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.
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
MY OTHER RECIPES
Better Than "Anything" Cake
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.
Ingredients:
- 1 box devil’s food cake mix
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 (12-ounce) jar caramel ice cream topping
- 8 ounces Cool Whip
- ½-1 cup Heath toffee bits
Directions:
- 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.
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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This cake looks amazing!!! I actually tried doing an email recipe exchange once but none of my contacts responded! Darn them!!
Me too! i’ve done several of them and not one recipe came back to me. 🙁
Never tried an email recipe exchange before because I don’t think anyone would want to participate with me. Oh, well. Cake looks great!
There are so many versions of this cake floating around on Pinterest – going under the Better Than… title as well as the Poke Cake title. I have neither recipe in my arsenal! And good for you for having a quickie boxed cake mix recipe for those times when you just need one! Like…after you move into a new house and are likely unpacking or before moving and you’re trying to clean out a pantry and have no time anyway 🙂 Great flavors in yours!
I like this name better than the R version and this looks yummy!! I did a recipe exchange via email once before but I never got a recipe sent back to me! Oh well!
LOL wouldn’t have thought a country that finds something in Las Vegas to be proud of could acually be prudish-!!! 😉
This looks so simple yet sensational! What would be a substitute if you couldn’t eat heath bars?
Crumbled up Reese’s pb cups would be good I bet!
Chopped up peanuts
I like both of those recommendations… chop up your favorite candy!
butterfinger bars work well. About The Same Texture
I always use Snickers. I’m not a huge fan of Heath bars. Everyone always loves the Snickers on it though!
Score bars!
I’ve had a version of this where a little bit of kahlua mixed with dark chocolate sauce were poured over the hot cake then after it cooled it was cut into small chunks and made into a trifle layered with the ingredients already listed with the addition of chocolate pudding. The toffee is just a little crunchy decorative bonus. In the Kahlua version you could crush the hard coffee candies.
OMG, Jana, that sounds fabulous.
I have always used two cold from the frig. candy bars – 1 nestle’s crunch and 1 Hershey bar and grated both over the cool whip
Love the heath bar topping!
Awesome cake! I don’t think I’ve ever been part of a recipe exchange like the one from early 2000s but I’m so glad you were able to retrieve this recipe. I’m really loving the simplicity of it because at the end of the day, you just want a chocolate cake to dive into, especially on Mondays!
Love this cake but boy is it RICH…
That definitely looks better than anything! Love it.
It’s a little but less rich but still delicious when you use German chocolate cake rather than devil’s food cake mix.
here’s a “blast from the past” the pistachio cake… do you remember that one, If you need the recipe just holler, I’ll send it in an e-mail…;)
Hi I would love to have your recipe for pistachio cake
I would like to have your pistachio cake recipe, I love anything pistachio. Thank you
I would like to have this recipe too…pistachio cake…sounds yummy!
Pistachio cake recipe for me too please? 😀
a little late but i love pistachios can you send me the recipe?! thanks!
I would love to try your pistachio cake recipe. I have a pistachio ice cream cake recipe if you’d like in return. Thanks
I would luv to try your recipe. I luv Pistachios!!
I would love your pistachio cake recipe! Thank you!
Just found ur post would LOVE TO HAVE IT! Thanks!
would LOVE a pistachio cake recipe… was looking over this recipe for the billionth time and i always think the toffee bits in the pic look like pistachios. might mix 3/4 toffee with 1/4 pistachio as the topping for this cake recipe.
I’d lo the Pistachio Cake recipe, please.
I look forward to checking my Brown Eyed Baker post each day. Thank you for enlivening each day!
We’ve been calling this “Better than Birthday Cake” for years. I only make it twice a year–when requested on my girls’ birthdays. Delicious!!!
My favorite poke cake is similar to this one except you pour a can of cream of coconut over the cake while warm. Frost with whipped topping or top each serving with a dollop of whipped cream. Tasts just like a Mounds Bar. Yum.
I love Mounds. Do you use a chocolate cake or white cake?
Definitely a chocolate cake for the “mounds bar” taste.
I’ve done this with a white cake, too – and it makes a very moist coconut cake….Simple and fabulous.
I definitely was part of those recipe exchanges, and actually got my favorite french onion soup recipe out of it! This cake looks awesome, and the simplicity of it has me sold! I’ll definitely be making this next time I reach for a good cake recipe!
I totally remember those emails!!!!!
This cake looks like the most amazing thing ever!
This looks delicious!
