Evening Pick-Me-Up: Just 5 ingredients. I make it when I want a decadent dessert handled hours ahead while I relax.

This 5-ingredient slow cooker coffee brownie pudding is my go-to when I want something decadent ready hours ahead so I can actually sit down and relax in the evening. It bakes up into a dense, fudgy brownie-like center with a rich, dark, gelatinous coffee-chocolate sauce that pools all around it right in the slow cooker. It has that cozy, Midwestern potluck feel but with a little grown-up coffee twist—perfect for book club nights, after-kid-bedtime treats, or when you just want dessert to take care of itself while you handle the rest of your day.

Spoon the warm brownie pudding straight from the slow cooker into bowls, making sure to scoop up plenty of that dark, glossy sauce from the bottom. It’s wonderful on its own, but a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream melts into the sauce and makes it extra special. For coffee lovers, serve with a small mug of decaf or a latte on the side; for kids or non-coffee drinkers, a glass of cold milk or hot cocoa balances the richness nicely. If you’re serving guests, sprinkle a few chocolate chips or shaved chocolate over the top just before carrying it to the table for a little “wow” moment.

Servings: 6-8

1 box (about 18–19 oz) brownie mix, fudgy style

Spray the inside of a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray, or lightly grease it with butter or oil to help the pudding release and to make cleanup easier.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the brownie mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and 1 cup of cooled strong brewed coffee until the batter is thick, smooth, and well combined. It will be looser than boxed brownies but still pourable.

Pour the brownie batter into the prepared slow cooker and spread it into an even layer with a spatula, making sure it reaches all the edges so it cooks evenly in the center.

In a separate bowl or large measuring cup, stir together the remaining 1 cup of hot strong brewed coffee and the granulated sugar until the sugar is fully dissolved. This sweet coffee mixture will turn into the dark, gelatinous pooling sauce as it cooks.

Very carefully pour the hot coffee-sugar mixture over the brownie batter in the slow cooker. Do not stir. It will look like too much liquid on top, but that’s exactly what you want for a thick sauce later.

Cover the slow cooker with its lid. 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 cake-like around the edges but the center still feels soft and a bit jiggly. A toothpick inserted near the edge should come out mostly clean, but the center will be gooey.

Once cooked, turn off the slow cooker and let the pudding stand, covered, for about 15 minutes. During this rest, the sauce thickens into a rich, dark, gelatinous pool underneath and around the dense, slow-roasted brownie center.

To serve, gently spoon down through the cake layer and scoop up from the bottom so each portion has both the fudgy brownie pudding and plenty of the dark coffee-chocolate sauce. Serve warm right from the slow cooker with your favorite toppings.

For kids or anyone sensitive to caffeine, swap the strong brewed coffee for decaf coffee so you still get the flavor without the late-night jitters. If someone really dislikes coffee, you can use hot water in the batter and sauce instead; the dessert will taste more like a classic chocolate pudding cake but still have that rich, dark sauce. To make the chocolate flavor even deeper, stir a small handful of chocolate chips into the batter before cooking (this doesn’t change the 5 core ingredients, just adds a little extra). If you prefer a slightly less sweet dessert, reduce the sugar in the sauce to 3/4 cup; the sauce will still thicken nicely. For a mocha-caramel twist, drizzle warm caramel sauce over each serving. To stretch it for a crowd, serve smaller scoops of pudding over bowls of vanilla ice cream or over slices of store-bought pound cake. Leftovers can be cooled, stored in the fridge, and reheated gently in the microwave—add a splash of milk or coffee before reheating if it seems too thick. If your slow cooker tends to run hot, start checking at the earlier cook time so the edges stay soft and don’t overbake.