Gooey Slow Cooker Caramel Blondies: Your New Favorite Effortless Dessert

Prepare to fall in love with these Gooey Slow Cooker Caramel Blondies. These aren’t just any blondies; they are extraordinarily soft, incredibly rich, and slow-cooked to create an irresistible, luscious caramel sauce right within the pot. The result? A truly killer dessert that demands minimal effort, perfect for impressing guests or simply treating yourself and your loved ones.

The Unsung Hero of the Kitchen: My Slow Cooker Revelation

For a considerable period, I was a slow adopter when it came to fully embracing the slow cooker. It sat in my cupboard, occasionally making an appearance, but it wasn’t the workhorse it is today. However, something shifted in the last few years. I truly began to understand and appreciate its incredible utility, transforming it from an optional gadget into an indispensable cornerstone of my kitchen routine. Now, my slow cooker makes a regular appearance several times a month, often stepping in as my go-to solution on hectic Sundays when finding time to craft a full dinner feels like an impossible feat. It’s a lifesaver, consistently delivering delicious, hot meals with a fraction of the hands-on time.

The beauty of slow cooking lies in its simplicity and the profound flavors it coaxes from ingredients. The low, consistent heat works its magic over hours, tenderizing meats, melding spices, and allowing aromas to develop fully. It frees up your precious time, letting you focus on other tasks, whether it’s spending quality moments with family, tackling chores, or simply relaxing, all while a delicious meal or, as you’ll soon discover, a spectacular dessert, is quietly simmering to perfection. This hands-off approach to cooking is truly a game-changer for anyone navigating a busy modern lifestyle.

A Quest for Culinary Inspiration: Diving Into Slow Cooker Cookbooks

Naturally, given my burgeoning enthusiasm for this appliance, I’ve developed a keen interest in collecting every slow cooker cookbook I can get my hands on. There’s an endless stream of inspiration to be found within their pages, offering fresh perspectives and exciting new recipes to try. A cookbook solely dedicated to slow-cooked meals is a promise of innovation and convenience, and I’m always eager to discover new ways to utilize my beloved kitchen tool.

Spotlight On: “Easy Everyday Slow Cooker Recipes” by Donna-Marie Pye

My latest culinary discovery, and the source of today’s featured dessert, is “Easy Everyday Slow Cooker Recipes” by Donna-Marie Pye. This remarkable cookbook truly stands out among the many I’ve encountered, boasting an impressive collection of 200 diverse slow cooker recipes. What captivates me most about this particular volume is its exceptional versatility and thoughtful approach to everyday cooking. It’s not just another recipe book; it’s a comprehensive guide designed to simplify your meal preparation and expand your culinary horizons.

Beyond the customary slow cooker staples like comforting soups, hearty stews, and zesty chilis, this book offers a wide spectrum of main course options utilizing various proteins, including chicken, succulent beef, tender pork, rich lamb, and delicate veal. But the innovation doesn’t stop with main dishes. Donna-Marie Pye has ingeniously organized chapters to address various household needs: “big-batch dinners for a crowd” ensures you’re prepared for entertaining or extensive meal prep, “cooking for two” perfectly caters to smaller households, and “double-duty dinners” provides smart strategies for transforming one meal into another. This level of adaptability makes the book an invaluable resource, offering a perfect slow cooker recipe for virtually any occasion, whether it’s a quiet weeknight, a family celebration, or a cozy evening in.

Furthermore, one aspect that truly delighted me was the inclusion of a substantial dessert chapter. Many slow cooker cookbooks tend to overlook the sweet side of slow cooking, making this section a welcome and delicious surprise. It’s wonderful to see the slow cooker’s potential extended to creating indulgent treats, and this chapter alone makes the cookbook a must-have for anyone with a sweet tooth looking for innovative dessert solutions.

Key Features and Why This Cookbook Shines:

• Abundant Photography: While it’s challenging to include a photo for every single recipe in a 200-item collection, “Easy Everyday Slow Cooker Recipes” features over 80 beautifully styled photographs. These vibrant images provide excellent visual inspiration, giving you a clear idea of what to expect from many of the dishes and enticing you to try new recipes.
• True to its Name: Easy Difficulty: The word “easy” isn’t just a marketing ploy; it accurately reflects the accessibility of these recipes. You’ll find a fantastic balance of “dump and cook” recipes, ideal for those super busy days or for beginners, alongside dishes that require a modest amount of preparatory work, adding variety without complexity. This ensures there’s something for every skill level and every schedule.
• Readily Available Ingredients: One of the most practical aspects of this cookbook is its reliance on commonly found ingredients. Most items on the lists can be easily purchased at any major grocery store. While niche ingredients like veal or lamb might occasionally require a visit to a specialty butcher, the vast majority of the recipes utilize components that are readily accessible, making spontaneous cooking much simpler.

