April Delight: Just 4 ingredients. I make it when I want dessert handled completely hours ahead.

This 4-ingredient slow cooker spring jewel dessert is my little April secret for getting dessert completely handled hours ahead, so I can focus on homework, sports, and everything else life throws at us. It bakes up into a dense, spongy pudding-style cake right in the slow cooker, while a glossy magenta fruit glaze bubbles on top and sinks down the sides. It reminds me of those easy pudding cakes my mom used to make, but this version leans into bright spring berries and the set-it-and-forget-it comfort of a crockpot.

Serve this warm right out of the slow cooker, spooned into bowls so everyone gets some of the dense cake and plenty of that magenta glaze. A scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream on top melts into the warm dessert and makes it extra cozy. For a lighter touch, pair it with plain Greek yogurt and a sprinkle of granola. Coffee, hot tea, or a cold glass of milk all go nicely, especially if you’re serving this after a simple weeknight dinner or an Easter ham.

4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Spring Jewel Dessert

Servings: 6-8

Ingredients

1 box (15.25 oz) white or yellow cake mix (dry mix only)
1 cup whole milk (or 2% milk)
2 large eggs
2 cups frozen mixed berries, thawed and juices reserved (such as raspberries, strawberries, cherries, or mixed berries)

Directions

Lightly grease the inside of a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker with butter or nonstick spray to help prevent sticking and to encourage those caramelized edges.

Place the thawed mixed berries and all their juices into a medium bowl. Use the back of a spoon or a potato masher to gently mash the berries until they’re very juicy and mostly broken down. The mixture should look like a loose, chunky sauce with a deep magenta color.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry cake mix, milk, and eggs until just combined and mostly smooth. The batter will be thick but pourable. Avoid overmixing so the dessert stays tender and spongy.

Pour the cake batter into the prepared slow cooker and spread it into an even layer with a spatula, making sure it reaches all the edges.

Slowly spoon the mashed berry mixture and juices over the top of the batter, covering the surface as evenly as you can. Do not stir; the berries will sink and bubble as it cooks, forming that glossy magenta fruit glaze on top.

Cover the slow cooker with its lid. Cook on HIGH for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, or on LOW for 4 to 4 1/2 hours. The dessert is done when the edges are set, caramelized, and pulling slightly away from the sides, the center looks spongy but not liquid, and a toothpick inserted into the cake portion (not the saucy top) comes out with moist crumbs but no raw batter.

Once done, turn off the slow cooker and let the dessert stand, covered, for 10 to 15 minutes. This resting time helps the cake firm up slightly while the berry topping thickens into a glossy, bubbling glaze.

To serve, spoon the warm dessert straight from the slow cooker into bowls, making sure each serving gets both the dense cake and plenty of the magenta fruit glaze. Enjoy immediately, or switch the slow cooker to WARM for up to 1 hour to keep dessert ready ahead of time.


Variations & Tips

You can easily adapt this dessert to what your family likes or what’s in your freezer. For a sweeter, more kid-friendly version, use mostly strawberries and cherries, which are naturally sweeter than raspberries or blackberries. If your berries are very tart, stir 2 to 4 tablespoons of sugar or honey into the mashed fruit before adding it to the slow cooker. For a brighter color and extra tang, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to the berry mixture (this keeps the magenta color vivid and adds a nice springy flavor). If you need it dairy-free, you can swap the milk for canned coconut milk or an unsweetened non-dairy milk; just know the texture may be slightly softer. For a richer, almost bread-pudding feel, use 1 1/4 cups milk instead of 1 cup and cook toward the longer end of the time range. If you have picky eaters who don’t like berry seeds, use frozen cherries and sliced strawberries, then mash them lightly so there are fewer seeds and bigger, softer pieces of fruit. Food safety tips: Always thaw frozen berries in the refrigerator or in the microwave, not on the counter, and pour in all the juices for both flavor and safe handling. Make sure eggs are fresh and kept refrigerated until you’re ready to use them, and wash your hands and any surfaces that touch raw egg. The dessert should reach at least 190–200°F in the center; if it still looks very wet in the middle, continue cooking in 15-minute increments. Leftovers should be cooled to room temperature within 1 to 2 hours, then stored covered in the refrigerator and eaten within 3 days. Reheat portions in the microwave until steaming hot before serving.