If your slow cooker is pretty much only used to make soups, stews, and chili, it may surprise you to know that the slow cooker loves a good party! Just take a look at the appetizer recipe titles in Fresh from the Vegan Slow Cooker to see what I mean:
Warm and Creamy Artichoke-Spinach Dip
Smokin’ Chipotle Bean Dip
Golden Summer Caponata Bruschetta
Sherried Mushroom Crostini
Savory Mediterranean “Cheesecake”
Upcountry Pâté
Chickpea and Artichoke-Mushroom Pâté
Artisanal Sweet and Spicy Weiner Balls
Southern-Style Sugar and Spice Pecans
Seven-Spice Cashews
Life of the Party Mix
Oregon Trail Mix
The slow cooker also comes in handy for making desserts. Just think: while your oven is busy baking cookies, you could have one of these yummy desserts slow-cooking at the same time:
Applesauce-Walnut Cake
Fat-Free Apple Crock Cake
Pina Colada Cake
Spiced Pumpkin Cake
Chocolate Truffle Cake
Carrot Cake with Pineapple
Orange-Topped Italian Polenta Cake
Spiced Pumpkin Cake
Chocolate Truffle Cake
Carrot Cake with Pineapple
Chocolate–Peanut Butter Cheesecake
Black and Blue B’round-ies
Pumpkin-Oatmeal Bars
Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cheesecake
Tutti-Fruiti Cobbler
Pear-Mincemeat Crisp
Banana Brown Betty
Three-Way Pumpkin Bread Pudding
Zabaglione-Inspired Bread Pudding
Warm and Fudgy Chocolate Bread Pudding
Coconut Rice Pudding with Mangoes
Lemon-Ginger Poached Pears
Maple-and-Rum- Glazed Slow-Baked Apples
Granola-Stuffed Baked Apples
Here’s a photo of the Zabaglione-Inspired Bread Pudding:
Zabaglione Bread Pudding (photo by Melissa Chapman)
The holidays can be a fun time to make a special brunch, too. Here are just a few of the delicious brunch recipes you can make from Fresh from the Vegan Slow Cooker:
Slow Cooker Granola
Apple-Cinnamon Steel-Cut Oatmeal
Amish Oatmeal
Pumpkin Breakfast Quinoa
Breakfast Polenta
Indian Pudding
French Toast Bread Pudding
Bananas Foster Bread Pudding
Sausage ‘’n’ Scramble Casserole
Cheesy Mushroom-Chorizo Frittata
Artichoke and Mushroom Frittatta
Greek Frittatta
Chai-Spiced Breakfast Bread
Pumpkin-Chocolate Chip Bread
Berry-Banana Breakfast Bread
The French Toast Bread Pudding is a personal favorite. Here’s the recipe for you to try and see if you don’t agree:
French Toast Bread Pudding
Consider making this luscious bread pudding for a special breakfast or brunch during the holidays. This recipe is from Fresh from the Vegan Slow Cooker by Robin Robertson © 2012, The Harvard Common Press.
10 ounces soft white Italian bread, cubed (about 8 cups)
6 ounces soft or silken tofu, drained
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups nondairy milk
1/4 cup pure maple syrup, plus more for serving
1 tablespoon vegan butter
1/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans or walnuts
1. Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. Spread the bread cubes on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes to dry the bread.
2. Thoroughly oil the slow cooker insert or spray with nonstick cooking spray. Transfer the dried bread to an oiled slow cooker crock, or one that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
3. In a food processor, combine the tofu, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt. Add the milk and 1/4 cup maple syrup, stirring to blend.
4. Pour the tofu mixture over the bread and push the bread pieces down beneath the mixture to moisten them. Dot with bits of the vegan butter and sprinkle the top with the pecans. Cover and cook on High for 1 1/2 hours or until firm. Serve topped with additional maple syrup.
HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY: Now, how about a cookbook giveaway? Leave a comment at the end of this post for a chance to win a copy of Fresh from the Vegan Slow Cooker. In the comment, tell me which of the recipes listed in this post you’d like to try first. That’s it! A winner will be chosen at random on Monday morning, December 17 and announced that day. For extra chances to win, you can spread the word about this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, or your own blog and link to this post. Then just leave another comment telling me what you did.
P.S. If you’re still looking for holiday gift ideas, I’m told this book makes a great gift — especially when paired with a new slow cooker!
Good luck in the giveaway!!!
Oh, and here’s a photo of the Chocolate Truffle Cake, Fresh from the Vegan Slow Cooker….
