Hello everyone! We’re busy this week getting our daughter moved into her new bedroom so I thought I’d re-run this post I did last summer about baking quick breads (banana/zucchini/pumpkin etc) in your crockpot.
It’s so hot right now – our heat index has us at 104-108! Last thing I want to do is heat up my kitchen. I sometimes even plug my crockpot in an outlet in our screened porch so that whatever little heat it throws off stays outside!
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Did you know you can bake in a crockpot?
Anyhoo, I thought all you mama’s that have sent your kids off to college with a crockpot might like to know that you can use it to bake in. I know I would have been one very popular girl if I’d known I could do that in mine!
Also, if you’re like me and live some place where you’ll be using your life savings to pay your electric bill because of the AC being cranked all day…every day, well, you might like to bake yourself a little treat without turning on your oven and heating up your house! So use your favorite banana bread recipe (or pumpkin or zucchini – whatever). This is what you do….
Step 1 in baking in your crockpot
Turn your crock pot on to high and let it pre-heat it while you mix up your treat. Make two little balls of foil and put them in the bottom of your crock pot. You will set your loaf pan on them.
Step 2
Mix up your recipe and pour into a greased loaf pan and set on top of those foil balls (or a rack if you have one). This pan is a bit smaller than the one I use when I bake in the oven. I think this one is 8 1/2×4 1/2. But it really depends on the size of your crock pot – so test for fit before you do this. Some people bake in a coffee can in their crock pot but I’ve never tried that.
Prop the lid to let the steam escape. You don’t want to get all that condensation that you normally get when you cook in your crock pot. I just move my lid over a bit so it’s on loosely but you can also put something under it to keep it propped. It takes about two hours (my crock pot runs a bit on the hot side so keep a watch on yours the first time you do it – it may take more time).Let it sit for about 5 minutes before slicing.
In addition to being more energy efficent than an oven, what I really love about baking in the crockpot is that I was free to mow my backyard, pull some weeds, come in and take a shower all while it was baking.
No having to keep an eye on it and NO HOT KITCHEN!!!
Give baking in your crock pot a try!
Vee says
I am going to try this tomorrow. No need today as the temps are only in the 70s. Looks like a delicious way to beat the heat.
Kim-HomeIsWhereTheHeartIs says
What a great idea…I always use my crockpot, but never thought of baking in it! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Janie says
I Love cooking breads int he slow cooker. They turn out so nice. I used to make a good coconut bread in it..I have to find the recipe…
Kathy says
Can you send me that coconut bread recipe to [email protected]. Thank you.
Darla says
Hi, Can you please send me your coconut bread recipe to [email protected]? It sounds delicious! thank you!
Pamela Gordon says
That’s a great idea. Although we don’t have to worry about the heat and humidity here. I even have the electric heat on in the office today as my bare feet and ankles are cold!! Thanks for the hint about the tin foil and keeping the lid partly off.
Penny says
What a great idea! Thanks Manuela.
Deanna says
Great idea!
matty says
YOU are brilliant! I am going to my kitchen Right Now and trying this! BTW, what colour is the barn to be? I bought the most delicious paint today for my front door: Boysenberry…. Yummmers…
admin says
Not sure about the barn but I got some red color chips so I think it’ll be red. But I could change my mind. It’s too hot to paint right now so I have some time to think about it.
Manuela
The Working Home Keeper says
Definitely going to try this!
Mary Ellen
The Working Home Keeper
Linda says
Manuela…this is awesome news! I never knew you could bake in a crockpot!
Thanks for the tip!
Have a good day!
Linda @ Truthful Tidbits
Diana says
Thanks for sharing this, which such clear explanation and pictures. I’ve read about it before, but couldn’t really visualize it. We had a record setting 106 degrees here yesterday! Actual temperature — heat index of 114 degrees. Some clouds and thunder rumbles now, so we may actually stay below 100 today and maybe even get some rain! Anyways — got crockpot, got screenporch, even got a single zuke that may want to be a quick bread. Putting this on my list for tomorrow!
