This Slow Cooker Caramel Apple Pudding Cake is SO simple, loaded with apples and makes its own hot caramel sauce as it cooks. Our new favorite dessert! With step by step video down in the recipe card.
It wasn’t supposed to work. At all.
When I spread the cake batter in the slow cooker, I was still optimistic.
I sprinkled the brown sugar over, just like I do in my Grandma’s Hot Fudge Sundae Cake, and poured on the hot water.
I put the lid on, turned it to high, and crossed my fingers. Still pretty optimistic. It would work, wouldn’t it? (I made that Slow Cooker Gingerbread Pudding Cake, after all, and it turned out just fine!)
We were having friends over for dinner on a Sunday when I decided to test this recipe out. I figured it was just dessert, so what if it flopped and we had to have s’mores by the fireplace instead?
A few minutes later I peered in the slow cooker and it looked like a great big soupy mess. I lost all hope then and there.
But by some miracle, in a couple of hours a cake layer formed on top, the apples cooked perfectly, and when I dug in I saw the most glorious puddle of caramel sauce underneath.
Let me tell you — I never get it this right on the first try.
But this pudding cake is so, so right, and so incredibly delicious. I know I’ve said it before and I say it again — nothing gets me like a warm, gooey dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
I love that we can get perfect Canadian apples in the dead of winter — so sweet, crunchy and juicy. They make the perfect healthy snack, a sweet contrast in a savory dish, and pack a punch of fresh, juicy flavour in any dessert.
They are one of our favorite fruits and we always have a pile on hand, year round!
Love the caramel apple combo? Try this Caramel Apple Dip next!
Tips for making a Perfect Slow Cooker Caramel Apple Pudding Cake:
- Opt for an oval slow cooker instead of a round one. I’ve found that the round slow cooker are deeper and have less area on the bottom, which would result in a thicker cake layer that wouldn’t cook as evenly.
- Chop your apples small, so that they are tender by the time the cake is cooked
- Let the cake sit with the slow cooker off for 10-20 minutes before serving, this will help the sauce to thicken
Slow Cooker Caramel Apple Pudding Cake
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole wheat flour or all purpose flour (about 125g)
- 3/4 cup brown sugar about 150g
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 cup buttermilk or regular milk
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 large baking apples peeled and diced
Sauce
- 1 cup brown sugar about 200g
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup hot water
Instructions
- Lightly grease a 3-4 quart slow cooker (mine is a 2.5qt casserole slow cooker, so it has a wider base).
- In a large bowl, stir together flour, ¾ cup brown sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon until combined.
- Stir in buttermilk, oil, and vanilla until smooth (will be thick). Stir in apples and spread in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- For the sauce, whisk together 1 cup brown sugar and corn starch until combined. Sprinkle over cake batter and spread evenly.
- Melt butter in hot water and pour over brown sugar in slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 2.5-3 hours until cake is set (will be moist) on top. Sauce will be thin at first — for a thicker sauce, let sit for 10-20 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Information
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Natasha says
This dessert is my ultimate favourite!!! It’s so easy, and comes out so delicious every time. I’ve made more than 20 times over the years, and it never disappoints! Making it again right now!
*I add a tsp of lemon juice and fill the rest of the 1/2 measure with milk as a buttermilk substitute and it makes a difference!
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Natasha! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Tami says
Delicious! My husband and daughter loved it as well. A friend came by and had some as well. She wanted the recipe so she could make it for Thanksgiving. This will definitely be one we make again and again.
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Tami! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Cathleen says
Hubby actually told me to save this recipe. I made this yesterday and we love it. Was a little sweet for me but hubby cleaned his dessert plate. I will be making this for Thanksgiving. I used a mixture of apples that were pre sliced from Walmart and had to use up.
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Cathleen! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
LC says
What apples would you recommend?
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi LC! You could use Cortland, Gala, Fuji, or just any firm apple. Hope you enjoy it!
Pat Pumphrey says
Do you think asian pears would work with Asian pears si ce they are crispy and juicy.
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Par! I’ve not tested this out using pears. If you decide to experiment, let me know how it goes!
Joan Ruffing says
Could this be made with homemade apple pie filling?
Ashley Fehr says
I think it could, but I’ve never tried!
Shirley says
Hi, my slow cooker is 6 quarts. Can I double this reciepy without issue? And might you have a recommended cooking time for this?
Thank you
Ashley Fehr says
Absolutely! It will be about the same amount of time
Shirley says
Ashley, I made it and it was fantastic!!! A little on the sweet side for me but my husband liked it as is. I am thinking that I might minus a little sugar next time: maybe a 1/4 cup from each the cake and the sauce. Do you think that this correction would work?
Also, wondering if you’ve tried maple syrup or maple sugar in this? Love maple!
Cheers,
Shirley
Ashley Fehr says
I think that would work just fine! I haven’t tried maple syrup, but I think it would work all right 🙂
~T~ says
Delicious! We had this for my son’s birthday–even though he’s not here. I’m going to try to figure out a microwave version for him!
Ashley Fehr says
I would love to hear what you discover!