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This Better Than Sex Cake is a rich chocolate poke cake filled with caramel and sweetened condensed milk, then topped with fluffy whipped topping and crunchy toffee pieces. It starts with a simple cake mix, but once that caramel filling sinks into the cake, it tastes like the kind of dessert everyone asks for again.
5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“This cake makes a great dessert for any occasion and is always one of the first one to go! So yummy!” – Wilhelmina
“The title of this recipe couldn’t be more accurate! SO GOOD!!!” – Krissy
“Made this for my family Easter celebration this year and it was a HUGE success! Everyone had seconds!” – Suzanne
Why I Love This Cake
This cake has been a family favorite for years. My kids have requested it for their birthdays many times, and it quickly became one of those desserts I knew I could count on for parties, birthdays, and family dinners. I love that it starts with a basic cake mix but tastes like so much more once the caramel and sweetened condensed milk soak down into the cake.
The name is not exactly family friendly, so around kids we usually call it “Better Than You Know What Cake” or “Better Than Anything Cake”. No matter what you call it, the combination of chocolate cake, caramel filling, whipped topping, and crunchy Heath or Skor candy bars is always a hit.
🩷 Erica
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Devil’s food cake mix – This gives the cake a rich chocolate base and keeps the recipe quick and easy.
- Sweetened condensed milk – This soaks into the cake and makes it extra moist and sweet.
- Caramel topping – Ice cream caramel topping works great, or you can use homemade caramel sauce.
- Whipped topping – Cool Whip is easy and holds up well, but homemade whipped cream also works.
- Heath or Skor candy bars – Chopped toffee bars add the best crunchy topping.
Ingredient Additions and Substitutions
- Cake mix: Devil’s food cake is my favorite, but German chocolate cake mix or regular chocolate cake mix also work well.
- Homemade cake mix: If you prefer to make the cake from scratch, use a Homemade Chocolate Cake Mix and bake it in a 9×13 pan.
- Candy topping: Try Butterfinger, Snickers, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Reese’s Pieces, mini M&M’s, crushed Oreos, mini Oreos, Fudge Stripe cookies, chocolate chips, or peanut butter chips.
- Caramel sauce: Store-bought caramel ice cream topping is easiest, but homemade caramel sauce makes it extra good.
- Whipped topping: Use thawed Cool Whip for convenience, or make homemade whipped cream with heavy cream and sugar. Avoid canned whipped cream because it melts too quickly.
- Extra chocolate: Drizzle chocolate syrup or hot fudge over the top before serving.
- Nut allergy note: Check the labels on Heath and Skor bars if you are serving someone with a nut allergy, since toffee candies may contain almonds or be made around nuts.
How to Make Better Than Sex Cake
- Bake the cake. Prepare the Devil’s food cake mix according to the package directions for a 9×13-inch pan. Let the cake cool for about 15 minutes.
- Poke and fill. Use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes evenly over the warm cake, about halfway down. Stir together the sweetened condensed milk and caramel topping, then slowly pour it over the cake so it sinks into the holes.
- Chill and spread. Cover and refrigerate the cake until completely cooled. This gives the caramel filling time to soak in and makes the cake easier to frost. Spread whipped topping over the chilled cake.
- Top and serve. Sprinkle chopped Heath or Skor candy bars on top. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t poke all the way through the cake. The filling should settle into the cake, not pool at the bottom of the pan.
- Pour slowly. Give the caramel mixture time to sink into the holes as you pour.
- Chill before topping. If the cake is still warm, the whipped topping can melt and slide around.
- Add the candy right before serving. This keeps the toffee pieces crunchy.
- Use a 9×13-inch pan. This size gives the right thickness and makes the cake easy to slice for a crowd.
- Make altitude adjustments if needed. Follow the high-altitude instructions on the cake mix box if you live at a higher elevation.
- Use toffee bits to save time. Heath bits from the baking aisle are easier than chopping candy bars.
- For a gooier cake, chill longer. This cake is even better once it has had time to soak in the fridge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Better Than Sex Cake is a chocolate poke cake made with caramel, sweetened condensed milk, whipped topping, and chopped toffee candy bars. The filling soaks into the cake and makes it extra moist, while the whipped topping and candy add a creamy, crunchy finish.
Yes! If you want a more family-friendly name, call it Better Than Anything Cake, Better Than You Know What Cake, or Chocolate Caramel Toffee Poke Cake.
