Crock Pot Cooking: Chocolate Lava Cake

First off I'm super excited to announce that my camera should be ready to pick up tomorrow! It's been two long, painful months without it. Our little point+shoot just isn't cutting it in the kitchen, not that I claim to be a food photographer by any means, but it sure is easier when you have the option of interchangeable lenses!

Anyway on to the chocolate!

This recipe probably falls within my top 10 Pinterest finds. It's super easy to make and is absolutely delicious. And I owe this great find to Holly from Life as a Lofthouse.  Her blog is chock full of wonderful recipes, so go check her out and be sure to like her blog on Facebook as well. Oh and here's the link to her original post of the recipe: Crock Pot Chocolate Lava Cake.

So here's what you start out with:

Flour, cocoa powder, butter, baking soda, brown sugar, salt, milk and boiling water - 

(which was on the stove when I took this picture).

Take all your dry ingredients and mix them together in a large bowl. Then add in milk, melted butter and vanilla. Mix well then spread  the batter over the bottom of a large crock pot.You may think the crock pot is too big, but trust me - it rises. A lot.  By the time this was done cooking, it was right at the rim.

Once it's in the crock pot, mix together brown sugar & cocoa powder and sprinkle it over the top of the batter (do not stir in).  Then pour boiling water on top - and do NOT stir. Just let it work it's magic. 

Cover your crock pot and let it cook for about 2 to 2 1/2 hours on high.

Once it's done cooking, and has had time to cool a bit (20ish minutes), go ahead and give yourself a good heaping. And trust me, as good as your kitchen is going to smell by this point, you're going to want to gorge on this stuff.

Crock Pot Chocolate Lava Cake

Cake batter:

2 Cups Brown Sugar

2 Cups Flour

6 Tbs. Cocoa Powder

4 Tsp. Baking Powder

1 Tsp Salt

1 Cup Milk

4 Tbs Melted Butter

1 Tsp Vanilla Extract 

Topping:

1 1/2 Cups Brown Sugar

1/2 Cup Cocoa Powder

3 Cups Boiling Water

For the cake: mix together all the dry ingredients (flour, brown sugar, cocoa, baking powder and salt). Then add in the wet ingredients and stir until it's mixed. Then pour the batter into a large crock pot.

For the topping: mix the brown sugar and cocoa powder and sprinkle it over the batter. Then pour in the boiling water. Remember - don't stir! Cover and cook on high for 2 to 2 1/2 hours. When it looks done, remove the lid and let it rest for 20+ minutes. The lava part is going to be super hot!

Enjoy the cake!

-Shasta