Debbie says
You know, I remember this post. I liked it. And yet, I STILL haven’t done it.
I really do want to try.
matty says
It worked! It REEAAALLLY worked! I went to allrecipes.com and entered a search for a pecan bread. Then, I changed it to serve eight because, blush, I still have my crockpot from 1976. I used a miniloaf pan and it was done in 1.5 hours! It is yummers and made the house smell great without the heat! You rock, Manuela!
admin says
Yay! I’m glad you liked it! Isn’t it great that you can still bake treats in the summer and not heat up your kitchen!
Manuela
Cindy says
What a great idea, how do I know how long to let it cook? I suppose I could check it occasionally. Thank you for the “keep the kitchen cool” tip.
Hugs, Cindy
donna rae says
Great refresher for this ongoing hot weather… thanks, Manuela
Cindy says
What a good idea. I would never have thought of that.
Erica says
This is awesome news! Thank you for the “keep the kitchen cool” tip.
Pat says
Manuela~ you clever girl!
I’ve heard of this and have thought of it in the past… but have NEVER done it! I want to try this now!
and will because you posted this:
…I sometimes even plug my crockpot in an outlet in our screened porch so that whatever little heat it throws off stays outside!…
I can do this in my screened in porch/laundry room!
BECAUSE CROCK POTS DO PUT OFF SOME HEAT, DON’T THEY?
I’ll let you know how it goes…
Pat
Yvonne @ StoneGable says
Manuela, This is a brilliant idea. I am going to give this a try! Thanks for such an inspirational and useful post.
Yvonne
mamajuliana says
I am going to try this with some zucchini bread this afternoon! Thanks for the tip!
sharri says
do you have a recipe for your zucchini bread you can share, and how did it turn out in the crock pot? cant wait to try this. thanks for your idea from acn tip.
Denise says
You are Awesome! I can’t wait to try this. Thank you for sharing.
AmyW says
Very smart! I’m working on a crock pot recipe book for my son to use at his apartment. Any suggestions?
Susan says
I have never tried baking bread in my crock pot, but what great tips!
Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
clarice says
I am so glad you reposted this. I still have to try this xoxo Clarice
Melanie says
Thanks for this awesome idea! I had heard of being able to bake in a Crockpot, but had no idea how to do it.
Barbara H. says
What a great idea! My crock pot is round rather than oval — I don’t have a coffee can but may ask around to see if anyone I know has one. My grandmother used to bake in coffee cans in her oven.
Thanks so much for sharing!
Kelli says
Oh my goodness! I had no idea! I’m trying this tomorrow 🙂
Ben the Crock Pot King says
Great article!!! On cooking bread will definitely try it!!! Please put more articles on baking bread, reason being if you can avoid using a oven in the summer time, then it’s worth it!!!
Please keep it up, Kudo’s!!!
P.S.
I’ve already bookmarked your post.
Kathleen Grace says
I have heard of this but hadn’t tried it yet so forgot all about it. Great idea since I still love to bake but have been avoiding it so I don’t heat up the house! Thanks for the riminder. I’ll be sharing it with my daughter too. She is headed back to school and her first apartment soon. I planned on sending a crockpot with her anyways, SHe will love this:>)
Rin says
Hi there! Just tried this last night and what a treat! I’m going to be doing it more often, I can already tell. I made a Pumpkin pecan spice bread and it took about 2.5 hours to do, but it is so worth it not to have a horribly hot kitchen in the summertime! Thanks for posting! 🙂
Kristi @ The Thrifty Gypsy says
I never knew you could bake in the crock pot!!! I’m going to try this with my banana bread!!! Thank you for this tutorial!!! 🙂
xoxo
Kathleen says
This is a great idea! I never knew you could bake in the crockpot. I’ve got to try it. Thank you for sharing!
xo,
Kathleen