Everyone needs this Better Than Sex Cake recipe in their dessert arsenal — it’s the kind of show-stopping treat that makes people gasp at first bite and immediately beg for the recipe.
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Imagine diving into layers of rich chocolate cake dripping with warm caramel and sweetened condensed milk, all topped with clouds of whipped cream and a sprinkle of crushed Heath bars for the perfect crunch.
What makes this recipe truly special isn’t just its scandalous name or incredible taste, but the fact that it transforms simple pantry ingredients into something so mind-blowingly delicious that your friends will swear you spent hours in the kitchen (when it actually takes just minutes to throw together).
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Why You’ll Love This Better Than Sex Cake Recipe
- Effortlessly Impressive: Despite starting with a box mix, this cake turns out so rich and decadent that everyone will think you spent hours making it from scratch — it’s the perfect “secret weapon” dessert for when you want maximum impact with minimal effort.
- Nearly Foolproof: The recipe is incredibly forgiving. Even if you’re not an experienced baker, the simple steps and common ingredients make it almost impossible to mess up, and the caramel mixture ensures your cake will always turn out moist and delicious.
- Make-Ahead Magic: Not only does this cake hold up beautifully in the fridge for several days, but it actually gets better as it sits.
- Budget-Friendly Luxury: Using simple supermarket ingredients like cake mix, Cool Whip, and Heath bars, this recipe delivers five-star dessert flavor without breaking the bank on specialty ingredients or tools.
🎂 My mom taught me early on how to make a decadent chocolate cake with simple ingredients I have in the pantry!
Recipe Ingredients
- Chocolate cake mix
- Vegetable oil
- Water
- Eggs
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Caramel sauce
- Heath candy bar — or the Heath candy bar pieces
- Cool Whip
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Better Than Sex Cake
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Butter down a 9×13 inch baking dish or coat it in nonstick cooking spray. Gather all of your ingredients.
Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cake mix, oil, water, and eggs.
Step 3: Once the cake batter is homogenous, pour it into the prepared dish. Bake for 30 minutes.
Step 4: Use a large skewer to poke holes throughout the cake. Stir together the condensed milk and caramel sauce and then microwave the mixture for 20 seconds.
Step 5: Pour the caramel mixture over the top of the cake and then allow it to cool on the counter for 30 minutes.
Step 6: Once the cake is cool, spread the cool whip over the top of it and sprinkle on the Heath bar pieces.
Recipe FAQs
While Heath bars provide that classic toffee crunch, feel free to experiment! Chopped nuts or chocolate pieces make excellent alternatives that still deliver wonderful texture and flavor.
Thanks to the caramel-milk mixture that seeps into the cake, moisture won’t be an issue. For extra insurance, try using milk instead of water in your cake mix — it adds even more richness to the final result.
Absolutely! While Cool Whip offers convenience, homemade whipped cream adds a special touch. Simply whip together heavy cream, vanilla, and sugar until it reaches spreading consistency. Both options result in a delicious topping.
Expert Tips
- Lots of Holes: More holes mean better distribution of the caramel mixture so don’t skimp on the holes!
- Plan Ahead: Move the Cool Whip to the fridge when you start preparing the cake batter so it’s thawed out when needed.
- Patience Pays Off: Letting the cake cool completely ensures the topping stays put and allows the caramel mixture to fully incorporate so be sure to let it completely cool.
- Crushed Candy: Look for crushed Heath bars in the baking aisle near the chocolate chips, or simply crush whole bars yourself.
How to Store Your Leftover Cake
This cake rarely lasts long, but if you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, they’ll keep beautifully in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Just cover the pan with plastic wrap or transfer slices to an airtight container.
A Few Other Amazing Chocolate Cakes I Love
Chocolate cakes are always crowd pleasers and I have several super easy to make recipes that you might also enjoy.
- Another chocolate cake featuring a favorite candy – Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Frosting
- For the cherry fan, this cherry-filled chocolate cake is so yummy.
- Malted Milk Chocolate Cake is one I often take to family gatherings and it’s always devoured!
More Delicious Cake Recipes to Consider
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Better Than Sex Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 13.5 ounce box chocolate cake mix
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup water
- 3 large eggs
- 1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- ¾ cup caramel sauce
- 1 cup crushed Heath bar pieces
- 1 8 ounce container Cool Whip, thawed
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Butter down a 9×13 inch baking dish or coat it in nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cake mix, oil, water, and eggs.
- Once the cake batter is homogenous, pour it into the prepared dish. Bake for 30 minutes.
- Use a large skewer to poke holes throughout the cake. Stir together the condensed milk and caramel sauce and then microwave the mixture for 20 seconds.
- Pour the caramel mixture over the top of the cake and then allow it to cool on the counter for 30 minutes.
- Once the cake is cool, spread the cool whip over the top of it and sprinkle on the Heath bar pieces.
- Slice, serve, and enjoy!
Notes
- The more holes you poke in your cake, the more evenly the caramel mixture will seep into the cake.
- Allowing your cake to cool helps prevent the cool whip from sliding off and gives caramel mixture time to seep into the cake.
- You can store your leftover cake in the fridge for up to 4 days. Cover the pan with plastic wrap or transfer your cake slices to a large Rubbermaid container.
- You can substitute the vegetable oil for either coconut or canola oil. You can also use ½ cup of melted butter (salted or unsalted).
Lori
I decided to make a Better Than Sex Cake on News Years Eve for a party the next day. I live in a small town and found that the only grocery store in town closed early for NYE. My only other choice was a Dollar General. They did not have Carmel sauce. I used my imagination and finally bought a jar of Nutella. I mixed the Eagle Milk with the Nutella and heated it a bit to make it easier to pour. Everything else was the exact recipe. It turned out just as delicious!