Christina Tosi’s Crockpot Cake Recipe (2024)

Ratings

4

out of 5

1,398

user ratings

Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Note on this recipe and see it here.

Cooking Notes

Claudia

Baked in the oven at 300degrees, in a 9" springform, for 75 minutes. Greased the pan w/butter, lined the bottom with parchament paper, and buttered the paper. Actually, since I wasn't sure what temp to try, I started it at 350, reduced it to 325 for maybe 15 minutes until I just trusted my gut and lowered it to 300. I didn't want the top to brown too quickly, and the cake is sorta tall (which is why I couldn't use standard height cake pans). Next time I'll just start @ 300 and bake til done.

nell

How does one invert a cake out of an insert in a slow cooker? Seems like it would break up on inversion.

Claudia

Thanks for suggesting this. I tried it and it works. 9" springform, 300 degrees, 75+ minutes. I made more detailed notes above. I loved the crumb and tight texture of this cake, and there's such a lovely tang to it. It's simply delicious.

Norma

My guests loved this cake, especially when it was warm, just out of the slow cooker. I thought it was too sweet. When I make this again I plan to cut the sugar down by at least 1/4 cup.

Karen DeLaria

Claudia is right on. Did the cake in a springform pan, cooked @300F for 75 minutes. Perfect. My husband called it a keeper recipe.

David

No, no, a thousand times, no. I have tried this cake twice, following the directions to the letter, and both times the cake was burned on the outside and nearly raw on the inside.

Take the time to use a real recipe with a real oven, and leave the crock pot for meat dishes.

Marc.

this is supposed to be easy???
NOT

Liz

I wanted to try this because baking in the summer can make the kitchen too hot, so cooking a cake in a crock pot seemed like a good trick. But the recipe didn't work well for me. I cooked the cake for 4 hours on low, then one on high, then two more on low, and I still had a liquidy middle. It tasted okay, sort of like a very very sweet pudding cake, but it wasn't worth the trouble. Even the three sweet-toothed children weren't convinced. Glad I tried it, though!

Julia P.

After reading all the comments, I took the risk and attempted cooking the batter in a rice cooker. Left it to cook for roughly 1 hr 30 mins and it was cooked almost perfectly (a little over-cooked at the bottom).

I would try this recipe again and take it out a little before.

pam

This is ridiculous. It's a simple cake like so many others that would take maybe an hour in the oven and require little attention and few manipulations. Curious how much energy an hour in the oven uses as opposed to 5 hours in a crockpot.

ET

I took another commenter's suggestion and rotated my Crockpot liner several times throughout the five hours it took my cake to cook. Even so, one spot got awfully dark. Should have timed the rotations and been careful to do just a quarter turn each time. Delicious cake anyway, served hot with a spoon straight out of the Crockpot. My British husband's face lit up - he thought it was a treacle sponge.

Melinda

I wanted to like this cake so I wouldn't need to turn on the oven, HOWEVER, it's not good. The slow cooker was fine. The batter was fine. It's just too sweet and greasy. It's not a good cake.

DBW

Not thrilled with the results. Definitely a burned taste on bottom which I carefully scraped off. Was nervous about the uncertainty of when to remove it. Ultimately I served it to college students with some "homemade" dulce de leche (via the crockpot!) and they were delighted. Wouldn't try again.

Paul

Sorry, this recipe is a parlor trick unless you don't have an oven and absolutely must have a cake to serve. It's so much more uncertain in outome that simply baking a cake as usual.

ET

This cake is no more calorically dense than others; the suggested serving size is just bigger (six servings vs. 10 or even 12 in other cake recipes on this site). If you don't want to eat all the calories, eat a smaller slice.

Lynn

First bust from a NYT recipe. Need to give us specific info on what kind of crock pot to use. After 6 hours, mine was still mush in the center. Taste would be good, will try again with suggestions from others using springform.

Nancy

I'm curious: as crockpots vary from maker to maker, which one does she use? A high end, overly pricey one or your simple, everyday actual Crock Pot? I get it she does this for a living however it would be nice to have an insider's knowledge.

