Cookout Classic: Just 5 ingredients. I make it when I want a warm crowd-pleaser ready without heating up the kitchen.

This slow cooker spiced brown sugar apple treat is my go-to when I want a cozy, cookout-friendly dessert that basically makes itself. It uses just five pantry-friendly ingredients and lets the slow cooker do all the work, so I’m not heating up the whole kitchen when it’s already hot outside. Think of it as a cross between a warm apple cobbler and a gooey brown sugar pudding cake: a spongy, cake-like base that bakes right in the slow cooker, with diced apples and a bubbling caramel-style sauce on top. I started making this for summer potlucks when I needed something that could sit on “warm” and still taste amazing hours later, and it’s become one of those recipes people ask for before they even take a bite because it smells that good.

Serve this warm straight from the slow cooker, spooned into bowls so you catch plenty of the caramelized brown sugar sauce along with the soft cake and tender apple chunks. It pairs perfectly with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or even a scoop of vanilla yogurt if you want to pretend it’s breakfast. For cookouts, I like to set out disposable cups and a tub of ice cream so people can build their own little apple sundae. A pot of coffee or a pitcher of iced coffee on the side is great if you’re serving this as a late-night treat after the grill is off and everyone’s still hanging around the patio.

Servings: 8

4 cups peeled and diced apples (about 4 medium firm apples, such as Honeycrisp or Granny Smith)

Lightly grease the inside of a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray or a thin layer of butter to help keep the cake from sticking.

Peel and dice the apples into small, bite-size pieces (about 1/2-inch cubes). Aim for fairly even pieces so they cook at the same rate and stay tender without turning into total mush.

Spread the diced apples in an even layer over the bottom of the greased slow cooker. This will become the fruity layer under all that caramelized sauce.

In a medium bowl, stir together the dry yellow cake mix and the ground cinnamon (or apple pie spice) until the spice is evenly distributed throughout the mix.

Sprinkle the dry cake mix mixture evenly over the apples in the slow cooker, covering them completely. Do not stir; keeping the layers separate helps create that gooey sauce and spongy cake texture.

Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the top of the dry cake mix layer, breaking up any big clumps with your fingers as you go so it melts evenly.

Slowly drizzle the melted butter all over the top, trying to cover as much of the surface as possible. It’s okay if there are a few dry spots; the steam from the apples will help hydrate the mix as it cooks.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on HIGH for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, or on LOW for 3 1/2 to 4 hours, until the top looks set and spongy and the edges are bubbling with thick, caramelized brown sugar sauce. Avoid lifting the lid during the first 90 minutes so you don’t lose heat and slow down the baking.

Once done, turn the slow cooker to WARM and let the dessert sit for 10 to 15 minutes. This rest time helps the sauce thicken slightly while still staying gooey and spoonable.

To serve, scoop down through all the layers so each serving has soft cake, saucy brown sugar, and plenty of tender apple pieces. Serve warm right from the slow cooker, with ice cream or whipped cream if you like.

You can easily tweak this to fit what you have on hand or who you’re feeding. For different flavors, swap the yellow cake mix for spice cake mix and reduce the added cinnamon to 1/2 teaspoon, or use a white or vanilla cake mix and keep the cinnamon as written for a lighter spice. Mix and match apples: Granny Smith will give you more tartness and hold their shape well, while Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala will be a bit sweeter and softer. If you like extra spice, add a pinch of nutmeg or cloves with the cinnamon. For a little crunch, sprinkle 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts over the brown sugar before drizzling on the butter (this will technically add a sixth ingredient, but it’s a nice upgrade when you’re not strict on the count). To cut the sweetness slightly, you can use 3/4 cup brown sugar instead of a full cup, knowing the sauce will be a bit less rich. For dairy-free, use a dairy-free margarine or plant-based butter stick in place of regular butter and confirm your cake mix is dairy-free. For a smaller household, you can halve the recipe and cook it in a 3- to 4-quart slow cooker, checking for doneness a little earlier. Food safety tips: Always wash and dry the apples before peeling and dicing, and use a clean cutting board and knife. Keep the slow cooker covered while cooking to maintain a safe temperature and even baking. If you’re serving this at a cookout, keep the slow cooker on WARM (above 140°F/60°C) for up to 2 hours for best quality and food safety; after that, cool leftovers quickly, transfer them to an airtight container, and refrigerate. Leftovers should be refrigerated within 2 hours of cooking and eaten within 3 to 4 days. Reheat portions in the microwave until steaming hot before serving.