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Better Than “Anything” Cake
Do you remember waaaaaay back in the early 2000’s (which is like decades ago in Internet years), there were recipe exchanges via email? I don’t remember exactly how it worked, but there was a list of people in an email chain… you sent a recipe to everyone on the list and you got a recipe back in return from each person. A lot of the recipes that are my favorites to this day were procured through this email recipe exchange, this cake chief among them. While this cake is better know with an R-rated title, I cleaned it up a bit and called it Better Than Anything Cake to make sure I stay out of the junk filters, but the flavor combination is unmistakable: a chocolate poke cake infused with sweetened condensed milk and caramel sauce, then topped with Cool Whip and toffee bits.
Watch How to Make Better Than Anything Cake!
I typically use chocolate cake recipes from scratch when making desserts, but I also love having a few recipes in my back pocket that can be whipped up quickly using a box mix if I’m in a bind. My other favorite for these types of situations is the Ho Ho Cake (which I tend to make multiple times during the month of December!). If you prefer, you could definitely use your own homemade chocolate cake recipe; my recipe of choice would be the Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Cake, baked in a 9×13-inch cake pan.
Do you have any old recipes from recipe exchanges? What about a favorite poke cake flavor combination?
Three years ago: Minestrone Soup
Four years ago: Maple-Bacon Kettle Popcorn
Did you make this recipe?
Better Than Anything Cake: The G-rated title for the popular cake made with devil's food chocolate cake, infused with sweetened condensed milk and caramel sauce, topped with Cool Whip and Heath toffee bits.
- 1
box devil's food cake mix
- 14
ounce
can sweetened condensed milk
- 12
ounce
jar caramel ice cream topping
- 8
ounces
Cool Whip
- ½-1
cup
Heath toffee bits
Bake the cake according to the directions on the box.
Remove the cake from the oven and immediately poke holes all over the top using either the bottom of a wooden spoon, a skewer or a fork.
In a medium bowl, stir together the sweetened condensed milk and caramel sauce, then slowly drizzle the mixture all over the cake. Allow the cake to cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Spread the Cool Whip over the top of the cake, top with the Heath toffee bits and refrigerate again for 1 hour. Serve cold and refrigerate any leftovers.
Nutritional values are based on one serving
Calories: 464kcal
Fat: 12g
Saturated fat: 4g
Cholesterol: 18mg
Sodium: 598mg
Potassium: 365mg
Carbohydrates: 86g
Fiber: 1g
Sugar: 44g
Protein: 7g
Vitamin A: 185%
Vitamin C: 1.2%
Calcium: 230%
Iron: 2.4%
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
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Wow! I had no idea “sex” was not a G-rated word?
Hi Michelle, Thank you so much for this delicious recipe…I found the steps easy and the Ingredients were easily available in the market…So once I tried making the recipe It was not so perfect but was good…But it was just one try but I made it fine…It would be more better when I bake for 2nd time.I wish I could upload the picture and show you.Thanks for sharing the recipe.
I’m allergic to peanuts, so I think this would be good with plain chocolate bars or mini chips.
My sister is the one that came up with the Better Than Sex Cake back in 79-80.she started putting it in recipe books around 83 or 84,Awsome to see people everywhere loves the cake she has passed away.. I’ve always loved the cake
You cleaned up the title of your post to be G-rated, but after linking your recipe to my little girl, I realized the post url still is not G-rated! Oops.
This sound so delicious. Thaanks for sharing this recipe.
Simon
I’d like to serve the cake on a cake platter instead of in the pan. Can I make the cake, poke it, pour condensed milk in and let it sit till next day. THEN, remove it from the pan before frosting it. Do you think this would work or would the cake break trying to remove it? Any ideas?
Hi Janet, I think it would be too soggy to remove from the pan if you do that. The only thing I can think of is using a 9×13-inch pan with a removable bottom so you can prepare it as directed, then remove the sides and place on a cake platter when you’re ready to serve. I’m only aware of one, made by Fat Daddio’s.
Browned eye Baker, the Better than Sex Cake goes back to the late 80s and early 90s. I was in retail sales and an assisted manger at a ladies plus size shop and I got the recipe from somewhere. I fixed it for a get together and we all got a nice laugh out of the recipe and everybody agreed, it was just like it said. I like yours, with the chocolate. But the one I fixed was made from yellow or white cake mix with the crushed pineapple, a strawberry Jello mix without letting it jell and cool whip on top, coconut was optional.
I made this using Eagle brand sweetened condensed milk in caramel favor. This product was introduced during the holidays. I was able to omit the caramel topping stage. It came out wonderful and so easy.
Directions say to poke holes immediately after coming out of oven. When I did this, it just compressed the cake into a heavy blob on the bottom of the baking pan. I used the handle of a wooden spoon. Any suggestions??
Hi Marilyn, Oh my, that’s so weird. I’ve made tons of poke cakes and I’ve never had that happen. Next time try a skewer and see if that is any better?
what size pan do you use for this recipe? 9×13?
Hi Joan, Yes, 9×13.
When did the word sex become too graphic that you have to alter the name of a cake for a “g rated” word…..? Is the word sex R rated? Lol.
I like mine with German chicolate cake mix. Good stuff.
Thank you for this recipe. The cake was a big hit last night when we had company for dinner!
This is a great recipe and I love it all by itself. But I was wondering about combining it with one of the other awesome recipes from this site. Would using “The Baked Brownie” recipe from this site and then drizzling that with the caramel/condensed milk mixture work? Or are the brownies too dense to absorb the mixture properly?
Hi Sandy, I think the brownies would be way too dense to absorb the liquid, unfortunately. Great idea, though!
Wow, it’s simple but it also looks so amazing
I use twix on top and caramel sauce for the cake when I make it.
Is she having the baby?
Ooooo, BABY!! Can’t wait to see the pictures. I’ve kept you in my prayers every night, and can’t wait to share in your joy.