(This post is sponsored by Crock-Pot®. All opinions are my own!) Oh, fall! My favorite season! Beautiful foliage, pumpkin spice lattes, apple picking, sweaters, boots and the wonderful smell of something baking in the oven. It is also the time of year when your oven’s real estate is at a premium. Want to bake a cake? Ha! Get in line. The turkey and the roasted potatoes got here before you! Except… what about my slow cooker? Could I… bake in this thing? I won’t deny it: I was skeptical! But the results were so incredible that I’ve been making this cake in the slow cooker even when my oven is free. Yes, you will have to wait longer to enjoy your cake. But you also don’t need to stay home babysitting it. Go enjoy a crispy autumn walk and come back to a rewarding slice of pumpkin coffee cake!
Can I bake in my Crock-Pot slow cooker?
We all know that the slow cooker is the ultimate appliance for people who love convenience! And who doesn’t love a hearty stew or soup that cooked for 8 hours and filled your home with joyful smells? But can we bake in it? Bread? Cake? Cinnamon Rolls? As stated above, yes, you can! It is a great asset to have for when everybody is competing for oven space, but also helpful in the summer, as it will produce baked goods without heating up your kitchen! I’ve been using my Crock-Pot® 6-Quart Programmable Cook & Carry™ Slow Cooker to bake and make desserts a lot lately! I’ve made flan, cheesecake and coffee cakes. Next up, I’m thinking of trying to make bread. I love that it is not only large but also portable! It has a locking lid that helps you carry it to your final destination without making a mess. Plus, the removable oval stoneware can double as a serving dish! If you’re looking to buy a slow cooker, I highly recommend this one!
Ingredients for Pumpkin Coffee Cake
Pumpkin puree Pumpkin spice Sugar Vegetable oil Eggs Salt All-purpose flour Baking powder
Ingredients for Pecan Streusel
Brown sugar Flour Cinnamon Salt Cold butter Pecans
Ingredients for Maple Glaze
Powdered sugar Cinnamon Maple syrup
How to make Pumpkin Coffee Cake in the Slow Cooker
Ready to make this ridiculously easy coffee cake? Don’t be intimidated by the number of steps! They are all very simple and foolproof. And, remember, if push comes to shove, you can always just make the cake and omit the streusel topping and the glaze. Just kidding! Why would you do that? The streusel and the glaze take this cake to a whole new level!
Tips and tricks to successfully bake in your slow cooker
Choose the best size and shape slow cooker for baking. For cakes, I find that the 6-quart models are the best option! If you’re planning on baking straight in the slow cooker – like I did with this cake – an oval slow cooker is the way to go. However, if you want to be able to fit a (1 or 2-quart) round baking dish, then you should consider a round model. Some slow cookers heat unevenly. That is usually not a problem for dishes like soups and stews, but can be an issue when you are baking! Once you’ve baked in your slow cooker, you will get to know it better. If you find that one side always gets darker than the rest of the cake, just rotate the insert halfway through the baking time. I like to line my slow cooker with parchment paper, with a little overhang up over the sides, to make it easier to lift the cake out when done. Once you’re ready to bake, cover but let the lid slightly ajar. Doing this allows condensation to escape instead of dripping on your cake. If doing that doesn’t work, you can also loosely cover the top of the cake with a piece of parchment paper to catch any drips. Do not open the lid until you’re ready to check for doneness. Allow the cake to cool in the slow cooker for at least 10 minutes. Then, use the parchment paper to lift it and transfer to a cooling rack to continue cooling.
Can I bake Pumpkin Coffee Cake on low?
Unfortunately, that won’t work. It’d be great to be able to prepare it the night before and wake up to freshly baked coffee cake, wouldn’t it? But it would take a long time to bake, resulting in a dry cake.
How long does coffee cake last?
Coffee cake can be stored in an airtight container, at room temperature, for up to 2 days. If you don’t plan on eating it all within this timeframe, you can refrigerate it for up to one week.
Can you freeze coffee cake?
Yes. To freeze, wrap it tightly with foil or plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag or airtight container. It will keep well for up to 3 months.
Looking for more pumpkin recipes?
Pumpkin Spice Hot ChocolatePumpkin ChiliPumpkin French ToastPumpkin PiePumpkin Mac & CheeseSlow Cooker Pumpkin Spiced CiderPumpkin Coconut CompotePumpkin Spice WafflesPumpkin SoupPumpkin BrigadeirosPumpkin Coconut Ice Cream
This recipe was tested in a 6-quart oval slow cooker.Keeping the lid slightly ajar allows the condensation to escape instead of dripping on the cake. You can also set a loose parchment paper piece on top of the cake to catch any drips. However, if your cake still ends up a little damp on some parts, don’t worry! The glaze will hide it all!Leftovers will keep well, if stored in an airtight container, at room temperature for up to 2 days. You can also refrigerate for up to a week or freeze for up to 3 months.
