3-Ingredient Slow-Cooker Pumpkin Cake
Let’s talk about ugliness.
When my students study American history, they often begin by talking about the Native Americans and the beginning of colonization. In English, we use this time to read excerpts from Christopher Columbus’s diaries. Let me tell you, in those diaries . . . there is ugliness.
For instance, he’s very proud of himself for inspiring the native inhabitants’ devotion by giving them the equivalent of cheap Mardi Gras beads. Columbus missed his calling; he should’ve made his fortune penning gift guides for a shoestring budget. He says, “As I saw that they were very friendly to us, and perceived that they could be much more easily converted to our holy faith by gentle means than by force, I presented them with some red caps, and strings of beads to wear upon the neck, and many other trifles of small value, wherewith they were much delighted, and became wonderfully attached to us.” At another point, he adds, “The natives are an inoffensive people, and so desirous to possess any thing they saw with us, that they kept swimming off to the ships with whatever they could find, and readily bartered for any article we saw fit to give them in return, even such as broken platters and fragments of glass.” He gave them broken glass.
Charming.
And how about the kidnapping bits? My students always exclaim in alarm when we read aloud, “If it please our Lord, I intend at my return to carry home six of them to your Highnesses, that they may learn our language.” Even though I’ve read the diaries, I still find myself holding out hope that the Taíno Indians are going to willingly accompany Columbus until he later notes that one of them “made his escape the night before.”
But we reach peak ugliness, perhaps, when Columbus reveals his propensity toward violence, saying, “I do not, however, see the necessity of fortifying the place, as the people here are simple in warlike matters, as your Highnesses will see by those seven which I have ordered to be taken and carried to Spain in order to learn our language and return, unless your Highnesses should choose to have them all transported to Castile, or held captive in the island. I could conquer the whole of them with fifty men, and govern them as I pleased.” His primary motive in controlling the area? The acquisition of gold, of course. Howard Zinn notes that the word GOLD occurs 75 times in the first two weeks of his diary alone.
Whew. That’s some ugliness. And that’s why I’ll skip celebrating Columbus Day tomorrow and celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead. Want to join me? We can start by learning more about the Taíno Indians (see this short video as well; thanks to my friend Jamie for these sources!)
Now for some happier ugliness — some delicious ugliness. This 3-Ingredient Slow-Cooker Pumpkin Cake is straight up HIDEOUS when it’s done. Like, it kind of looks like a mudpie. That someone walked through. And then sat on.
Ahem. Let’s just say it’ll be a bit of a shock when you stir this all together and peer into your crockpot. BUT TRUST ME. I wouldn’t post it unless it were truly delicious. It has the added benefit of being drop-dead simple — just stick three ingredients in the crockpot a couple of hours before dinner and get ready for an incredible, warm, gooey, comforting dessert! Now that’s some ugliness we can celebrate.
One year ago: No-Bake Pumpkin Spice Icebox Cake
Two years ago: Quick and Easy Sour Cream Apple Kuchen
Three years ago: “Magic” Chocolate, Coconut, and Pecan Pastry Braid
Four years ago: Pumpkin Cheesecake Stuffed Snickerdoodles
Five years ago: Homemade Croissant Phototutorial
Six years ago: Jack-o’-Lantern Whoopie Pies
- 2 (15-ounce) cans pumpkin puree
- 1 package spice cake mix
- 1 cup butter
- Put pumpkin, spice cake mix, and butter into your slow cooker in that order, kind of making sure each layer is level. Cook on high for 2 hours before opening to thoroughly mix the ingredients. Cook on high for another hour and serve in bowls topped with ice cream.
Carolyn
October 12, 2015 at 8:54 am (9 years ago)This looks like pure pumpkin heaven, Julie!
Nutmeg Nanny
October 12, 2015 at 9:40 am (9 years ago)I am not a fan of Columbus Day. There is so much skewed history it shocks me when people don’t understand the type of person Columbus truly was. Of course totally unrelated to holiday’s that should not be holiday’s this cake looks awesome 🙂
Lisa @ Healthy Nibbles & Bits
October 13, 2015 at 1:53 am (9 years ago)I remember reading Zinn’s account of Columbus’s conquest in People’s History of the U.S. during high school, and it COMPLETELY transformed my perception of early history in the Americas. I’m so glad that you’re having your students read those accounts!
