Sunshine in a Crock: Just 5 ingredients. I love making this when I want a bright, cheerful dessert handled hours ahead of time with zero fuss.

This little slow cooker citrus sponge cake is what I make when the day feels gray and I want sunshine without fuss. It reminds me of the old hot-milk sponge cakes my mother baked on the farm, but here we let the crock pot do the babysitting while we get on with our day. Just five pantry-friendly ingredients turn into a pale, airy cake that soaks up a glossy, bright yellow citrus glaze right in the warm crock. It’s the kind of make-ahead, no-watch dessert that fits right into a busy Sunday or a family potluck, and it feels cheerful and special without asking much of you.

Serve this warm, straight from the slow cooker while the glaze is still shiny and the steam curls up when you lift the lid. A spoonful of softly whipped cream or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream makes a lovely cool contrast to the warm, citrusy sponge. Black coffee or hot tea balances the sweetness nicely. If you’re serving a hearty Midwestern supper—say, a pot roast or a pan of meatloaf and mashed potatoes—this light, sunny cake is a gentle finish that won’t feel too heavy, but still tastes like you went to some trouble.

Servings: 6-8

1 box (15.25 ounces) yellow cake mix

Lightly butter or spray the inside of a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker crock. If you like, line the bottom with a strip of parchment to help lift slices, but it’s not required.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry yellow cake mix, whole milk, and eggs until mostly smooth. Add the melted, slightly cooled butter and 1/2 cup of the thawed lemonade concentrate. Whisk just until the batter is smooth and evenly pale yellow, taking care not to overbeat.

Pour the batter into the prepared slow cooker, spreading it gently into an even layer. Tap the crock once or twice on the counter to release any large air bubbles.

Cover the slow cooker with its lid. Cook on HIGH for 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours, or until the cake is pale, puffed, and the center springs back lightly when touched. A toothpick inserted into the middle should come out with a few moist crumbs but no wet batter. Avoid lifting the lid during the first 90 minutes so the sponge can rise nicely.

While the cake finishes cooking, pour the remaining lemonade concentrate into a small saucepan. Bring it just to a simmer over medium-low heat and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring often, until it thickens slightly and turns glossy. You want it pourable but syrupy enough to cling to a spoon. Remove from heat and let it stand a few minutes; it will thicken a touch more as it cools.

When the cake is done, turn off the slow cooker but leave the crock in place and the cake inside. Using a thin skewer or toothpick, poke small holes all over the surface of the hot cake, going almost to the bottom but not tearing it up.

Slowly pour the warm lemonade glaze evenly over the hot sponge, letting it seep down into the holes and coat the top. The surface should look shiny and bright yellow, with a little glaze pooling at the edges.

Cover the slow cooker again and let the cake rest on WARM or with the heat off for 15 to 20 minutes. This gives the glaze time to soak in and set to a glossy finish while the cake stays steamy and tender.

Spoon the warm citrus sponge straight from the crock into bowls, making sure each serving gets some of the sunshine-yellow glaze from the top and sides. Serve at once, or hold on WARM for up to an hour, keeping the lid on to retain moisture.

For a slightly sharper citrus flavor, swap the lemonade concentrate for frozen orange juice concentrate mixed with the finely grated zest of 1 lemon before cooking the glaze; the zest will deepen the aroma without adding any extra ingredients to your shopping list. If you prefer a lighter texture, separate the eggs before mixing, beat the whites to soft peaks, and gently fold them into the batter at the end—this gives the sponge an even airier, almost soufflé-like crumb while still working in the slow cooker. For a milder, more buttery sweetness, reduce the lemonade in the batter to 1/3 cup and add that extra bit to the glaze, which will give you a thicker, shinier topping and a softer lemon note in the cake itself. The recipe works well in a smaller 4-quart slow cooker too; simply add 10 to 15 minutes to the cooking time and check the center with a toothpick. Leftovers reheat nicely: cover the crock and warm on LOW until just heated through, or spoon pieces into a microwave-safe dish and heat gently so the sponge stays moist. If you’re cooking for a crowd but still want to keep things easy, you can double the recipe in a larger oval slow cooker, extending the cooking time and checking the center in a few spots to be sure it’s evenly done.