Chocolate Truffle Cake (photo by Lea Jacobson)
12/17/12: THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. Thank you to all who entered!
{ 159 comments… add one }
I would definitely make the Indian Pudding first. Soon followed by the rest of the recipes listed 🙂
Pina colada cake. I could use a bit of summer right now…
I would love to try Slow Cooker Granola. I can’t imagine making a crispy granola in a slow cooker. Don’t you need liquid???
Mmmmmmmmmmm. So much sounds good but that pumpkin chocolate chip bread is calling me!
It’s hard to choose, but I’m going with Sherried Mushroom Crostini…I can’t turn down mushrooms!
I’m also sharing on Facebook!
Oh my gosh, there are soooo many I’d like to try!!!! But, I guess if I have to decide on a few in the order of first, second, etc. these would be the ones!
Artichoke and Mushroom Frittatta
Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cheesecake
Seven-Spice Cashews
I can’t wait to try the French Toast Bread Pudding that you posted!
I hope I win!!!
PUMPKIN-CHOCOLATE CHIP BREAD!
I recently acquired a slow-cooker when my sister got two for her wedding. I’d been making your slow-cooker recipes on the stove and thought I was so clever because, why would you cook something for 6 hours when you can do it in 30 mins? Oh, how wrong I was! I’m a total convert now. Should have known you’d never steer me wrong in the kitchen! Coming home to the smells of a delicious meal that I can just plate and eat is officially my favorite form of self love.
I’ve had my eye on this book! I really want to try the Chai-Spiced Breakfast Bread!!!
First up – the French toast bread pudding recipe listed.
Already gifted a niece with this book and a new slow cooker for her growing family; helping her stay the vegan course by having dinner ready for family when she and her husband get home from work.
I’d most like to try the artichoke spinach dip! Sounds irresistible!
I would most like to try the Warm and Creamy Artichoke-Spinach Dip!
Shared this posting with my Vegan Society of PEACE group on FB.
Question: From which of your books is the cauliflower pictured on the header? Would love to make that dish – looks so good. Looks almost as good as your Gobi Manchurian recipe from last year’s VegNews food issue!
I’m very curious about everything!!! Hope to be lucky and get my hands on this book 🙂
WOW! Lots of yummy sounding recipes! I love the idea of slowcooker vegan everything, especially the desserts! I would start with the Warm and Creamy Artichoke-Spinach Dip and Chocolate Truffle Cake 🙂
oh my–how to pick just one? since i’m forced, i think the Savory Mediterranean “Cheesecake”–but everything sounds absolutely AMAZING!
Zabaglione-Inspired Bread Pudding or Chocolate Truffle Cake! Both immediately caught my eye (partly thanks to the photos, no doubt).
First recipe that I would try would definitely be the French Toast Bread Pudding !
puddings! bring me some dessert yumminess please!
I would like to try the Chai-Spiced Breakfast Bread! it sounds delicious 🙂
Warm and Creamy Artichoke Spinach Dip!
It would HAVE to be Warm and Creamy Artichoke-Spinach Dip – it’s the one thing I miss about dairy, a good, ooey, gooey spinach dip! Bring on that and some GF crackers and I’m set! Maybe some celery with it too…
Posted it to my FB page: https://www.facebook.com/vondelynn
If I have to pick one, absolutely the Chickpea and Artichoke-Mushroom Pâté! Nom Nom.
Sausage ‘n’ scramble Casserole would be oh so yummy in my tummy. I’ve spent too much time with my children today.
The Chocolate Truffle Cake, definately. The photo only made me want to try some more:)
Shared the givaway link on my facebook page.
Pumpkin-Chocolate Chip Bread! And then your slow-cooker marmalade to go with it. Every time an orange drops from the tree outside, I think of that recipe.
I would like to win the cookbook and try 3 recipes to begin with –
– upcountry pate, granola stuffed baked apples and berry banana breakfast bread.
Thank you.
Indian pudding oooo, I’ve had something like that at an indian restaurant, almost like a sweet polenta! Also the tutti frutti cobbler sounds intriguing.
I would LOVE to try the Mushroom & Artichoke Frittatta – it is almost impossible to find a frittatta anywhere that is dairy free, let alone vegan! This sounds amazing to me and I’m dying to try it!!! Mmmm….bring on brunch! 🙂
Also, I have tweeted @AWeathergirl13 and Shared on FB (Amanda Huxley).
I would make the Chocolate Truffle Cake first thing! I’ve never tried to make any kind of cake in the slow cooker before!
