Easy Better Than Sex Cake (Chocolate Cake Recipe)

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Better Than Sex Cake is an indulgent chocolate caramel poke cake with nuts, light-as-air whipped cream, and crunchy toffee bits. BTS cake is SO good and SO simple to make!

titled: Better Than Sex Chocolate Cake


 

Better Than Sex Cake

In my opinion, some of the best desserts start with a doctored cake mix.

When time and money are tight, you can get a boxed cake mix on the cheap and make a wonderful dessert with it.

You could doctor up a yellow or white box cake mix to create a semi-homemade cherry dump cake. Or, use Devil’s food or chocolate to make cake mix cookies.

If you’ve ever wondered how to make box cake better, make our better than sex cake recipe. It’s a sinfully delicious chocolate caramel cake, and it’s so simple to make!

measured ingredients for better than sex cake

BTS Cake

So, what’s a BTS cake? It’s an irresistible dessert! Can you think of anything better than a poke cake made with Devil’s Food cake mix and caramel sauce?

Well, how about the addition of crunchy bits of toffee, whipped cream, and
chopped nuts?

This is everything the best chocolate caramel poke cake should be and more!

Better than sex cake is:

  • Budget-friendly
  • Terribly easy to make
  • Sinfully delicious

The first letter of those words is yet another reason why this dessert has the nickname, BTS cake!

cake mix, eggs and oil in mixing bowl

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

  • Cake Mix – I find that Duncan Hines Devils Food cake mix has the best flavor and texture.
  • Water, Eggs & Vegetable Oil – These are needed specifically for the Duncan Hines brand cake. If using a different brand, follow the directions on the box.
  • Frozen Whipped Topping – Better known as Cool Whip, be sure to transfer this to the refrigerator the night before to thaw.

    If you forgot, you can simply float the sealed container in a bowl of cool water for 30-40 minutes.
  • Caramel Sauce and Chocolate Syrup – Use your favorites from the store or make my homemade versions instead!
pan of chocolate cake with holes poked all over

Making Sex in a Pan

This better than sex cake recipe is incredibly easy to make, but allow yourself plenty of time to make it.

You’ll need to let the cake cool first, and after you pour the warm caramel sauce over it, the dessert has to chill for a couple of hours.

  1. Bake and cool the Devil’s food cake.

    Prepare the batter according to the instructions on the box. I can’t give you set measurements for the water, eggs, and oil because they differ by brand.

    Bake the cake batter in a 9×13-inch metal cake pan. If you don’t have a pan that size, a 10-inch bundt pan or two 9-inch round cake pans will work.

    Just keep in mind that not only will using a different-sized pan affect the baking time, but it also affects how the better than sex cake looks when it’s finished.

Important – Cool the cake!

Before continuing with the recipe, be sure that your cake has cooled completely. If the cake is still warm on the inside, it may fall apart when you poke holes in it.

  1. Poke and soak.

    For this step, you’ll need something sturdy and round to use for poking holes into the cake.

    I like to use the bottom end of a wooden spoon handle. A metal straw or a chopstick also works well.

    Your rows don’t have to be perfectly even — just be sure to cover the entire surface with holes so the cake can soak up the warm caramel sauce.

    After you pour the sauce over the top, allow the chocolate caramel poke cake to cool briefly.

    Then, wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and chill it in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
  1. Frost and garnish the dessert.

    Once the chocolate caramel cake is fully chilled, spread the whipped topping in an even layer over the top.

    Drizzle sex in a pan with sauces and top with chopped candy pieces and nuts before serving.
sweetened condensed milk over chocolate poke cake

Storage and Freezing

You can keep better than anything cake in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If you’ll be serving guests, I recommend making it no more than a day ahead of time.

It’s fine to freeze poke cake without any of the toppings added. Store it in a freezer-safe container, and it will last 2-3 months.

Refrigerate overnight to thaw, then add toppings to serve.

Prep Ahead

  • Thaw frozen whipped topping in fridge
  • Make caramel sauce and chocolate syrup
  • Chop candy bars and nuts
better than sex cake in a cake pan and on 2 plates

Tips and Tricks to Make Perfect Better Than Anything Cake

  • Use room temperature ingredients.

Be sure that the water isn’t too cold, and remove the eggs from the refrigerator about 30 minutes ahead of time.

This allows for easier mixing and also creates a more tender and moist better than anything cake.

  • Leave space between holes.

