Cozy Warm Dessert – Mix & Cook Right in Your Slow Cooker!
This Slow Cooker Apple Cranberry Pudding cake is kind of magical! There’s a cake layer in the bottom that you mix right in your slow cooker. Then you add a fresh diced Granny Smith apple mixture right over the cake layer. Lastly, over the top, you pour an apple cider/juice mixture. Once it’s all layered in – DON’T STIR and DON’T PEAK! ( : It magically creates a warm cinnamon and apple flavored pudding cake that is studded with pretty dried cranberry “jewels” on the top …and… under the apple pudding cake a gooey sauce mixture forms.
I have made this at least 6 times over the past few months during my recipe development, and everyone has loved it. It makes a good amount as well, can serve 8-12 depending upon serving size. And it’s absolutely delicious with fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream! (I linked my recipes to those as well!) I also love that it takes up zero oven space, so would be a perfect dessert for any holiday meal! I’m going to serve at Christmas this year. The pretty red cranberries make is so festive!
Don’t Stir, Don’t Peak:
Once you mix the cake mixture, you layer in the apple mixture and pour over the apple cider mixture – then you just let it be! Don’t stir all the layers together. And, once it’s cooking in the slow cooker, don’t take the lid off. You’ll lose some heat and throw of the cooking timing. I put a sticky note on mine to remind my guests to not take the lid off – LOL, can be very tempting!
Check out my other Slow Cooker Dessert Recipe!
Slow Cooker Apple Cranberry Pudding Cake
Equipment
- 1 Oval 6 qt. Slow Cooker I use my KitchenAid Slow Cooker
Ingredients
Cake Layer:
- non-stick spray
- 1 yellow cake mix
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup butter melted, cooled
- 1 cup milk
Apple Layer:
- 4 Granny Smith Apples
- 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
Apple Cider Mixture:
- 1 1/2 cups apple cider or juice
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons butter
Serve with Vanilla Ice Cream or Whipped Cream
Instructions
Cake:
- Grease slow-cooker insert with butter or non-stick spray. Set to High Heat.
- Add cake mix, egg, melted butter and milk. Mix with hand mixer or stir together.
Apples:
- In a medium/large bowl, juice lemon. Peel, core and dice your apples about 1/2" to 3/4" pieces. Toss with the lemon in the bowl.
- Add cinnamon and dried cranberries and toss to coat. Pour evenly over the cake mixture in the slow cooker. (DON'T STIR the apples into the cake mix layer. You can just even out the apples.)
Pour Over:
- In microwave safe container, add the apple cider and butter. Microwave until the butter melts.
- Add honey to warm cider mixture and stir together to dissolve honey. Pour evenly over the apple mixture in slow cooker. (DON'T STIR all the layers together.)
Bake:
- Cover with lid and cook for about 2-2.5 hours on high temperature. (DON'T take lid off when cooking as it will release heat.)
- When finished, cake will appear set across the top. Turn off heat and/or set to Keep Warm for 15-30 minutes – the sauce that forms in the bottom will thicken. My slow cooker has a keep warm setting, that I have used for up to 1.5 hours after cooking to keep warm.
- Refrigerate leftovers. They reheat nicely in the microwave.
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