking Powder], and @[Fine Salt]. Add the @[Milk], melted @[Butter], and @[Vanilla Extract], and stir with a rubber spatula until a thick, smooth batter forms. Spread the batter evenly into the bottom of the prepared slow cooker insert.
- In a small #[Mixing Bowl], stir together the @[Brown Sugar] and remaining ¼ cup @[Unsweetened Cocoa Powder]. Scatter the chopped @[Bittersweet Chocolate] evenly over the batter, then sprinkle the @[Brown Sugar]–@[Unsweetened Cocoa Powder] mixture on top. Carefully pour the ~[boiling]~ @[Water] over everything — do not stir. The layers will look messy; that's exactly right.
- Place a double layer of #[Paper Towel] under the lid to absorb condensation and prevent dripping onto the cake. Cook on ^[HIGH]^ for ~[2 to 2½ hours]~, until the top of the cake looks set and matte but the center still jiggles slightly when you gently shake the insert. Do not lift the lid during the first ~[2 hours]~.
- Turn off the slow cooker and let the cake rest uncovered for ~[15 minutes]~ — the fudge sauce will thicken slightly as it cools. Scoop into bowls, making sure to get some of the molten hot fudge from the bottom. Dust with @[Powdered Sugar] and serve immediately with a scoop of @[Vanilla Ice Cream].





