Slow Cooker Peanut Butter Hot Fudge Cake

Still no oven, but I wanted cake the other day so I started looking around.  I have always been a fan of hot fudge cake, but it tends to have a short shelf-life.  I had people coming over, so I decided to try out an idea that I had and make hot fudge cake in the slow cooker.  It was delicious, but I do recommend smaller servings since the cake is very rich.  As it cooks in the slow cooker over the course of an hour and requires very little prep, it would be fantastic for a dinner party or group gathering.

Serves 6

1 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cocoa
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
1 tablespoon oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup peanut butter chips
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1 1/2 cup very hot water
Ice cream, for serving
Cool whip or whipped cream, for serving

1. In medium mixing bowl, mix together flour, sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa, baking powder, and salt.  Measure milk, oil, and vanilla together in a measuring cup.  Add milk mixture and peanut butter to flour mixture in bowl.  Stir until smooth.  Add peanut butter chips.  Spread batter in the bottom of a greased slow cooker.
2. In small bowl, mix brown sugar with 1/4 cup cocoa.  Pour in hot water and mix until sugar dissolves and cocoa mixes in evenly.  Pour hot water mixture over batter in slow cooker.
3. Place paper towels over top of slow cooker, then top with lid.  Cook cake on high for 60-90 minutes.  Check the cake every 15 minutes after the 60 minutes are off.  Cake is done when a knife inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.  As the cake bakes, hot fudge collects under the cake, so be sure to only check the cake for cooking.  Allow cake to cool for 15-30 minutes once it tests done.
4. To serve, spoon cake into bowls and top with ice cream.  Spoon hot fudge sauce from underneath cake over ice cream. Top with whipped cream as desired.  Serve immediately.