Pour boiling tap water over raw brown sugar batter, alongside 3 other ingredients, into slow cooker for a sweet treat that’s my default when I don't know what to make.

This slow cooker 5-ingredient caramel pudding is the kind of make-do dessert my mother leaned on during the lean years, when the pantry was thin but folks still needed something sweet at the end of the day. It’s a simple “depression-style” recipe: no eggs, no fuss, just a brown sugar batter stirred together in a bowl and finished with boiling tap water poured right over the top in the slow cooker. As it cooks, the batter settles into a soft, spoonable cake while the sugar and water turn into a glossy caramel sauce underneath. When I’m tired, the cupboards look bare, or I just can’t decide what to make, this is the sweet treat I fall back on again and again.

Serve this warm right out of the slow cooker, spooned into small bowls with plenty of the caramel sauce from the bottom. A little splash of cream, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a dollop of whipped topping makes it feel company-ready. It’s lovely alongside a cup of hot coffee or tea, and it sits comfortably next to simple suppers like meatloaf, pot roast, or a big pot of soup. Leftovers, if you have any, reheat nicely for breakfast with a drizzle of milk, almost like a cozy bread pudding.

Servings: 6

1 cup packed brown sugar, divided (1/2 cup for batter, 1/2 cup for topping)

Lightly grease the insert of a medium slow cooker (about 4 to 5 quarts) with butter or cooking spray so the pudding doesn’t stick.

In a mixing bowl, stir together 1/2 cup of the brown sugar, the all-purpose flour, and the baking powder until no streaks remain. This is your simple dry base for the batter.

Pour in the milk and stir just until a thick, smooth batter forms. It will be a bit heavier than pancake batter, but still easy to spread.

Scrape the raw brown sugar batter into the greased slow cooker and spread it into an even layer with a spatula, making sure it reaches the edges.

Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup brown sugar evenly over the top of the raw batter. Don’t stir; this loose sugar will help form the caramel layer underneath.

Carefully run your hot tap until the water is very hot, then measure out 1 1/2 cups. Bring it just to a boil in a kettle or saucepan on the stove.

With the slow cooker sitting on a stable, heat-safe surface (like a speckled granite counter), slowly pour the boiling tap water evenly over the sugared, raw brown sugar batter. It will look wrong and watery on top, but resist the urge to stir; the batter and sugar need to stay put under the water.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid. Cook on High for about 2 to 2 1/2 hours, or on Low for about 3 1/2 to 4 hours, until the top looks set and cake-like and a spoon dipped into the center shows a soft pudding layer above a loose caramel sauce at the bottom.

Once done, turn off the slow cooker and let the pudding sit, covered, for about 10 minutes to thicken the sauce slightly. Then spoon the warm pudding into bowls, reaching down to scoop up plenty of the caramel from the bottom with each serving.

You can swap part or all of the milk for water if the fridge is bare; the pudding will be a bit less rich but still satisfying. For a deeper flavor, use dark brown sugar or mix in a teaspoon of vanilla extract with the milk. If you have spices on hand, a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg stirred into the dry ingredients gives it a cozy, autumn feel. This base also works with other milks—evaporated milk, powdered milk mixed with water, or non-dairy milk in a pinch. If your slow cooker runs hot, start checking the pudding 30 minutes early so it doesn’t overcook and dry out on the edges. For smaller households, you can halve the recipe and use a smaller slow cooker; just begin checking a bit sooner. Food safety tips: Always heat the tap water to a full boil before pouring it over the batter to ensure it’s hot enough for safe cooking. Use oven mitts when handling the kettle and the slow cooker insert, as the steam and sides can burn. Let the pudding cool slightly before serving, especially for children, because the caramel sauce can be very hot. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours in a covered container and reheat gently in the microwave or in the slow cooker on Low until warmed through.