I had a hard time choosing just one but I think I’d try the Spiced Pumpkin Cake first!
I didn’t see if this was open to international entries but to carry on with the seasonal flavors in my house I would love to try out the pear mincemeat crisp. We just picked up a slow cooker yesterday! Thanks for the posted recipe. I will definitely be trying that soon too 🙂
I’d love to try the bread pudding. Looks delicious.
Chocolate truffle cake!
Would very much like to try the granola stuffed apples.
Love your books.
I’d try the chocolate truffle cake!
I’m in the mood for something savory right now, so I’d probably try the Cheesy Mushroom Chorizo Frittata!
I would make Indian Pudding first. I usually make it for Thanksgiving, but didn’t have time this year. Having a slow cooker recipe would’ve been a huge help!
The first recipe I’d make is that yummy-looking Chocolate Truffle Cake. My mouth already is watering just thinking about it! OOOOHHHH! I’d also like to try the Sausage ‘’n’ Scramble Casserole and the Artichoke-Spinach Dip. But all the recipes sound scrumptious! Happy holidays!
I just shared your FB post on my FB page 🙂
I want to make the chocolate truffle cake right now!! Then I’d explore the book for about 2 hours and write a list to go shopping to make SOMETHING from it. Yummmm.
i’d have to go for the bananas foster bread pudding!
Apple-Cinnamon Steel-Cut Oatmeal!
Chocolate Truffle Cake. Because I am only vegetarian and it might seduce me to go vegan.
Chocolate Truffle cake would do it for me!! 🙂
I would like to try the Chickpea and Artichoke-Mushroom Pâté as I usually enjoy that kind of dish.
Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
I’ve tweeted your giveaway 🙂
I’ve shared your giveaway on Facebook 🙂
I would love to try the Golden Summer Caponata Bruschetta! So curious…
I’d love to try the Pumpkin Breakfast Quinoa! Three of my favorite things in one recipe!
I shared your giveaway on Facebook
I tweeted your giveaway!
Artichoke spinach dip. Without a doubt.
The chickpea and artichoke-mushroom pate sounds great!
I have had a slow cooker for years but rarely use it because I just don’t have any good recipes for it. These sound delicious! I have been looking at this book for quite sometime. I would love to win a copy so I can finally have some use for my slow cooker.
The pumpkin breakfast quinoa sounds great.
I want to try the Pina Colada Cake!! Yum!
I was going to say the Pina Colada Cake but then I saw Coconut Rice Pudding with Mangoes and all I could think is rice pudding mmmmmmmmmmmmmm
French Toast Bread Pudding sounds so delicious! Thanks for the giveaway!
Shared on FB!
You had me at French toast!
I would be ALL OVER that cheesy mushroom-chorizo frittata… sounds like all the things (aside from mushroom) I haven’t had for so long! Yum!
I would try the Life of the party mix first. The name alone intrigues me. I love using my slow cooker and would love to try all these recipes
Hi Robin! The cover photo looks enticing, but what really got me was the chocolate truffle cake. YUMMM! I shared your posting on facebook too. Thanks!
The Three-Way Pumpkin Bread Pudding caught my eye first. Followed by pretty much all the rest of them!
Pumpkin chocolate chip bread sounds yummy – I LOVE that combo!
all sound yummy …but the first I would do is the apple cake.
One look at the delicious possibilities offered by this cookbook have confirmed that I am in a major crockpot rut! Chili, vegetable soup and tomato sauce… so sorry, but you boys will have to sit on the proverbial back burner for a while while I plunge into the Chocolate Truffle Cake, Pumpkin Bread Pudding and Slow Cooker Granola. If I win this cookbook, I will be very busy indeed…
I just posted this on Facebook too!
Wow, that cake looks good! But I’d have to try the Chickpea and Artichoke-Mushroom Pâté first. That sounds awesome!
Chocolate Truffle Cake! 🙂
I would definitely make the chocolate truffle cake. Oh my, that looks delicous. I currently have this book out of the library, and would LOVE to win a copy. Thanks so much for offering this giveaway.
The first three I’d make are: Warm and Creamy Spinach-Artichoke Dip; Seven-Spice Cashews; Pear-Mincemeat Crisp. I can hardly wait!
After seeing that picture how can you choose anything but the Chocolate Truffle Cake!
And I Tweeted about the giveaway!
Berry-Banana Breakfast Bread: I can’t but wonder if it’d even make it out of the crock before I’d start devouring it…. 🙂
Oh my goodness! Too much to choose from, but I would definitely try the French Toast Bread Pudding. Or the Chocolate Truffle Cake!