EB

Sorry to hear that so many people had bad experiences with this cake, I like it myself. I love not having to turn the oven on in the summer, and it's an easy cake for my toddler to help make with me. We add berries on top if we have them.

Kara

Baked in 10in spring form pan buttered and sugared. Reduced white sugar by 1/4 cup. A bit lackluster on its own but serve warm with homemade whipped cream, 5/5!

tracy chase

We thought we had screwed up! But we added all ingredients to the blender and blitzed it and poured it into the pan. It was amazing light and fluffy! This happened purely by chance! Amazing fluffy and tasty! Highly recommend.

Chickenfog

I think I've figured out the "this is still wet after 5 hours" problem: There is way too much batter. I made this by cutting the recipe in half and it cooked OK. There were some burnt edges but I think that's on me bc I started it on high for about 30 mins. Too much batter, cut it in half!

ldp

Meh. It's a novel idea to "bake" in the crockpot. Why take 4 hours what can be done in an hour? It's a dense cake, moist and crumbly at the same time. So far not a fan of Tosi's cake recipes (I have her cookbook). Though interested to see if her other crockpot cakes are better. Helpful hint: line the bottom of the crockpot with parchment paper, leave 2 sides with "handles" so you can lift the cake out. You still get cake in the end, so it's not a complete waste of time.

##oneluckymom

The bomb. Use oven at 375 for 45 minutes, cut sugar by 1/4 cup. See comments for help.

Walter

Even after six hours, about a third of the cake was raw. However the cooked part is absolutely delicious.

Ethel Deitz

So you can put dairy in the slow cooker like milk?

Denise

I made the serious error of reading the notes below after the epic fail cake batter soup was already down the garbage disposal.

Claire

Bake it in an oven (350F) and call it good. I think it’s silly to spend 6 hours baking this cake in an instant pot on slow cook mode. I put half the batter in the instant pot and half the batter was baked in the oven (350F for 25 mins). The oven version was very tasty but overly sweet. I’m still waiting, 6 hours later, for the other half to be cooked.I think the cake is too sweet so if I ever make this again, I’ll cut the sugar by ¼ c.

Kate G

Flavor is fantastic, but it didn’t set in my slow-cooker. Will try again in a springform!

sarah

Without AC in our house it is too hot to turn on the oven, so that is why I wanted to try this recipe. I used an Insta pot on the slow cooker function. The taste was delicious, but the top didn’t cook, and the bottom burned when I kept extending the time. So we just ate the middle but it was really good warm! Next time I might open the vent to see if that helps… or try the cake setting.

Pam O

I made this cake twice. It was an epic fail the first time. I used my instant pot on the slow cookers setting. After 7 hours I had cake soup. It was an extremely humid day so I wonder if that contributed to the problem. I did it a second time in an actual crock pot. It took 6 hours. Turned out. Tastes ok.

Private notes are only visible to you.

Christina Tosi’s Crockpot Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to bake a cake without an oven? ›

Baking a Cake Without an Oven: Step-by-Step

Add a small amount of water to a pot, bring it to a boil, and place a steamer basket on top of the pot. Set the cake pan into the steamer basket and cover the pot with parchment paper and a lid. Cook the cake over medium heat for 25-30 minutes.

How to bake a cake 6 steps? ›

How to Bake a Cake
  1. Step 1: Prepare Baking Pans. ...
  2. Step 2: Allow Ingredients to Reach Room Temperature. ...
  3. Step 3: Preheat the Oven. ...
  4. Step 4: Stir Together Dry Ingredients. ...
  5. Step 5: Combine the Butter and Sugar. ...
  6. Step 6: Add Eggs One at a Time. ...
  7. Step 7: Alternate Adding Dry and Wet Ingredients. ...
  8. Step 8: Pour Batter into Pans and Bake.
Jun 3, 2024