If they are too close together, your cake will simply fall apart when sliced! Aim for 1/4 to 1/2-inch of space between each.

  • How to cut clean slices.

Run a sharp knife under hot water, then dry with a clean towel. The metal will retain the heat and glide smoothly like butter through your sex in a pan dessert!

Kitchen Tools You Will Need

  • 9×13 Baking Dish – This set is one of my favorites! It comes with a lid for easy storage and is great for casseroles too.
  • Mixing Bowls – I like to have a variety of sizes on hand, and this set has them all.
  • Whisk – These have held up for over 10 years and are still as good as the day I bought them.
  • A Sturdy Wooden Spoon – Preferably one with a rounded handle. It creates properly sized holes for grabbing that gooey filling!

Better Than Sex Cake Recipe FAQ

Can I use a different flavored cake mix?

Yes, any flavor of cake mix will work. Choose a variety that will pair well with chocolate and caramel, though.

White, yellow, German chocolate, or French vanilla are all great choices.

What toppings go on poke cake?

Chopped Heath bars are what we used, but you could swap them for chopped Snickers, Reese’s, or your favorite candy bar.

Chocolate chips, crushed cookies, and chocolate shavings are also tasty options.

Can I make better than sex cake from scratch?

Yes, you can swap the boxed mix for your favorite homemade chocolate cake recipe.

Omit the water, eggs, and oil as listed and follow your cake recipe as directed instead.

top view of better than sex cake

Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours. 

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chocolate dessert with whipped cream and caramel sauce

plated slice of better than sex cake

Decadent Better Than Sex Cake

Donna Elick
Better than Sex Cake is an indulgent chocolate caramel poke cake with nuts, whipped cream, and toffee bits. BTS cake is SO good!
4.67 stars from 3 reviews
Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 40 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Method Oven
Servings 12 servings

Ingredients
 

  • 1 devil’s food cake mix, Duncan Hines
  • 1 cup water, see Note 1
  • 3 eggs, see Note 1
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil, see Note 1
  • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
  • 12 ounces caramel sauce, divided
  • 16 ounces frozen whipped topping
  • 1/3 cup chocolate syrup, for drizzling over cake

Optional Toppings

  • 4 Heath candy bars, cut into pieces
  • chopped pecans, or other nuts

Instructions
 

  • If using a different brand of cake mix, prepare it according to the instructions on your cake mix box.
  • If using the Duncan Hines cake mix, preheat the oven to 350°F. and spray a 9×13 baking pan with non-stick spray. Set aside.
  • Add the cake mix, water, eggs and vegetable oil to a large bowl and whisk for 2-3 minutes, or until batter becomes thick.
    Pour batter into the prepared cake pan.
  • Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the cake starts to pull away from the sides of the pan and the center is no longer jiggly.
  • Remove the cake from the oven and poke lots of holes in the warm cake using a chopstick or the end of a wooden spoon. The cake should look like it is going to fall apart, but still stay together.
  • Add the condensed milk to a medium bowl and the caramel sauce to a separate bowl.
    Heat the bowls of milk and caramel sauce in the microwave on high power for 30 seconds, then pour them evenly over the surface of the warm cake.
  • Once the cake is cool, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.
  • Remove the cake from the fridge and ice the cake with the whipped topping.
    Drizzle the chocolate sauce and caramel sauce over the cake. Sprinkle with the Heath pieces and nuts if using.
  • Cut into 12 slices and serve.

Donna’s Notes

  1. *These ingredients are for the Duncan Hines mix. If using a different brand, use the ingredients called for on the cake mix box.
  2. This cake can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 slice | Calories: 540cal | Carbohydrates: 83g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 532mg | Sugar: 66g | Fiber: 2g | Calcium: 211mg | Iron: 2mg

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
titled image (and shown): chocolate better than sex cake

Originally published February 2021. Updated and republished January 2024

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6 Comments

  1. This is just like a "Butterfinger Cake" I've been making for years! Everyone that tries it loves it! I've never thought about using Heath Bars instead, but I definitely will try it now!

  2. Sounds wonderful and I'd like to make it for my dessert loving husband, but I'll use Butterfingers as he hates Heath bars….he got sick eating too many of them as a kid and has never liked them since!

  3. 5 stars
    This cake is delicious and rich, definitely make it if you’re having guests over! They will be amazed just like I was while eating this!

  4. 4 stars
    Donna, what’s your thoughts in making this a Gluten Free cake? My friend can only have GF products. Thank you

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