It all sounds delicious, but since I LOVE lemon flavor on almost anything, I’m going to pick the Lemon-Ginger Poached Pears!
I’d actually love to try the French Toast…. looks like I found my Christmas morning breakfast recipe!
All the recipes sound so delicious. I would love to try the Chocolate Truffle Cake and
Carrot Cake with Pineapple first 🙂
I have your other slow cooker book, Fresh From the Vegetarian Slow Cooker and just love it, as I do all your books. But from this book, the first recipes I would make would be the Chocolate Truffle Cake and the Carrot Cake with Pineapple. I am not much of a dessert person, but these appeal to me no end! Thanks for all your wonderful ideas, Robin. You are an inspiration!!
They all look so good. But if I had to pick just one I would love to try Chocolate–Peanut Butter Cheesecake.
Shared on facebook. https://www.facebook.com/kathy.stickneyklaus
Ohh, the warm and creamy artichoke and spinach dip sounds like it would be amazing. And so easy in the slow cooker!
Mmm — chocolate truffle cake. Or anything with artichokes in it. YUM!!!
I guess we would have to try slow cooker granola first. I keep promising my daughter we will make granola and it just hasn’t happened yet.
I would love to try making the Pumpkin-Chocolate Chip Bread. I love making bread in my crock pot!
Anything pumpkin catches my eye, so I’d have to try the Pumpkin Breakfast Quinoa – but they all sound delicious! Thanks for the opportunity to win one of your wonderful cookbooks.
Sausage and scramble casserole! Yum!
Both the pates sound wonderful!
i definitely have a sweet tooth around the holidays so i’d make the choc truffle cake. although the french bread pudding, oh my, sounds amazing!
I would make the Sausage ‘’n’ Scramble Casserole.
After seeing a photo, how can I not say Chocolate Truffle Cake?
The artichoke mushroom pâté sounds terrific.
I would make the Upcountry Pate first; I love vegan pate and I’d like to try a new recipe!
The chocolate truffle cake looks mighty tasty!
I would LOVE to try the Pumpkin chocolate chip bread! Sounds so yummy!
I would start with the artichoke spinach dip then work my way down the list of appetizers!
Slow Cooker Granola gets my vote. Buying Granola is so expensive! If I could make a good one in my slow cooker….awesome.
And thanks for writing another VEGAN cookbook…we can’t have too many of them out in the world so that everyone can see that vegan food is NOT a denial of anything, but delicious and yummy.
Artichokes are my favorite food in the world, so I have to say that the Chickpea and Artichoke-Mushroom Pâté sounds lovely!
Courtney
I’d love to try the chai-spiced breakfast bread! Thanks for the giveaway!
I was just telling Mom yesterday how much I miss her frittattas so the Artichoke and Mushroom Frittatta would be first on my list! Thanks!
The first on your list: Warm and Creamy Artichoke-Spinach Dip. Yum!
I would like to try these recipes first as I need something to take for a morning breakfast style snack to my bible study,
Artichoke and Mushroom Frittatta
Greek Frittatta
There are several other recipes that would be great to try as well. I am amazed all the recipes we can make in a slow cooker. It’s nice not to have to bake in an oven when a slow cooker will do most everything. Slow cookers are wonderful for all those potlucks and other parties one must attend and bring something.
I shared on Facebook
The Coconut Rice Pudding with Mangoes sounds really good. I think I would try that first.
I would really like to make one of the bread puddings or apple cakes…yum! Thanks for an amazing giveaway! I’ve tried to win this book SO many times, lol. If I don’t win it this time, I promise I will finally just buy it!
I’m on a mushroom kick, but I’ve never used them in my slow-cooker, so I’ll say the Sherried Mushroom Crostini.
I have used my slow cookers a lot, especially in winter, but admit I’ve never tried making a dessert. So I vote for a pudding – maybe the Zabaglione-Inspired Bread Pudding….
Yum! How can I pick just one? I want to try them all! I think the creamy artichoke dip would be the first one I’d try. Sounds perfect for New Year’s Eve!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecske. Definitely.
I can’t believe I overlooked the french toast bread pudding when I was trying to find a french toast casserole to make for Christmas morning! I will definitely be making that soon. I would love to try the Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread too.
Wow, I really want this book. I would first try the nut recipes. So cool that you could make these in a slow cooker–They all sound delicious and just right for the holidays.