How to bake a cake in 7 steps? ›

How To Bake a Cake in 7 Easy Steps
  1. Prepare the pan. Start by turning on your oven and setting it to preheat to 350°F. ...
  2. Cream the butter and sugar. ...
  3. Combine dry ingredients. ...
  4. Combine ingredients. ...
  5. Add batter to pan. ...
  6. Bake the cake. ...
  7. Cool and frost.
Jan 20, 2023

What are the two ways to bake without an oven? ›

If the oven isn't an option, you can use your cooktop to help you prepare meals. Using appropriate cookware suitable for stovetop cooking, such as a cast-iron skillet, dutch oven or something similar, you can get oven-like results for dishes like lasagnas, casseroles and even baked items.

How did people bake cakes without ovens? ›

On the other hand, some households do not have ovens. Consequently, if for some reason you feel the need to bake a cake without an oven, you may do so in your pressure cooker. Yes! In only a few minutes, a pressure cooker may be used to bake a delicious cake.

What are the 7 rules for baking perfect cake? ›

Seven rules for baking a perfect cake
  1. Always grease the pan and line with parchment. It's insurance that your cake will slide out cleanly after cooling.
  2. Allow the oven to fully preheat first. ...
  3. Bake in the centre of the oven (unless otherwise specified) ...
  4. Bake in the size of pan specified. ...
  5. No substitutions.
May 16, 2023

How to make a box cake taste homemade? ›

8 Simple Tips and Tricks to Make Box Cake Better
  1. Use Room Temperature Ingredients. ...
  2. Replace Water with Milk or Buttermilk. ...
  3. Substitute Sour Cream in the Mix. ...
  4. Substitute Oil for Butter. ...
  5. Use More Eggs. ...
  6. Add Vanilla Extract. ...
  7. Make It a Chocolate Lovers' Cake. ...
  8. Decorate Your Cake Like A Pro.

What is the best temperature to bake a cake? ›

The most ideal and considered temperature for baking a cake is 180 degree celsius {350 F} and the time ranging from 30- 40 mins. You should lower down the temperature to 160–170 degrees and increase the time accordingly for a flat topped cake. However the temperature and time depends on the type of oven you are using.

What is the best oven mode for baking cakes? ›

3. Top/Bottom Heating. Top/Bottom heating is the most effective setting to use when you are baking or roasting on a single level. The heat is emitted evenly from above and below, making it ideal for baking cakes.

Why do you put water in the oven when baking a cake? ›

It provides moisture.

The steam from the water bath creates a moist environment inside the oven. This is important for delicate bakes like cheesecakes, souffles, terrines, and chiffon cakes. Without added moisture, the surface tends to dry out while the inside is still expanding, which leads to unsightly cracks.

What can I use instead of an oven to bake a cake? ›

Slow Cooker

While they are commonly used for casseroles, stews and the like, slow cookers are also great for baking a wide variety of breads and delicious desserts: from cakes, puddings and pies to brownies, cookies and crumbles.

Can you bake a cake in an oven pan? ›

Grease the half-sheet pan and line it with parchment. Pour in the batter, spread it into an even layer using your offset spatula, then bake as directed in the recipe. I always start checking at least 10 minutes before the bake time listed in the recipe, since the cake tends to be thinner and bake more quickly.

Is cake baked in microwave or oven? ›

Yes, you heard that right! Microwave oven, a kitchen essential for short and handy cooking, can also function as a tool for baking cakes and other goodies. However, it is always better to use a microwave-safe glass cookware like a mug or bowl to bake a cake in a microwave.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Laurine Ryan

Last Updated:

Views: 5944

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (77 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Laurine Ryan

Birthday: 1994-12-23

Address: Suite 751 871 Lissette Throughway, West Kittie, NH 41603

Phone: +2366831109631

Job: Sales Producer

Hobby: Creative writing, Motor sports, Do it yourself, Skateboarding, Coffee roasting, Calligraphy, Stand-up comedy

Introduction: My name is Laurine Ryan, I am a adorable, fair, graceful, spotless, gorgeous, homely, cooperative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.