Amy | Club Narwhal
October 13, 2015 at 2:20 pm (9 years ago)I’m so glad you are exposing your students to the other (more accurate) versions of history –I would have loved to have you as my teacher! And at least I can drown my sorrows in this gorgeous cake 😉
Joanna
October 14, 2015 at 6:24 pm (9 years ago)I always enjoy looking at your “four years ago” or “six years ago” recipes. Glad you’ve been sharing the recipe love for so long!
Julie Ruble
October 15, 2015 at 5:43 pm (9 years ago)Aww, thank you, Joanna! What a sweet thing to say!
PJ
October 20, 2015 at 5:05 pm (9 years ago)Sorry,we made this cake today and it was an unbaked glue mess. Inedible.
Julie Ruble
October 20, 2015 at 5:56 pm (9 years ago)Hi PJ, I’m sorry to hear that. Did you actually taste it? The texture is not like a bread cake, but more like a velvety, custardy (because of the wet pumpkin combining with the cake) bread pudding. So frankly I can see someone thinking this cake was a flop (I did myself) until they actually try it. A few bites to check it out was all it took for me!
Mel
October 28, 2015 at 9:15 pm (9 years ago)Any idea how to make this one gluten-free? It sounds awesome!
Naomi
September 24, 2016 at 9:57 pm (8 years ago)I used a gluten free vanilla cake mix and added my own pumpkin pie spices, earth balance soy butter instead of dairy butter and it turned out great!!
Gayle
November 19, 2015 at 10:51 pm (9 years ago)Hi Julie, your recipe looks really delicious. Do I melt the butter before adding it to the slow cooker?
Can’t wait to try this!
Julie Ruble
November 19, 2015 at 10:53 pm (9 years ago)Thanks! For the butter, no melting is necessary. Just stick it right in, in stick form 🙂 Enjoy, Gayle!
Jil
November 22, 2015 at 5:29 pm (9 years ago)Can’t find spice cake mix….how do you think it would be with a vanilla cake mix?
Julie Ruble
November 22, 2015 at 5:36 pm (9 years ago)I think it’d be yummy! Maybe add a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice and mix it around before cooking 🙂
Jil
November 27, 2015 at 12:58 pm (9 years ago)I’m not a fan of pumpkin…..but this was delicious!! Thanks for sharing this.
Tony
November 25, 2015 at 11:25 pm (9 years ago)Best desert ever! Thanks for the recipe. How do you store the extra?
Julie Ruble
November 25, 2015 at 11:45 pm (9 years ago)Thanks, Tony! So glad you enjoyed it! I stored my leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. Then I heated it before serving with ice cream.
Tony
November 26, 2015 at 2:17 am (9 years ago)Thank you. Happy Thanksgiving.
Ronnie Whitehead
September 29, 2016 at 1:32 pm (8 years ago)I just made this and it is awesome. I let it cool a bit and served it with Cool Whip. I used yellow cake mix and added spices cinnamon, cloves, an nutmeg. I have already shared the ease and great taste of this recipe with others. Next time I think I will add a few raisins and pecans the last 15 minutes.
Julie Ruble
September 29, 2016 at 2:11 pm (8 years ago)So glad to hear that, Ronnie! Raisins and pecans sound like a delicious addition!
Debbie Clevenger
October 6, 2016 at 2:47 am (8 years ago)When adding the cake do you just add it in dry?
Julie Ruble
October 6, 2016 at 3:27 am (8 years ago)Yes, you just add the cake mix in dry. Enjoy!
Debbie Clevenger
October 6, 2016 at 3:47 pm (8 years ago)Thanks
Lauren
November 18, 2018 at 8:37 pm (6 years ago)Have you tried doubling the recipe? Just wondering if you extend cook time. Made tonight for the suggested size and would love to double it.
Thanks
Julie Ruble
November 21, 2018 at 2:57 am (6 years ago)I haven’t tried it so I’m not sure! I assume you would need to since it’d be deeper. If you try it, let me know how it goes!
Ann
November 5, 2020 at 9:24 am (4 years ago)What size crock pot do you need for this recipe?