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This Better Than Sex Cake is a simple recipe that turns a basic cake mix into a decadent dessert. Chocolate cake filled with a sweet caramel filling, topped with chopped toffee bars, this Better Than Sex Cake is always our go-to when we need to whip up a quick dessert.
Featured With This Recipe
This Better Than Sex Cake is rich, creamy, and sinfully delicious, and it’s so easy to make! It can be made as far in advance as two days before serving, but store it in the refrigerator until just before serving time. Top with whipped topping and toppings right before serving.
Of course, the name of this cake is not exactly family friendly. In front of the kids we call it “Better Than You Know What Cake.” We have had many of our readers share with us what they call this dessert. Some people say they call it “Better Than Sex,” while others say they call it “Better Than Anything You Can Think Of.” Still others have told us they simply refer to it as their “secret weapon.” Whatever you want to call this delicious dessert, one thing is for sure: It’s easy to make, tastes incredible, and will leave everyone satisfied and smiling!
What is Better Than Sex Cake?
Better Than Sex Cake is a decadent chocolate poke cake that combines layers of moist chocolate cake, creamy whipped cream, rich caramel sauce, and a sprinkle of toffee bits. The result is a heavenly dessert with a combination of flavors and textures that will have you craving more.
It All Started with a Box Cake
You won’t believe that this sinfully delicious Better Than Sex Cake recipe starts out with just a regular box cake mix and a cake pan. The perfect combination to start this recipe off quick and easy. My favorite part of this recipe is poking the holes in the cake with a wooden spoon and pouring the caramel sauce over the top. It is so fun! Make sure the holes are evenly spaced and not too close together, otherwise your cake will end up soggy. Here’s what you need for this recipe:
- Devil’s Food Cake Mix
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Caramel ice cream topping
- frozen whipped topping (or fresh whipped cream)
- Heath candy bars (or Skor bars), chopped
Make Your Own Chocolate Cake Mix
Prefer to make your cake mix from scratch? We’ve got you covered! Make any kind of cake mix using our simple Homemade Cake Mix Recipe and pick the variation you are going for. After making the cake mix, just add eggs, butter, cocoa, and milk to make the perfect cake batter.
Better Than Sex Cake Variations
We have made this several different ways, we have even had a reader report that it is delicious with a white cake mix or yellow cake mix in place of the chocolate mix. If you can’t find Devil’s Food Cake mix, you can use a German chocolate cake mix or a regular chocolate cake mix instead. You can also add any kind of chopped up candy bars on the top, but we love Skor candy bars or Heath bars the best. The crunchy toffee candy is so good! Here are some more great topping ideas:
- Butterfinger Bars
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
- M & Ms Minis
- Reese’s Pieces
- Snickers Bars
- Crushed Oreo Cookies or Mini Oreos
- Fudge Stripe Cookies
- Chocolate Chips
- Peanut Butter Chips
- Caramel ice cream topping (drizzle over the top in a fun design. YUM!)
- Hot fudge (can also be drizzled over the top)
All work great and are just as good, it just depends on the taste you are going for. Make it with your favorite candy to make it just right for YOU.
Storage Tips
To keep your “Better Than Sex” cake tasting fresh and delicious, here are some helpful storage tips:
- Refrigeration: Due to its whipped cream and caramel components, it’s best to store the cake in the refrigerator. Cover it tightly with plastic wrap or transfer it to an airtight container to prevent drying out and to maintain its moisture.
- Slicing and Storing: If you have leftover slices, individually wrap them in plastic wrap or place them in individual airtight containers. This will help maintain the freshness and prevent the cake from absorbing any unwanted odors from the refrigerator.
- Freezing: If you anticipate longer storage, consider freezing the entire cake or individual portions. Wrap each slice tightly in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe container or resealable bag or simply place the entire cake in a freezer-safe container or bag. Ensure the cake or slices are well-protected to prevent freezer burn. The frozen cake can be enjoyed within 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
- Serve Chilled or Thawed: If you prefer a colder and firmer texture, you can serve the cake directly from the refrigerator. Otherwise, you can let it sit at room temperature for about 15-30 minutes before serving to allow it to soften slightly.