Yes, homemade whipped cream cream works well. Just don’t use canned whipped cream because it melts quickly and can make the top of the cake runny.
Yes. Homemade caramel sauce works beautifully in this cake. You can use it warm or cooled, as long as it is pourable enough to soak into the holes.
Heath and Skor bars are both chocolate-covered toffee bars and either one works for this recipe. Skor tends to have a slightly more buttery flavor, while Heath has a classic toffee flavor that is easy to find in most grocery stores.
Yes. Devil’s food cake gives the richest chocolate flavor, but German chocolate cake mix, regular chocolate cake mix, yellow cake mix, or white cake mix can also be used.
The cake can get soggy if the holes go all the way to the bottom, if too much filling pools in one spot, or if it sits too long after being fully assembled. Pour slowly, spread the filling evenly, and enjoy the cake within a couple of days for the best texture.
Yes, you can make Better Than Sex Cake gluten-free by using a gluten-free chocolate cake mix. Also check the labels on the caramel topping, sweetened condensed milk, whipped topping, and candy bars to make sure they are gluten-free. Toffee bars can vary by brand, so gluten-free toffee bits or another certified gluten-free candy topping may be a safer option.
Make Ahead and Storage
Make ahead: Bake the cake and add the caramel filling up to one day ahead. Cover and refrigerate, then add the whipped topping and chopped candy bars before serving.
Storing: Keep the cake covered in the refrigerator. It is best within 2 to 3 days because the topping and cake can get softer the longer it sits.
Freezing: Freeze the baked cake before adding the filling and topping. Wrap it tightly, freeze, then thaw completely before finishing the recipe.
Serving: This cake is best served chilled. Keep it in the fridge until you are ready to slice and serve.
Pairing Ideas
This cake is rich, so I like serving it after a simple dinner or alongside lighter party foods. It goes well with recipes like Grilled Balsamic Chicken, Tomato Basil Pasta, Pulled Pork Sandwiches, or a big Chef Salad and Breadtwists.
More Poke Cake Recipes
Better Than Sex Cake is one of those easy desserts that always gets people talking. It is rich, chocolatey, creamy, crunchy, and so simple to make with a cake mix and a few extra ingredients. Make it for a birthday, potluck, holiday, or Sunday dinner and watch how fast it disappears.
If you make this Better Than Sex Cake, leave a comment and let us know what your family calls it! 💛
Better Than Sex Cake
Video
Ingredients
- 15.25 ounces Devil’s Food Cake Mix
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 12.25 ounces caramel flavored topping
- 8 ounces frozen whipped topping, thawed
- 4 Heath or Skor candy bars, chopped
Instructions
- Bake cake according to package directions for a 9×13 inch pan. Cool for about 15 minutes. Using the handle of a wooden spoon, poke holes into the cake.
- In a small bowl, combine sweetened condensed milk and caramel topping. Slowly pour caramel mixture over the cake, letting it sink into the holes.
- Let cake cool completely (I usually cover it and put it in the fridge until I'm ready to serve it). Top cooled cake with whipped topping.
- Decorate the top of the cake with chopped candy bars. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
Equipment
- 9×13 Cake Pan
- Wooden Spoon
- Hand Mixer
- Mixing Bowls
Notes
- Poke the holes about halfway into the cake, not all the way through.
- Pour the caramel mixture slowly so it has time to soak in.
- Chill the cake before adding the whipped topping.
- Add the chopped candy bars close to serving time so they stay crunchy.
- Cool Whip works well, but homemade whipped cream can also be used.
- Store covered in the refrigerator and enjoy within 2 to 3 days for the best texture.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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So left over cake should be stored in the fridge or room temperature?
Definitely in the fridge.
I would like to make this Thursday to serve on Saturday?
Any problem?
The cake will be fine to make on Thursday and serve on Saturday. Keep it covered and in the refrigerator. Add the cool whip and toppings just before serving. It will be great!
OMG..this is sooooo delicious.
I plan to make this for a picnic. Sounds fantastic! I was wondering how it is to cut. Maybe should just spoon it out? I think that would work ok. What’s you’re opinion?
You should be able to cut it with a knife and serve it up, but spooning it out would work fine too!
If I don’t have sweeten condense milk. Can I substitute with evaporated milk? Or just not add milk, since I don’t have any?
Sorry, you need to use sweetened condensed milk for it to turn out properly.
