Slow Cooker Caramel Apple Pudding Cake

Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 45 minutes
Servings 6 servings

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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.

caramel apple pudding cake in slow cooker

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.

clear glass bowl of apple pudding cake

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.

caramel apple pudding cake in bowl with vanilla ice cream

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
overhead image of caramel apple pudding cake with ice cream melting over
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Slow Cooker Caramel Apple Pudding Cake

4.87 from 15 votes
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!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 45 minutes
Cuisine American
Course Dessert
Servings 6 servings
Calories 405cal

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

Calories: 405cal | Carbohydrates: 79g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 174mg | Potassium: 319mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 63g | Vitamin A: 150IU | Calcium: 146mg | Iron: 1.3mg

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Meet Ashley

My name is Ashley Fehr and I love creating easy meals my family loves. I also like to do things my way, which means improvising and breaking the rules when necessary. Here you will find creative twists on old favorites and some of my favorite family recipes, passed down from generations!

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Comments

  1. 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!

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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

      • 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

  5. ~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!

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