Sunday 3/28/10 - Slow-Cooker Chocolate Pudding Cake

I found this recipe on the kraft foods website @ http://www.kraftfoods.com/ .  It sounded good AND easy to make (which is always a plus for me nowadays).   I've never made a cake in a crockpot before so again, I thought, "What the heck?"  I'll live life on the edge and be a rebel...lol.   I like the idea of putting whatever you're making somewhere and forgetting about it for a few hours.  Then...VOILA!  It's done...like majic!  It's like someone made dinner for you.  That's always the best!


My list of characters:

1 package (3.9 oz) Jell-o Chocolate Instant Pudding

3 cups cold milk

1 package (2-layer size) chocolate fudge cake mix

2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping

Place pudding mix in a 3 1/2 or 4 1/2 quart slow cooker sprayed with cooking spray. Add milk,

Pudding mix

Beat with whisk for 2 minutes

This is one of things I had to deal with the whole dang day.  He only wants me to hold him when I'm doing something.  I think he wants to see what I'm doing.  Only thing is...it's hard to hold a 19 month old that weighs roughly 30 lbs AND cook too. 

This was one of the other things I had going on...(please excuse the mess on my table.  This is where my kids' toys go when I tell them to pick them up off the floor.  Maybe I need to be more specific?)  My kids always act up when I'm trying to do something.  This is why nothing gets done at my house. 

Prepare cake batter as directed on package. Carefully pour batter over pudding in slow cooker. (DO NOT STIR)  Cover.

Cake batter over pudding

Cook on HIGH 2 1/2 to 3 hours or until toothpick inserted in cake comes out clean (it took mine 3 1/2 hours to cook).  Turn off heat.

1 hour into cooking time. 

While my cake was cookin' I had to feed my children.  I didn't want 'em to starve.

They both are REALLY into Ranch dressing.  This one more so than the other one. (Notice my dog, Lucy, in the background?  She's waiting for "someone" to start dropping their lunch on the floor.  I give ya one guess as to who it is.  One hint:  They're not in the picture).

After turning heat off, let stand, covered, 20-30 minutes or until pudding is thickened. 

Serve topped with COOL WHIP.  You could also top with: nuts, coconut, chocolate chips or crushed peppermint candies.

The only thing I have to say about this recipe is that the pudding didn't thicken up as much as I thought it should've.  I let it sit for over an hour even.  It still tasted fine, but I was expecting a thicker pudding.   I give it 3 out of 5 stars.