I wasn’t part of the recipe exchanges, but I remember my Mom was! And she used to make some of the best treats with the recipes she got. This looks so freaking good! Can’t wait to try!
I’m super excited for this cake recipe! It sounds amazing and I can’t believe there are so few ingredients! Pinned! 😉
What a great cake and perfect for busy, hot summer days! I never do boxed cakes, but I would for this one! The flavors sound awesome!
This cake would be fantastic with a scoop of Coffee Heath Bar Crunch, another fave!
It is always a good idea to have a few quick dessert recipes up your sleeve – this one looks fantastic! I think I would sprinkle with chopped up reese’s cups to fuel my PB obsession!
This cake DOES look better than anything!!
This cake is so good! I have a love/hate relationship with it though. This cake beat my entry in a baking contest a few years ago. I’m a little bitter. 😉 But I wouldn’t turn down a slice! Poke cakes are the best. I’ve made several and so many more ideas for flavor combinations up my sleeve.
that cake looks divine!
I like this cake but love the one made like it but with yellow cake and crushed pineapple – goes by the same name. Love pineapple – cake, sundaes, shakes…. Should live in Hawaii!
i love pineapple, too! Would LOVE to get your recipe!!!!!
i would like your recipe, please!
Would love to get the recipe for the Pineapple poke cake, I am at
dak_72560@yahoo.com
Thank you,
Ann Fenner
Arkansas
I would love your recipe
I catered a wedding for 425 and the couple wanted Better Than . . . Cake – I made 27 of them. 🙂
Whoa!
Coffee ice cream is definitely the best!
I remember the email recipe exchange. I so used to look forward to those. This cake does look better than anything! I’ve never had it but have seen it around. It looks heavenly.
Love this recipe, except my recipe calls for a jar of hot fudge ice cream topping and a jar of caramel ice cream topping, no condensed milk. I may have to try it with the condensed milk sometime!
You had me at sweetened condensed milk! Yum~
Salted caramel!
Nom nom, love that the ingredient list is so short, too!
This cake looks “supercious” (i guess this is not a real word, but this came straight to my mind! Since I don’t live in the USA, some things are unknown to me. What is “Cool Whip”?
Hi Chris, Cool Whip is a store-bought stabilized whipped topping. You could substitute stabilized whipped cream.
Thank you Michelle.
Thank goodness you changed the name. I HATED that original name!
This was one of the first cakes I ever made. It is so yummy!
Oh my, look at this! Chocolate + Cool Whip. Be still my happy beating heart!
The first time I ate this cake many years ago, I thought I would just about die on the spot. How can something be so simple yet so outrageously delicious? We call it the Heath Bar Cake, and my Better Than ______ Cake is more of a pudding affair 😀
I so remember this cake! yummy
My favorite poke cake is white cake mix with eagle brand and cream of coconut poured over. Then top with cool whip and coconut. Or do a chocolate cake but add almonds and shaved chocolate bar to the top.
I recently made an Oreo Poke Cake and it was quite fabulous. I’m a bit partial in that statement because I love chocolate and oreos so you can’t go wrong. The recipe is 1 box chocolate cake mix, 2 (4 ounce) packages of instant oreo pudding, 4 cups of milk and crushed oreos. Basically make a 13×9 chocolate cake and poke holes all over. Mix together the milk and 2 packages of instant oreo pudding and pour over the top of the cake. Top with crushed oreos.
I have heard of your X-rated cake before, but never attempted it. I think its about time that I do it!
What a mouth watering cake! I think sweetened condensed milk does magical things to everything it touches 🙂
I love brainstorming different pofe cake flavor combos, and yours looks heavenly! I must try it over the summer 🙂
ah! i like your creative name. this dessert is such a classic, never fails to disappoint!
This is an oldie but a goodie!
Piña Colada Cake and Frosting
Cake:
1 (approx. 18.25 ounces) box white cake mix
1 small package (4 serving size) vanilla or French vanilla instant pudding mix
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup light rum
4 eggs
1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple, undrained
1 cup flaked coconut
Frosting:
1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple, undrained
1/3 cup light rum
1 small package (4 serving size) vanilla or French Vanilla instant pudding mix
1 container (8 ounces) Cool Whip
Coconut to taste, toast* if desired
1) Cake: Grease and flour a 13 x 9-inch pan or two round 8-inch layer cake pans. Preheat oven to 350°. Mix cake mix, pudding, oil, water and rum. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in pineapple then fold in coconut. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, or until a wooden pick or cake tester inserted in center comes out clean.
