Crockpot Vanilla Cake | Vegan
Dessert in a crockpot or slow cooker is a lovely thing. No need to heat up the kitchen and a fabulous dessert is warm and waiting to eat when you are ready. This Crock Pot Vanilla Cake is simply amazing!
Things I love about crockpot cakes are that they’re…
- Hearty
- Simple
- Moist
- Perfectly sweet
- Satisfying
- Perfect with hot tea
- Delicious!
Crockpot desserts
Did you know that you can make a cake in your crockpot? Yes, you can!
The first vegan crock pot cake I ever made was my Crock Pot Chocolate Lava Cake, and it has been one of the top-rated recipes on my site since it went up a couple of years ago. Evidentially, I’m not the only slow cooker cake recipe lover out there!
How to make crockpot cake
This cake is very simple to make, and I love the way it makes the whole house smell while it’s cooking.
The recipe card at the bottom of the page has the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions.
Soak the cashews for the frosting
Start by soaking the cashews for the cream sauce icing. To do this simply place the cashews in a bowl or blender and cover with water by an inch, then cover and soak at room temp for around 3 hours. If you’re in a hurry you can soak them for 15 minutes in very hot but not boiling water. Set them to the side while beginning on the cake.
Making the batter
In a large bowl, sift both flours to make the cake lighter (this is optional), then add other dry cake ingredients–sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt–and whisk together.
In a medium bowl, combine the wet cake ingredients–almond milk, maple syrup, apple sauce, vanilla, vinegar–and whisk together well.
Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and mix well. Pour into crockpot.
Making cashew frosting
Now, it’s time to make the cream icing by draining water from the soaking cashews.
Place drained cashews in a blender with other icing ingredients and blend on high for about a minute or until smooth and creamy.
Pour cashew cream over the cake batter in the crockpot.
Set the slow cooker to low and cook for approximately 3 hours. Crockpot temperatures differ, so check regularly.
Serve warm and top with a few walnuts and dairy-free chocolate chips if desired.
Tips for crockpot vanilla cake
- This cake is not gluten-free, but this link to the Minimalist Baker will help adjust it for those that want to give it a try.
- The basic recipe serves about 6-8 people, so if you are making this for a crowd, I suggest making a double-batch.
- Check out my other crockpot cake called, Chocolate Lava Cake.
More vegan dessert recipes
- Hot Fudge Cake
- No-Bake Chocolate Pie
- Heavenly Tootsie Rolls
- Best Chocolate Vegan Cupcakes
- Chocolate Vegan Cake: Sugar-Free
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Crock Pot Lava Cake
Ingredients
Crock Pot Vanilla Cake
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
- 3/4 cup sucanat or other less refined sugar or sweetener
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup vanilla almond milk
- 1/2 cup apple sauce
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Vanilla Cashew Cream Icing
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 1-3/4 cup water
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Start by soaking the cashews for the cream sauce icing. To do this simply place the cashews in a bowl or blender and cover with water by an inch, then cover and soak at room temp for around 3 hours. If you're in a hurry you can soak them for 15 minutes in very hot but not boiling water. Set them to the side while beginning on the cake.
- In a large bowl, sift both flours to make the cake lighter (this is optional), then add other dry cake ingredients--sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt--and whisk together.
- In a medium bowl, combine the wet cake ingredients--almond milk, maple syrup, apple sauce, vanilla, vinegar--and whisk together well.
- Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and mix well. Pour into crock pot.
- Now, it's time to make the cream icing by draining water from the soaking cashews.
- Place drained cashews in a blender with other icing ingredients and blend on high for about a minute or until smooth and creamy.
- Pour cashew cream over the cake batter in the crock pot.
- Set the slow cooker to low and cook for approximately 3 hours. Crockpot temperatures differ, so check regularly. Instructions for cooking on a higher setting are included in the article above.
- Serve warm and top with a few walnuts and dairy-free chocolate chips if desired.
Equipment
Video
Notes
Tips for crockpot vanilla cake
- This cake is not gluten-free, but this link to the Minimalist Baker will help adjust it for those that want to give it a try.
- The basic recipe serves about 6-8 people, so if you are making this for a crowd, I suggest making a double-batch.
- Check out my other crockpot cake called, Chocolate Lava Cake.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
About Terri Edwards
Hi guys! I am the content creator behind EatPlant-Based and a licensed Food for Life instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. I am passionate about sharing healthy recipes and tips to empower others to get healthy. I’m so glad you’re here! Read More…
Looks so delicious! Do you think I will get the same results if I bake it in the oven?
Yes, you can definitely bake this in the oven. I would suggest 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. It should be delicious either way!
@EatPlant-Based.com, when you bake it in the oven, do you put the frosting on it first like you do for the slow-cooker?
Hi Amelia- Yes, I would add the frosting before baking as well. It helps keep the cake nice and moist.
I would like to try this in my Instant Pot so would you suggest putting into another container in the IP or just right in the stainless insert? I’ll defintley let you know how it turns out.
Thanks
Good question and, to be honest, I’m not completely sure. I would think pouring it right into the IP container would be fine, but can’t say with 100% certainty. Please do let us know if you give a try.
Could you put cocoa in it to make it chocolate.
You could, but there’s a great Chocolate Lava Crockpot Cake linked in the article. It has a hot fudge topping that’s amazing!
What size of crock pot do you use?
I have a 6-quart slow cooker.
Would the recipe be ruined if I omitted the icing to avoid the sugar?
Hi Phillip- There is no sweetener in the cake at all, so it would be like a plain chocolate biscuit and not a dessert at all. I highly recommend the frosting, as it is really what makes this cake.
Do you have to grease the crockpot before you add the cake mixture to it?
Hi June- I don’t grease mine, and it only sticks a little. It’s not difficult to clean.
We have a small homestead orchard with so very many apples rolling in right now. I poured the batter for this vanilla cake over a thick bed of chopped fresh apple that I happened to have added to the bottom of the crockpot — happy to report it all turned out so gooey, fragrant and yummy…!!!
Hi Pat- Oh my! That sounds delicious! I love that you had fresh apples from your orchard and added them. I can’t think of a better combination. YUM!