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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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Wow, marvelous blog! How long have you been blogging? This cake is my new favorite!
Thank you! We have been doing this for about 6 years.
When I don’t have sweetened condensed milk I omit it and it turns out great. I use Mrs. richardson’s butterscotch caramel. I am not a fan of score bar so I top with crushed Oreos. Yum… My husband calls this score cake with or without the candy bar.
Hi, I know it’s been eleventy months since you posted this, but I’m thinking about making this because I read somewhere that it’s also called “Slap yo momma twice cake” and I want to gift it to my mom and call it that. 😛 The problem is that I live in Greece and we don’t have skor bars here… Would something like twix do? Or snickers? I can’t think of many alternatives, but it seems to me like these two would fit…
Sure any of those would work… I just like the crunch of stor bars. Maybe try any other kind of chocolate covered toffee… Or butterfinger would probably be ok too.
What size can of milk?
There’s glutten free and sugar free cake mixes offered by betty crocker brand and other brands at walmart for those asking for healthier conversions. other ingredients you could probably go light on cool whip or instant light pudding vanilla or banana mix i imagine works well too.
Just made this for my cousins birthday party tonight!! I’ve tried it once before! Thanks for posting it so I could get the recipe!
This recipe is also very good with the chocolate eagle brand sweet and condensed milk!
I have been making this cake for years! It’s my kids favorite, but we have always called it Butterfinger Cake because I’ve always used yellow cake mix and butterfinger candy bars on top. The rest is the same. I always put it in the refrigerator overnight and put the cool whip and candy bars on right before serving. We think it’s always better a day or two later….more gooey!! YUMMY!!!
I use butterfinger candy bars and either butterscotch or caramel ice cream topping. I do not use the sweetened condensed milk and it is heavenly:) In fact several members of the family request this cake for their Birthday every year. Great recipe!
This is different “better than sex cake” my momma used to make and i miss it so much. This looks delicious though, so I will make this and try it out.
This looks so yummy!!!
Can you make it the night before you need it?
You can, but it will begin to get a little soggy. It is best made the day you will be serving it.
Making this for the first time–our kid friendly name is “Better than Hockey” cake. Can’t wait!
Do you think it would be ok to use something besides cool whip, like some other type of frosting or cream filling? I want to make this for my boyfriend but he’s not a huge fan of cool whip. This cake looks so good!
You could try doing regular whipped cream, that would probably be the closest thing to cool whip. I think frosting would make it too rich. Maybe cheesecake flavored pudding….
I just made this tonight and LOVE it! I DELICIOUS!
I have made this cake for years (over15) but i always used yellow cake…. Its still just as good.
I save this for very special events. I made it for work for a United Way auction and it won $50 for the contribution. I also use it for whenever I want to thank someone for doing a great job. They are so amazed that someone makes cakes I dare not say how easy it is.
Great fun.
Thank you to Erica also!
You are very welcome! I’m glad you like it!
This is the best cake ever. I have made this probably 5 times this summer. Everyone loves it. I am making it again today for another cookout. Thank you for PInterest.
We want to make this into cupcakes and freeze until being served next week, any comments?