10 Soul-Warming Slow Cooker Recipes for Winter Gatherings

This simple dessert is full of holiday fun. Ingredients: 12 oz semisweet chocolate chips, 4 oz bittersweet chocolate, 1 cup heavy cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Directions: Place all ingredients into a heatproof ceramic or glass jar. Fill a slow cooker with about 2-3 inches of water and place the jar into the slow cooker. Cook on high for 1-2 hours until the chocolate is melted. Mix well and serve with cookies, pretzels, fruit, marshmallows or graham crackers. Entertaining a large crowd? Add more than one jar to the slow cooker.

Protein-packed and loaded with good-for-you veggies, this soup tastes 1,000 times better than the stuff in a can. Ingredients: (2) 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes, 2 tablespoons tomato paste, 4 cups vegetable broth, 2 cups water, 1 bag frozen Italian vegetable mix, 1 large onion (diced), 5 cloves minced garlic, 2 teaspoons dried Italian spice, 14.5 oz can red kidney beans (drained and rinsed), 14.5 oz can great northern beans (drained and rinsed), 1.5 cups ditalini (tubular) pasta, 2.5 cups baby spinach, salt and pepper to taste. Directions: Add the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, vegetable stock, water, onions, spices and frozen vegetables in a slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Add the beans and pasta and cook for another half hour, or until pasta is tender. Stir in spinach and mix until wilted. Serve hot, topped with shredded parmesan and a side of garlic toast.

Skip the Chinese takeout and make this one-pot flavorful dish at home. Ingredients: 2 pounds chuck roast, 1/2 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup water, 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, 3 cloves minced garlic, 2 teaspoons minced ginger and 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. Directions: Combine beef, soy sauce, water, brown sugar, garlic and ginger in a slow cooker. Cook on low for 8-10 hours. Remove meat from slow cooker and shred. Whisk together 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 4 tablespoons of water. Add 1/2 cup of the liquid from the slow cooker to a pan and mix in the cornstarch mixture. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until thick and bubbly. Pour the thickened sauce back into the slow cooker and mix. Serve the shredded beef over rice with a spoonful of sauce and garnish with fresh green onions.

Set the holiday mood with a warm, spiced cider. Ingredients: 1 gallon unfiltered apple cider, 1 medium orange (sliced), 1.5-inch piece fresh ginger, 5 cinnamon sticks, 1 tablespoon cloves, 3-4 cardamom pods. Directions: Place all ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on low for 4 hours or until the flavors meld. Optional: serve with a shot of rum or bourbon on the side. Top with a slice of orange.