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
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, ยพ 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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Sara says
I am trying this today, have had the recipe saved for like 2 weeks since I came across it and cant stop thinking about it lol.
Ashley Fehr says
I would love to hear what you think!
Janet Sketchley says
Love this! A family favourite at first try.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Janet!
Diane Liegl says
Did you ever you swerve sugar and brown sugar to cut calories. Thanks looks delicious want to try for company next week
Ashley Fehr says
Hi Diane! I don’t have a lot of experience with sugar substitutes unfortunately.
Sarah says
Tried making this is my instant pot on the slow cooker setting for 3 hours. It never really developed any “cake” texture to the apple mixture- came out looking like uncooked pancake batter with a Carmel syrup underneath. Tasty, but not as pictured above. Will try it again in actual slow cooker to see if it makes a difference
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks for sharing Sarah!
Patrick says
I gave this a try and it came out GREAT! Easy to make, tastes fantasic and leftovers are still good when heated up in the microwave. I will be making this again. My wife told me not to lose the recipe.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Patrick! I’m so glad it was a hit!
Dawn Danka says
Weird question, can I sub yoghurt for milk? Itโs what I have on hand….
Ashley Fehr says
You could try! You may want to add a little yogurt and a little milk
Dan says
Cake not close to cooked yet but burning badly all round the edges! โน๏ธ
Ashley Fehr says
It is a very saucy cake, so I’m wondering if you have misunderstood and looking for it to be completely set?
Julie says
How can I make this in the oven? It looks so delicious but my crockpots are too big for it.
Ashley Fehr says
You can put it in a larger crockpot and it will be fine, it just might cook faster. I would try baking it in a 9×13″ dish for 30-45 minutes at 350
Vesta says
This looked so good I just put it in my casserole Crock Pot. We have company coming so I hope it is as good as it looks. Thanks for the recipe.
Ashley Fehr says
I’d love to hear how it turns out!
Kristie says
The bowls are adorable!!!! Where did you get them?? And this recipie will be made very soon!
Ashley Fehr says
You know, they were actually a gift so I’m not sure where they’re from! Thank you! Let me know how you like it ๐
Jaclyn Paige says
I need to try this!
Shelli Scott says
Yummy, Yummy
Marcus Walker says
I want two slices please
Ashley Fehr says
Coming right up! ๐
Rashi Mehrotra says
What can i replace the corn starch with? This looks delightful, plan to try it in an oven since i do not have a slow cooker. But not sure what to replace corn starch with. Please suggest
Ashley Fehr says
Do you need to replace the corn starch for a reason? It just makes the sauce a little thicker. If you want to make it but don’t have any on hand I would just reduce the hot water by 1/4 cup.
Rashi Mehrotra says
I was inquiring because I didn’t have corn starch handy. Just bought it only to try this recipe! ๐
Ashley Fehr says
Let me know how you like it!
Rashi Mehrotra says
Made this last night with a few variations. Added nuts along with apples and a pinch of nutmeg along with cinnamon. Also, I used a 9″ baking dish since I don’t have a slow cooker. Turned out fantastic!! I reduced the sugar to 1/2 cup and it was just right for two of us. Devoured an entire bowl last night and just had it as midday snack. Loved it, thanks Ashley!
Ashley Fehr says
Yay! I’m so happy to hear that!
Alison K says
I didn’t have corn starch on hand so I subbed with a couple tablespoons of flour. Worked perfect. The recipe is so good that I didn’t even get any!
Ashley Fehr says
I hope you make it again so you get to try it! ๐
Sandra says
Oooops I’m from the U.S. are we allowed to enter?
Ashley Fehr says
Sorry! This giveaway is only for Canadians. Thanks for stopping by anyway!
Sandra says
No problem, maybe next time. ๐ Love the recipe!
Ashley Fehr says
Yes definitely! I often have giveaways that are open to the U.S. as well. Thanks Sandra!
Bonnie Safnuk says
Made this tonight…so yummy!!! My husband is gone out to get more ice cream, he keeps raving about it!
Ashley Fehr says
Oh yay! I’m so happy to hear that!
Sheila Russell says
Looks so good, now I want to have some
Ashley Fehr says
Thank you Sheila!
Phyllis says
Can’t wait to try it.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Phyllis!
Frank Stock says
makes me hungrey
Audrey Primavera says
looks fantastic
Ashley Fehr says
thank you!
Janet f says
Can you double the recipe for a crowd
Ashley Fehr says
Yes, definitely! But I would use a bigger slow cooker (probably 6 quart) or use 2 smaller ones
Lynn Anderson says
This is definitely one of my favorites
Ashley Fehr says
Mine too!
Debbie Marcoux says
Looks tasty!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Debbie!