Remember, the “Better Than Sex” cake is best enjoyed when fresh. So, aim to consume it within a few days for the ultimate flavor experience.
More Cake Recipes
If you love this Better Than Sex Cake, check out some of our favorite cake recipes!
- Strawberries and Cream Cake– Strawberries and Cream Cake is a great summer dessert, loaded with fresh strawberries in both the cake and frosting! Perfect for a family get together.
- Cinnamon Swirl Cake– This Cinnamon Swirl Cake is one of my favorite desserts because it’s quick, easy and so yummy! It’s like a cinnamon roll in a cake, end everyone loves it!
- Chocolate Chocolate Chip Nothing Bundt Cake Copycat– Our copycat version of Nothing Bundt Cake’s Chocolate Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake is a MUST TRY! It is one of our most popular recipes for a good reason.
- Carnival Cruise Warm Melting Cake– Have you tried the Carnival Cruise Line Warm Chocolate Melting Cake? If you’ve been on a Carnival Cruise, you know how amazing it is. If not, you can indulge in this decadent chocolate melting cake at home.
- Flourless Chocolate Cake– This Flourless Chocolate Cake is by far the easiest version I have ever made and it tastes just as good as more difficult recipes. It is light and decadent and has a rich chocolate flavor.
- Chocolate Pudding Cake– This Chocolate Pudding Cake is probably the easiest chocolate cake recipe out there. There are only 4 ingredients! If you love our Better Than Sex Cake, you are going to love this chocolatey moist cake.
- Orange Pineapple Cake– Orange Pineapple cake is a light, fruity cake with an island flair. You will love the delicious whipped creamy topping! Perfect for potlucks and parties!
- Coconut Cream Cake with Coconut Frosting– This Coconut Cream Cake is a coconut lovers dream! It is a coconut infused cake, with a rich and creamy coconut cream cheese frosting, sprinkled with even more toasted coconut.
- Coca-Cola Cake – This Coca-Cola Cake is a moist, chocolatey dessert flavored with the popular, fizzy, soft drink. Topped with frosting and maraschino cherries.
More Poke Cake Recipes
What makes this Better Than Sex Cake so moist and delicious is poking holes in the cake and pouring a caramel sauce over the holes. We call this a “Poke Cake”. Try some of our other delicious poke cake recipes!
- Raspberry Lemon Poke Cake – Raspberry Lemon Jello Poke Cake is a cold, refreshing treat! You’ll love this moist, tangy lemon and raspberry flavor with light pudding frosting.
- Pumpkin Poke Cake – This Pumpkin Poke Cake is a deliciously rich and ultra moist cake with a creamy, crunchy topping. Every bite tastes like fall!
- Piña Colada Poke Cake – This Piña Colada Cake is bursting with coconut and pineapple. The topping on this cake is simple, yet so delicious. It is the perfect summer dessert!
- 4th of July Poke Cake – This 4th of July Cake is the perfect chilled dessert for your Independence Day celebrations. It is so fun with the red, white, and blue colors inside.
Frequently Asked Questions
Heath and Skor Candy Bars are English toffee bars covered in milk chocolate. The Hershey Company makes the Heath Toffee bars and also sells Heath Toffee Bits which are great for baking in cookies and as a topping on this cake. The Hershey Company, makers of Skor Bars, markets them as “buttery toffee enrobed in milk chocolate.” There are no nuts in either bar. They can be found in typical grocery stores.
Yes, make it a day or two before serving if needed, but store it in the refrigerator. Add the whipped topping and toppings just before serving.
Absolutely! However, don’t use the whipped cream that comes in a can. It melts quickly and becomes runny, and won’t work for this recipe. You can make your own whipped cream with heavy cream and sugar, and it will taste amazing!
Better Than Sex Cake
Video
Equipment
- 9×13 Cake Pan
- Wooden Spoon
- Hand Mixer
- Mixing Bowls
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.
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 Evap
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 good but I have a similiar receipe that is much better. 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!!!! MUCH better than this receipe. I wouldn’t make this again.
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!