U can puncture the lid of the evaporated milk and simmer it in water level halfway up the can for 1hour and it will make caramel sauce similar to sweetened condensed milk. Pour it over the cake Uncooked Evaporated milk would make a soggy cake.
I used Butter Pecan Cake Mix (because I was out of chocolate). It was delicious too!!! It is a favorite at my house.
This cake is a huge hit with my family & friends. Every time we have get together’s I already know what I’m supposed to bring. I have also used this with yellow cake mix & butterfingers. It is good as well. It’s hard to find Heath Bars around here for some reason so if I can’t find them I have used Snicker bars & Recces Bits as well.
Ever tried it with butterscotch instead of carmel…mmmmmmmmm that was a hit also
Do you think that I could use strawberry (raspberry?) syrup instead of the caramel and omit the crushed candy bar on top??? I am thinking of making this for my friends birthday party and she isn’t fond of chocolate candy of caramel… any tips???
Honestly, you can use whatever you would like! I have never done it before but it sounds like it could be good!
It is so good! have a similar recipe, use a butter pecan cake mix instead of the chocolate, omit the whipped cream and add chopped skor bars to the top after you pour the sweetened milk on it. The bars melt on the top of the cake. Toooo DIE for!!!!
Thanks for all the replys. I could not find skor candy bars. Glad to know I can use reeses peanut butter cups or health. Thanks again
I am from Cushig, OK
Lois
Does it have to stay refrigerated after you make it? I want to make this for a staff get together at work but there won’t be a refrigerator there.
I like it best refrigerated but room temp isn’t bad. The cake is more moist at room temp so that’s a plus I guess!
love love love this cake! We are making it for my birthday tomorrow (as we have for every other birthday!!) My mom always called it “better than tom selleck cake” growing up… : )
I just made this tonight and LOVE it! I folded the cool whip into a little bit of instant vanilla pudding (just like with jello cake) to give it a little extra creaminess and flavor. DELICIOUS! 🙂
Will you please email me the jello cake recipe? It sounds great! Email: 4mystical10@bellsouth.net
Hello,
I’m Australian and I tried this recipe last night with Tim Tams (chocolate covered biscuits very popular here) and it was fanbloodytastic. Have a good week!
Regards,
Sharon Ann
Ok just put the cake in the oven..I got this from pintrest…looking for a fun bday cake for my Husband tonight,I hope it comes out as good as it looks!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks so much
I am trying to find a healthier recipe for Easter for my inlaws..They told me to bring a dessert but it cannot be healthy. So just to prove them wrong I want to make something “healthier”. Do you think there is a way to tweak this to make it “Healthier?
Becky– I don’t know what to tell you! I don’t know how to make this healthy without taking away from the taste! Maybe use light whipped topping and applesauce instead of oil in the cake mix? That is all I can come up with off the top of my head. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help!
You can use light or sugar-free whipped topping, caramel, sweetened condensed milk. They even have low-sugar chocolate cake. It doesn’t make it “healthy,” but healthier.
If you are a coconut fan, I would pour coconut milk over the cake instead of sweetened condensed milk. use sugar free caramel syrup, melt down dark dark chocolate bars and drizzle over, use berries instead of candy bars (rasberries, blueberries, chopped strawberries). You can stick with cool whip, but I would whip up my own heavy whipping cream (it is considered a “healthy” fat 🙂
I have to stay away from sugar and starch so to make this recipe I’m making my own chocolate cake w/coconut flour and unsweetened cocoa powder sweetened with xylitol. Haven’t tried it yet but I’m excited to!
This is has been a long time family favorite…. in the old days it was also known as the Robert Redford cake…
When my daughter went off to college, she called home for the recipe and I couldn’t, in good concious pass it along to her with its “sinful” name to make for her college roommates…. and since she was too young to know Robert Redford movies, I quickly called it the Tom Selleck Cake and it’s been known by that ever since…
Ha ha ha
Everyone who eats this loves it and who doesn’t love Tom Selleck!!!
We make this cake but call it PMS cake. It is delish!!!!!!
Has anyone done this in a cupcake? Does it work or make the papers soggy? TIA!
My sister in law first introduced me to this cake and its now my absolute favorite! I love this cake 😀 I don’t think I have met anyone thats tried it that did not like it!
I’ve made this hundreds of times and call it Better Than Sex Cake. It’s always a hit and so simple to make. Yum yum!