Hot Fudge Spoon Cake

Butter flavor nonstick cooking spray
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sweet ground chocolate, such as Ghirardelli
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping:
1/4 cup sweet cocoa powder, such as Ghirardelli
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 1/2 cups boiling water

Coat medium round slow-cooker with butter-flavor nonstick cooking spray.

In medium bowl, whisk flour, ground chocolate, sugar, baking powder and salt. Make well in center; add milk, melted butter and vanilla extract to well. Stir liquid ingredients until well blended. Continue stirring in widening circles, gradually incorporating dry ingredients, until the batter is smooth and thick. Spread evenly in prepared crock pot.

To make topping, combine all ingredients in another medium-size bowl and whisk until smooth. Gently pour over batter in cooker; do NOT stir. Cover and cook on high setting until puffed and top layer is set, 2 to 2 1/4 hours.

Turn off crock pot and let stand, covered, for at least 30 minutes before refrigerating or serving right out of the crock pot.

To serve, scoop cake into individual bowls. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream alongside cake. Spoon some of the fudgy pudding at the bottom of crock pot over cake and ice cream.

Yields 4 to 6 servings.

Nutritional information (per serving without ice cream): 776 calories (78 percent from fat); 67.1 g fat; 3 g protein; 38.2 g carbs; 0.4 g fiber; 1,004 mg sodium