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Just about any cake can be made in the slow cooker, but this slow cooker caramel cake is delightful! A box cake mix is transformed with the addition of gobs of caramel.
We love serving warm cakes out of the slow cooker; also, try our slow cooker lemon spoon cake, slow cooker apple dump cake, or slow cooker chocolate lava cake.
Table of Contents
When I think of caramel cake, I instantly think of the southern version, which is a yellow cake with layers of thick caramel frosting. This slow cooker caramel cake has similar flavors but is MUCH MUCH EASIER!
The cake is meant to be served warm, with ice cream. I add a touch of salt to cut back on the sweetness of this recipe. If you are having guests over or going to a potluck, your guests will enjoy this and for sure ask for the recipe. Another warm dessert we love is slow cooker sticky buns.
Recipe Ingredients
- Yellow Cake Mix: I use Betty Crocker yellow cake mix for it goes best with the caramel sauce.
- Other Cake Ingredients: The usual suspects: eggs, oil, and water.
- Caramel: I use Ghirardelli caramel, which I find in the ice cream topping section of the grocery store. (or try my slow cooker caramel sauce).
- Salt: This helps even out the sweetness in the cake.
- {The full recipe is in the recipe card below the photos}
Variations
Caramel: Instead of regular caramel, you can use salted caramel OR butterscotch sauce. Both are found in the same section of the grocery store.
Oil: Melted salted butter can be used instead of oil.
Cake mix: For a completely different recipe, you can use chocolate cake mix or spice cake mix. Both are wonderful with caramel.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step One: Add the cake mix ingredients to a bowl; the yellow cake mix, eggs, oil, water and salt. Add the caramel as well and mix. No need to overmix, it is ok to have some lumps when using a cake mix from a box.
Step Two: Spray the slow cooker with non-stick spray. Pour in the batter.
Step Three: Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 2 hours or until the cake is set in the middle.
Step Four: When the cooking time is done, turn off the slow cooker. Drizzle over the remaining caramel.
How to serve:
- Serve the cake warm, right out of the slow cooker. Top with creamy vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or cool whip.
- The cake can be refrigerated and has an entirely different texture (the leftovers are JUST as good).
- To add texture to the dessert, consider adding heath bar bits, or pecans on top of each serving.
Cakes like this can be left on the counter for about a day. But will last much longer in the fridge (about 3 days).
I rarely do this for desserts. Why? The droplets are minimal and add moisture to the cake while it cooks.
Yes, instead of spraying with non-stick cooking spray, you can line the slow cooker with foil or parchment.
More Crockpot Dessert Recipes:
- Slow Cooker Brownies
- Slow Cooker Pumpkin Pie
- Slow Cooker Birthday Cake
- Slow Cooker Rice Pudding
- Slow Cooker Key Lime Cake
Slow Cooker Caramel Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
- 13.25 oz. yellow cake mix
- 1 cup water
- 3 large eggs
- ⅓ cup oil
- 3 Tbsp. caramel, (such as Ghirardelli)
- 2 pinches salt
For topping:
- ¼ cup caramel, (or more)
For serving:
- ice cream
Instructions
- In a large bowl add the cake ingredients, stir until smooth, no need to get all the lumps out.
- Spray the slow cooker with non-stick spray and pour in the batter.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on HIGH For 2 hours or until the cake is done in the middle. It's best not to open the lid during the cooking time.
- When the cooking time is up, turn off the slow cooker and pour over the remaining caramel. Serve warm with ice cream and enjoy!
Sarah’s Notes
- Instead of spraying with non-stick cooking spray, you can line the slow cooker with foil or parchment.
- Nutritional values do not include ice cream or whipped cream.
- Cakes like this can be left on the counter for about a day. But last much longer in the fridge (about 3 days).
- Caramel: Instead of regular caramel, you can use salted caramel OR butterscotch sauce. Both are found in the same section of the grocery store.
- Oil: Melted salted butter can be used instead of oil.
- Cake mix: For a different recipe completely, you can use a chocolate cake mix or spice cake mix! Both are wonderful with caramel.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Sarah. Love your recipes ! Can I make this cake using sugar free cake mix and sugar free caramel ? My wife is diabetic.
Yes, that will work just fine. Just follow the eggs/oil/water instructions on that box.
We really enjoyed this– it is so moist. My family has requested we make it again this weekend!
I’m so happy to hear that, we really love this cake too.