The holidays are coming, the holidays are coming! Do you know what this means? The people are coming! YIKES!! Must clean the house, buy the presents, wrap the presents, buy the groceries, do the cooking, find some time for family, parties and friends. Good grief, the list goes on and on and on.
From parties to host, decorating to do, and gifts to wrap, the stress level at this time of year is at an all time high. The key to survival? I’ve learned to delegate some of the little jobs and use a few little tricks to make Mama’s life a little easier. I take advantage of the charity wrapping stations at the mall. This allows me to pay it forward and get the gifts wrapped all at the same time. Kiddos need extra funds to buy gifts and I need the house cleaned? Extra chores for extra dollars. Problem solved! And this sweet little trick. When I have company popping over for dinner or a late night coffee and don’t know what to serve for dessert, I break out the slow cooker and mix up a sinful dessert in a snap! You set it and forget it.
Holiday entertaining can be a breeze!
You will need: A Hamilton Beach 8 Quart Slow Cooker. Isn’t she pretty?
This Product has all kinds of wonderful features:
Perfect for large meals
Dishwasher safe stoneware & glass lid
Keep warm, low & high settings
Full-grip handles
Perfect size for 6 lb. roast or 8 lb. chicken
Metallic red
And with a price point of only $59.99 maybe Santa should pick one up for someone you know!
Now get ready, because I’m about to tell you the secret of how to use this Slow Cooker to make a cake that will knock your socks off. Here’s my fool proof way to get a dessert ready on the fly and wow your guests in a very big way. Just don’t tell them how darn easy it is.
Introducing the Sinful Slow Cooker Chocolate Pudding Cake
Ingredients
- 1 package devil’s food chocolate cake mix
- 1-2/3 cups water
- 3 large eggs
- 1/3 cup canola oil
- 2 cups cold skim or 2% milk
- 1 package (113 g ) instant chocolate pudding mix
- 1 and 1/2cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup of mini M&Ms
Directions
- In a large bowl combine ; cake mix, water, eggs and oil. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds.
- Beat on medium for 2 minutes. Transfer to a greased slow cooker. I have used both Pam and butter to grease the inside of the slow cooker and actually prefer the butter.
- In a second bowl; whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until it begins to set.
- Spoon pudding mix over cake batter. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and top with Mini M&Ms
- Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours or until a toothpick inserted in cake portion comes out almost clean.
- I suggest cooking on high for 2 hours and then letting sit with heat turned off for the last hour.
Finally; scoop out the warm and yummy cake with a giant spoon and enjoy.
Adding extra M&M’s optional, but clearly a yummy idea.
Yield: 12 – 16 generous and rich servings.
Adapted from a recipe Originally published as Slow Cooker Chocolate Lava Cake in Taste of Home December/January 2013.
Now thanks to the generous people of Hamilton Beach, one lucky reader of How To Survive Life In The Suburbs will have the chance to start 2016 off right! I have one Red Metallic 8 Quart Slow Cooker to give away! Please comment below telling me if you won, what the very first thing you would whip up in your gorgeous 8 Quart Slow Cooker? I can’t wait to hear about it! Then enter using the Rafflecopter form provided. Contest is open to Canada only, closes December 22nd. Please note this prize will not arrive until the New Year.
If you’re looking for some other fabulous ideas for breakfast or beyond, be sure to follow Hamilton Beach on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and their brand new blog www.everydaygoodthinking.ca
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Hamilton Beach Canada. In exchange this review, I have received special perks in the form of products and compensation. All opinions on this blog are my own.
A beef stew or chili.
I would make ribs..I heard you can cook ribs in a slow cooker!
I would make Buffalo Chicken Soup.
I never owned slow cooker yet, but heard that lasagna tastes awesome in a slow cooker. I would definitely make lasagna first
If I won it I would ask my Dad what he would like me to make for him! My guess is a moose roast!
Chicken in tomato sauce with vegetables.
I would make chicken stew if I won.
I would make some beef stew with this!
If I won I would be making the recipe you shared….OMG that looks good!
I would make beef stew.
I would make a big batch of beef chili first
I would make vegetarian chili first!
I would make a beef roast with carrots and potatoes.
I would make a beef stew
I would make Thai chicken thighs. And definitely try this cake for dessert.