Cinco de Mayo Celebration: Dump these in your slow cooker and 4 ingredients later you've got dessert handled for the whole party.

This 5-ingredient slow cooker churro cereal bake is my kind of Cinco de Mayo party dessert: you literally dump everything in the crock, turn it on, and walk away. It tastes like a mash-up of warm bread pudding and those cinnamon-sugar churros you grab at a street fair, but it starts with raw churro cereal pieces instead of homemade dough. It’s perfect when you’re juggling work, kids, and hosting—no oven to babysit, no fancy equipment, and it easily feeds a crowd straight from the slow cooker.

Serve this churro cereal bake warm right out of the slow cooker on the “warm” setting. I like to set out a little topping bar: vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, fresh berries, and maybe a drizzle of caramel or chocolate sauce. Coffee or cinnamon-spiced hot cocoa is great if your party runs late, and a pitcher of cold milk or horchata-style milk fits the Cinco de Mayo vibe. It’s rich and sweet, so keep the sides light and fresh—think sliced fruit or a simple citrus salad to balance everything out.

Servings: 8-10

6 cups raw churro cereal pieces

Spray the inside of a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker ceramic insert generously with nonstick cooking spray. This helps keep the churro cereal from sticking and makes cleanup much easier.

Pour the raw churro cereal pieces into the bottom of the slow cooker and spread them into an even layer. You should see the cinnamon-dusted, ridged golden pieces scattered across the base—this is exactly what you want for that churro texture.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until the sugar is mostly dissolved and the eggs are fully blended. The mixture should look smooth and slightly thickened.

Slowly pour the milk mixture evenly over the churro cereal in the slow cooker, pressing down gently with the back of a spoon to help the cereal soak up some of the liquid. Don’t worry if a few pieces float; they’ll settle as they cook.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, or until the center is set like a soft bread pudding and the edges look a little more firm. Avoid opening the lid during the first 2 hours so the mixture can set properly.

Once cooked, turn the slow cooker to WARM and let the churro cereal bake sit for 10–15 minutes to firm up slightly. It will still be soft and spoonable, with some crispy bits around the edges.

Spoon the warm churro cereal bake into bowls and serve as-is, or top with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or a drizzle of caramel sauce for a full-on party dessert. Keep the lid on the slow cooker between servings to hold the heat if you’re serving over a couple of hours.

To keep this recipe truly 5-ingredient for the base, you can skip the vanilla extract and rely on the cinnamon in the churro cereal for flavor. For a lighter version, swap the heavy cream for half-and-half and use 2% milk instead of whole; the texture will be a bit less rich but still cozy. If you like extra cinnamon, whisk 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon into the milk mixture before pouring it over the cereal. For a caramel churro twist, drizzle 1/4 to 1/3 cup caramel sauce over the top during the last 15 minutes of cooking. You can also add 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips over the cereal before pouring in the custard for chocolate churro vibes. Food safety tips: Make sure the eggs are fully incorporated into the milk mixture and cook on LOW until the center is set to ensure the eggs are safely cooked; if your slow cooker runs cool, you may need up to 3 1/2 hours. Do not leave the churro bake on the warm setting for more than 2 hours after cooking—after that, cool leftovers quickly and refrigerate in a shallow container within 2 hours. Reheat leftovers thoroughly until steaming hot before serving, and consume refrigerated leftovers within 3 days.