23 Impressive Holiday Desserts You Can Make in a Slow Cooker
StyleCaster Editors
If you love frosted cookies and Christmas cakes, slow-cooker holiday desserts may not seem like the best idea. I mean, if there’s any time to go all-out on fancy dessert, it’s the holidays. Decorating Christmas cookies, putting together a gingerbread house, and soaking fruitcake with rum are all super festive ways to spend an evening—not to mention, they tend to yield delicious results.
That said, there comes a point when you can’t bear to roll out another ball of sugar cookie dough, or pipe another line of frosting. When that point hits, you’re going to want to have these slow-cooker holiday recipes bookmarked and ready to go.
Whether you love rich chocolate cake or see yourself as more of a fruit crisp person, there’s something here for you. All of the recipes are guaranteed easy and delicious, and can be made ahead of time for stress-free holiday party prep.
So, what are you waiting for? Add one (or all) of these slow-cooker holiday desserts to your December to-do list.
Eggnog Hot Chocolate
The only way to make this eggnog hot chocolate better is to add a generous pour of whiskey.
Chocolate Lava Cake
A chocolate lava cake might make people happy any time of year—but it makes for a particularly perfect easy holiday dessert.
Gingerbread Pudding
Christmas pudding may be iffy, but gingerbread pudding is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. This one comes out perfectly textured, thanks to being gently slow-cooked.
Sticky Toffee Pudding
If sticky toffee pudding isn’t already a holiday tradition in your household, now is a great time to start that up.
Pecan Christmas Fudge
Make a batch of pecan Christmas fudge for a post-dinner treat, or give it out as an easy, tasty, inexpensive hostess gift.
Apple Crisp
Seize the end of apple season with this healthy-ish—but still absolutely sweet and yummy—apple crisp.
Hot Fudge Turtle Brownies
These hot fudge turtle brownies are so gooey they’re almost pudding!
Boozy Salted Caramel Fudge
Want an easy make-ahead option that will obviously pair well with after-dinner drinks? Boozy salted caramel fudge is the answer.
Caramel Cake
You really can’t go wrong with a sweet classic like caramel cake.
Apple-Walnut Bread Pudding
This apple-walnut bread pudding comes out super fancy, and is a great way to use up any days-old bread you have lying around.
Bailey’s Hot Chocolate
This extra chocolatey hot chocolate makes a great nightcap, but it also works mid-afternoon.
Snowman Poop
What’s snowman poop? It’s a little like puppy chow, but made with Cheerios, almond bark, and cake mix.
Candied Cinnamon Pecans
It’s up to you whether to designate these sweet, spiced pecans as dessert or a snack.
Candy Cane White Hot Chocolate
Candy canes are fun to eat, but they’re even more fun to drink! Melt them into this slow-cooker hot chocolate, and you have a real winner on your hands.
Peanut Clusters
These little peanut clusters are the perfect addition to a dessert table full of cakes and pies.
Christmas Cake
Love it or hate it, Christmas cake is steeped in tradition. Now, you can make one in the slow-cooker.
Christmas Candy
These Christmas candy peanut clusters are made with two kinds of chocolate, and decorated with a healthy amount of holiday sprinkles.
Pecan Turtles
These pecan turtles are a snackable addition to your dessert table. They also make great DIY gifts.
Creme Brûlée
You’ll need a brûlée torch to finish off these beauties, but everything else about these simple, individual creme brûlée happens in the slow cooker.
4-Ingredient Coconut Cake
I don’t know if coconut cake is a part of your holiday tradition, but it’s definitely a part of mine.
Salty-Sweet Candy
Peanuts and pretzels give this Christmas candy a salty kick.
Baked Apples
A buttery, sugar-filled oat topping turns baked apples into a full-on holiday treat.
Cranberry and Vanilla Steamed Pudding
Finish on a lighter note with this cranberry and vanilla steamed pudding, which is perfectly dense and gets a bit of tang from the fruity topping.