Southern-Style Sugar and Spice Pecans
Seven-Spice Cashews
Life of the Party Mix
Oregon Trail Mix
Shared on Facebook!
Mmmmm … for me, my first recipe would be the “Sausage ‘’n’ Scramble Casserole”!!
Thanks for another fantastic give-a-way!!
I’d like to try the Southern-Style Sugar and Spice Pecans recipe first.
I posted about this giveaway on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/janel.myers.5/posts/219962604804784
Artichoke and Mushroom Frittatta! 🙂
I’d try the Sausage ‘n Scramble Casserole first. It sounds like it would make a great brunch dish. Happy holidays to you & Jon!
I also tweeted about your giveaway. https://twitter.com/msmollygirl/status/280106715125530624
The chocolate truffle cake would fit in beautifully and be a part of my planned Christmas dinner menu.
I’d love to make the Pumpkin-Chocolate Chip Bread
I adore pineapple and would like to try Carrot Cake with Pineapple.
By the way, I have your Fire and Spice book. I love it! This book is on my wish list.
The Artichoke and Mushroom Frittatta sounds awesome!
Would love to try Pumpkin Breakfast Quinoa!!! I love making breakfast in the slow cooker.
I want to try the scramble casserole & the fritatas! What can I say, I love breakfast!
Though all the recipes sound like something I would love to try, the Greek Frittatta is whats sticking in my head.
I am eager to try Cheesy Mushroom-Chorizo Frittata. I am looking for recipes that would convince my non-vegan husband to go vegan and I think this one should do the trick 🙂
I want to try the chocolate truffle cake!:)
I would definitely like to try the Indian Pudding. I used to love eating it as a child, but haven’t tried a vegan version. The artichoke and mushroom frittata also sounds amazing!
I’m a fan of Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker and would love to get my hands on this edition. The Savory Mediterranean Cheesecake sounds absolutely enticing.
That chocolate truffle cake looks EPIC! Slow cookers would make easy dinners for a college kid like me. 🙂
The cheesy mushroom chorizo frittata!! That’s at least three of my very favorite foods in one dish!!
I’m a sucker for tropical flavors…Pina Colada Cake for me!
Merry Christmas, Robin! I will definitely try to make the Chocolate Truffle Cake!!! Looks soooo delicious!
I will be making the fresh toast bread pudding for Christmas breakfast for my whole family! Can’t wait to try it! Never met a Robin Robertson recipe I didn’t love….
Sausage ‘’n’ Scramble Casserole
The seitan pot roast is amazing!!!
the smoking chipostle bean dip!
Mmm, Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cheesecake 🙂
French Toast Bread Pudding cooking now.
I have the book and made several recipes.
If I win I am gifting this book to a friend.
Shared on FB.
Oh my goodness.. French Toast Bread Pudding!
I’d like to try the “Indian Pudding.” I bet I’ve got all the spices on hand.
Straight to the granola-stuffed baked apples!
Which recipe to try first, hmmm…one of the pates, probably, or maybe the wiener balls 🙂
Thanks for doing another wonderful giveaway! I’m so excited about this one, been dying for this book so I can break open my slow cooker that is still in the box (it’s a big 7 quart one…).
XOXO
I’d definitely try Pumpkin Breakfast Quinoa first… Sounds sooooo yummy! 😀
The Indian Pudding sounds very interesting!
I borrowed a copy from the library to try it out and it’s great! Was planning to purchase but a free copy will do just fine 🙂
Geez, I gotta pick only *one*?? Okay, well, even though I have a weakness for pumpkin anything, I found myself drawn to the Coconut Rice Pudding with Mangoes. I have a weakness for coconut, too. Plus, I have a slow cooker I haven’t had occasion to use. It would be fun to haul it out and make something fragrant and comfort-y. : )
Thanks for the give away! I would love to try the amish oatmeal. I love oatmeal. I feel so good when I eat it. I am always looking for more recipes for oatmeal.
Shannon
The french toast bread pudding sounds appealing
It’s a no-brainer. Bread pudding and French toast are two of my favorite things. Together as one dish? That has to be something to get excited about!
There is no contest on which recipe i would make first. I would make Warm and Creamy Artichoke-Spinach Dip and then proceed to eat the whole batch…what can I say, I am addicted to the stuff 🙂
I’d making that bread pudding for Christmas morning! I was toying with a few recipes, but that one takes the cake! Cheers and Happy Holidays.
I would most like to try the Warm and Creamy Artichoke-Spinach Dip!
Thanks, great giveaway!