Other Delectable Recipes I’m Eager to Try:

• Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup
• Greek Chicken Chili
• Chicken and Pepperoni Bake
• Turkey, Bacon and Avocado Wraps
• Philly Cheese and Beef Casserole
• Snickerdoodle Cheesecake

Inspired to expand your slow cooker repertoire? You can readily purchase Easy Everyday Slow Cooker Recipes on Amazon and begin your own journey into a world of convenient and flavorful slow-cooked meals and desserts.

The Star of the Show: Gooey Slow Cooker Caramel Blondies

When I first delved into Donna-Marie Pye’s extensive cookbook, my initial instinct was to pick a savory main dish to test out. However, I realized my slow cooker dessert collection was seriously lacking. It was then that the recipe for these caramel blondies quite literally jumped off the page and demanded my attention. The promise of a gooey, sweet treat cooked effortlessly in my slow cooker was simply too enticing to pass up.

I must confess, I almost hesitated to call these “blondies.” The unique cooking environment of the slow cooker imparts a texture that isn’t quite what you’d expect from a traditional baked blondie. Instead of the typical dense, chewy bar, these emerge with a wonderfully steamed, almost pudding-cake-like consistency. However, the quintessential blondie flavor profile—deep, caramelized brown sugar notes—is unmistakably present and incredibly satisfying. The rich, buttery sweetness combined with the tender, moist texture convinced me that the “blondie” title, despite the textural twist, was perfectly appropriate for these delectable squares.

The original recipe calls for a 4 to 5-quart slow cooker. As I have both a smaller and a larger model at home, I decided to scale up the recipe slightly, preparing 1.5 times the amount, and utilized my larger slow cooker. I’m pleased to report that this adjustment worked out perfectly, yielding an ample batch of these irresistible blondies that easily serves a crowd.

One of the most delightful surprises and a true highlight of this dessert is the incredible caramel “sauce” that naturally forms at the bottom of the slow cooker as the blondies cook. This isn’t just a happy accident; it’s an integral and utterly scrumptious part of the experience. When you serve these, be sure to scoop up every last drop of that warm, syrupy goodness! I found that generously drizzling this homemade caramel over the top of each blondie slice transformed an already great dessert into something truly extraordinary—it was, without a doubt, my favorite element. And while serving them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream is listed as optional, I wholeheartedly recommend it. The warm, soft blondie, infused with brown sugar and caramel, combined with a dollop of cold, creamy vanilla ice cream, creates a harmonious blend of temperatures and textures that is pure bliss. Frankly, I enjoyed these slow cooker caramel blondies far more than I had ever anticipated; they were an absolute triumph! This is one of those humble, unpretentious desserts that might not catch your eye with flashy presentation, but I guarantee, after just one bite, you’ll be completely and utterly hooked.

Recipe: Gooey Slow Cooker Caramel Blondies

Gooey Slow Cooker Caramel Blondies

Author: Deborah Harroun

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes

Servings: 4-6 servings

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These Gooey Slow Cooker Caramel Blondies are soft, rich blondies that are slow cooked, creating a gooey caramel sauce for a killer dessert with minimal effort.

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup packed brown sugar, divided
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup milk
• 12 soft square caramels (about 3.5 oz, wrappers removed and cut into fourths) (find them here)
• 1 cup boiling water

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, thoroughly combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
2. In a separate mixing bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together 1/2 cup of the packed brown sugar and the softened butter until the mixture is light and creamy. Beat in the vanilla extract until well combined. Gradually add the dry and wet ingredients alternately: begin by stirring in 1/3 of the flour mixture, followed by 1/3 of the milk. Continue this process, making two more additions of both the remaining flour mixture and milk, beating well after each addition until a smooth, uniform batter is formed. Finally, gently fold in the cut caramels. Evenly spread the prepared batter into the bottom of a 4- to 5-quart slow cooker.
3. In a small heatproof bowl, combine the remaining 1/2 cup of brown sugar with the boiling water. Stir diligently until the brown sugar is completely dissolved, forming a sweet, clear liquid. Carefully and evenly pour this warm brown sugar mixture over the blondie batter in the slow cooker.
4. Place the lid firmly on the slow cooker and cook on the HIGH setting for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center of the blondie comes out clean, indicating it is fully cooked. Once done, serve the blondies warm, ideally topped with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream to enhance the rich caramel flavors.

Recipe Notes:

This delightful recipe has been very slightly adapted from the “Easy Everyday Slow Cooker Recipes” cookbook. As a friendly heads-up, this post contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase an item from Amazon through the provided links, Taste and Tell may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your support helps us continue sharing fantastic recipes and culinary tips!

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Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of “Easy Everyday Slow Cooker Recipes” from the publisher specifically for the purpose of this review. Rest assured, all opinions expressed within this post are entirely my own and are based on my genuine experience with the cookbook and its recipes. Furthermore, please note that this post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through any of the Amazon links provided, Taste and Tell may receive a small commission from the sale. This comes at no additional cost to you and significantly helps support our blog, allowing us to continue bringing you more delicious content and recipes. We sincerely appreciate your support!