Slow Cooker Desserts To Honor 32 Years Of The Nightmare Before Christmas

October 9th marks the anniversary of The Nightmare Before Christmas’s premiere (1993) which means in 2025, it's officially 32 years since Jack Skellington first sauntered into our screens.

Over the decades, the film has grown from a cult classic to a beloved seasonal staple—reissued annually in special formats and screened in immersive versions (3D, 4D) for fans.

So this year, let’s honor Halloween Town with a bit of eerie elegance in the kitchen: slow cooker desserts that are mostly hands-off but still dazzle. No need to fuss or fire up the oven—just mix, set, and let the magic (and heat) do the work.

Why Slow Cooker Desserts Are Perfect for Movie Night

• Hands-off magic: Many slow cooker desserts take just a few minutes to assemble, then you walk away.
  

• Low heat, cozy ambiance: When your oven is busy (or you want to avoid heating up your place), the slow cooker is a cozy alternative.
  

• Rich textures: From molten lava cakes to gooey dump cakes, the slow cooker can coax deep, comforting flavors.
  

• Parties made easy: Let the dessert quietly bubble while you cue up the film, set the mood, or decorate your table with skeletons, pumpkins, and ghostly garlands.
  
  

Four Low-Effort, High-Impact Slow Cooker Desserts to Try

Here are five desserts that strike a great balance of ease and wow—perfect for a Nightmare Before Christmas–themed evening.

1. Slow Cooker Chocolate Lava Cake

A dark, molten indulgence that’s decadence made simple. The batter forms a cake layer on top while the bottom melts into a rich chocolate sauce. Serve warm, spoon the sauce over vanilla ice cream (or ghost-white whipped cream), and call it “Jack’s soul in chocolate form.”

Ingredients

• 1 box chocolate cake mix (15.25 oz)
  
• 1 ¾ cups milk
  
• ½ cup vegetable oil
  
• 3 eggs
  
• 1 cup chocolate chips
  
• 1 box instant chocolate pudding mix (3.9 oz)
  
• 2 cups milk (for pudding)
  
  

Instructions

1. Spray slow cooker with nonstick spray.
   
2. Prepare cake batter as directed and pour into slow cooker.
   
3. In a separate bowl, whisk pudding mix with milk until thickened.
   
4. Pour pudding over cake batter, then sprinkle chocolate chips on top.
   
5. Cover and cook on low for 2½–3 hours until top is set but gooey inside.
   
6. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream.
   

Tips / spooky twist:

• Use black or charcoal-colored bowls.
  

• Garnish with edible silver stars or a sprinkle of black sanding sugar to evoke Jack’s pinstripe vibe.
  

• Use a skull-shaped scoop of ice cream.
  
  

Shop Nightmare Before Christmas Slow Cooker

2. Slow Cooker Apple Cobbler (Pumpkin Town Edition)

A comforting classic among slow cooker desserts. Think tender apples, warm spices, and a simple topping.

 

Ingredients

• 5 cups peeled, sliced apples
  
• ½ cup brown sugar
  
• 1 tsp cinnamon
  
• 1 box yellow cake mix (15.25 oz)
  
• ½ cup melted butter
  
• ½ cup pumpkin puree (optional for “Pumpkin Town” twist)
  

Instructions

1. Place apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon into slow cooker.
   
2. Mix pumpkin puree with cake mix and butter to form crumbs.
   
3. Sprinkle mixture evenly over apples.
   
4. Cook on low for 3–4 hours or until topping is golden and apples are tender.
   
5. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
   

What to do to make it “Nightmare”-themed:

• Use a mix of red and green apples and swirl in pumpkin purée.
  

• Top with bat-shaped pie crust cutouts.
  

• Dust with cinnamon or use black sugar for a darker aesthetic.
  
  

Shop Nightmare Before Christmas Slow Cooker

3. Peanut Butter Cookie Bars in the Crock Pot

Soft, chewy, with edges that caramelize just so. These bars are terrific for a crowd, and the slow cooker keeps them warm and sliceable.

Ingredients

• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  
• ½ cup butter, softened
  
• 1 cup sugar
  
• 1 egg
  
• 1 cup flour
  
• 1 tsp baking soda
  
• ½ cup chocolate chips
  

Instructions

1. In a bowl, mix peanut butter, butter, sugar, and egg until smooth.
   
2. Stir in flour, baking soda, and chocolate chips.
   
3. Spread mixture evenly in greased slow cooker.
   
4. Cook on low for 2–3 hours or until edges are set.
   
5. Cool slightly before cutting into bars.
   

Twist ideas:

• Add mini chocolate “bones” or candy eyeballs before serving.
  

• Drizzle with white chocolate tinted violet or green to resemble ectoplasm.
  

• Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with a Jack Skellington cookie.
  
  

4. Slow Cooker Pecan Pie (or Pecan Tart-ish Dessert)

The nuts meld with gooey filling in a way that feels indulgent but still easy.

Ingredients

• 1 refrigerated pie crust
  
• 1 ½ cups pecan halves
  
• 1 cup brown sugar
  
• ½ cup corn syrup
  
• 3 eggs
  
• 3 tbsp melted butter
  
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
  

Instructions

1. Line the slow cooker with parchment and place crust in bottom.
   
2. In a bowl, whisk eggs, brown sugar, syrup, butter, and vanilla.
   
3. Stir in pecans and pour mixture into crust.
   
4. Cook on low for 3–4 hours or until filling is set.
   
5. Let cool slightly before slicing.
   

Storytelling spin:

• Call it “Oogie Boogie’s Bug-Nut Surprise” and top with candy “bugs.”
  

• Garnish with spun sugar spider webs or a drizzle of dark chocolate.
  
  

Timeline for the Night

Here’s a simple flow:

1. Afternoon / early evening
   

• Assemble one or two slow cooker desserts (e.g. lava cake + cobbler).
  

• Set them on “low” or “warm” so they stay ready.
  

2. Right before showtime
   

• Finish with toppings or garnish (eyes, drizzle, etc.).
  

• Set up your viewing area: dim lights, flickering candles, stack of tissues (for tears of joy).
  

3. During the film
   

• Offer dessert (in bowls or plates) with spoons or mini shovels (tiny skeleton-hand dessert spoons, maybe).
  

• Pause for “This Is Halloween” or “Sally’s Song” to let people steal bites.
  

4. After credits
   

• Let lingering guests scoop more dessert.
  

• Chat movie trivia or favorite Jack/Sally moments.
  
  

Final Thoughts: A Hauntingly Sweet Tribute

At 32 years strong, The Nightmare Before Christmas continues to cast a spell over fans. Whether it's Jack’s existential wanderings, Sally’s stitched heart, or Oogie Boogie’s bug-fueled mischief, the world of Halloween Town invites creative celebration.

By pairing the film with low-effort, high-impact slow cooker desserts, you're turning tasty treats into an immersive event. You don’t need to be a pastry chef—just a little imagination and a crockpot is enough to join in the festivities.

So light your candles, cue the spooky soundtrack, and let the slow cooker work its magic as you celebrate the 32nd anniversary in style. After all, what’s this? It’s dessert… and delight.