2) Frosting: Mix crushed pineapple, rum, and vanilla instant pudding. Beat until it thickens. Fold in 1 container of Cool Whip. Frost cake and sprinkle top with coconut or toasted coconut.
* To toast coconut: Spread coconut in shallow pan. Bake at 350° for about 15 minutes, stirring frequently, until lightly browned. Or toast in dry skillet.
This sounds divine Martha, thanks for sharing!
Would love to print this recipe, but not sure how to do it w/o printing all the wonderful comments. The Pina Colada cake sounds yummy and I would love to make it for group of friends who meet every year in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Your help is greatly apppreciated and I just live your blog! Thanking you in advance! Deb
Deb-Highlight the recipe, then use copy (crtl-c), open a word doc, then paste (ctrl-v) and save the doc.
Hi Deb, Simply click the “print” button that appears above the thumbnail of the recipe (you’ll also see “save” and “email”). The print button will produce a printer-friendly version of the recipe that’s nice and clean.
I have always made this with hot fudge instead of caramel. Try it, you’ll love it! Also, delicious with homemade whipped cream instead of cool whip. Yum!
Would you believe I’ve never made the recipe for this cake? I really need to get with the program 🙂 But first, I need to find someone to share it with or I’m going to be in trouble…
This cake looks amazing! I’ve done something similar to this with coconut. I mixed the sweetened condensed milk with cream of coconut and topped the whipped cream with toasted coconut and melted chocolate chips.
These cakes were really popular in the 70s and no one seemed to mind the name too much. It was a great topic at the bridge table! I’m glad they get attention every so often. In fact I have the ingredients for the coconut version ready to go. I’m so hungry for it, but was too lazy to start! Thanks for the nudge. Unfortunately, none of my kids or grands like coconut, so it’ll be all mine…..
LOVE the look of this cake! And love how you adjusted the name. 🙂 It reminds me a lot of a classic tres leches in terms of method. And it really does look as good as, well, anything. 🙂
I remember this cake. It’s great.
My mom makes a somewhat similar cake that her friends dubbed “orgasm cake”. She uses a dark chocolate cake infused with kalua coffee liquor and layers of chocolate mousse and toffee bits and topped with cool whip and dark chocolate shavings.
i want this recipe-whats between the layers of mousse?
It’s just cake, mousse, toffee bits, cake, mousse, toffee bits, cake, whip cream, chocolate shavings. 🙂 we often just crumble the cake if we want to serve it as individual servings. In a glass, the layers look yummy.
This cake looks so good, and pretty easy to make.
Oh,My. OH My. OH MY!!!!
Hey! I love all of your recipes and tell everyone about u 🙂 Do you have a good recipe for coconut cream poke cake? I found one on the country cook site that uses Lopez cream of coconut but I’ve heard of using condensed milk. Which one would you use? You are my “go to” baker! Thanks so much!
Hi Katrina, I have not made a coconut cream poke cake; I imagine that using cream of coconut would impart a lot of coconut flavor, vs the sweetened condensed milk. You could also try 50/50, using both.
Thanks so much Michelle! I’ll try 50/50! This past fall I made the apple pecan spice cake with cream cheese filling and praline frosting! It was a huge hit. Grandma asked for the recipe and made it for a bake sale. It sold for $70!!!
SO gorgeous and I can only imagine how delicious!!!
Would love to have that recipe mentioned for the Poke Cake with Pineapple in it.
Thanks
I just wanted you to know that I pinned this about a week ago and it has been spreading like wildfire. I have over 80 repins as of today. I also have the cake in the oven now . I’m making it for our July 4th picnic.
I made this cake for my son’s birthday, and it is fantastic! I used a DIY Devil’s Food Cake mix and homemade salted caramel sauce. Thank you for sharing it.
I remember a lady used to bake cakes like this for a living and she eventually shared the recipe with my mom since we were moving out of state. Instead of whipped topping, she used cream cheese frosting. She also made it sometimes with spice cake instead of chocolate. It was nums no matter what you used.
I totally made this for a church luncheon — am I horrible?? 😉 Devil’s food in a “better than sex” cake – hehe. It was a HUGE hit!!! I added half a block of cream cheese and about 3/4 cup of powered sugar to the cool whip, and used extra caramel and drizzled on the top with the toffee. You know, cuz it wasn’t rich enough 😉 People couldn’t get enough.
I made this yesterday.. It’s a heavy very rich dessert. The flavors don’t compliment each other. I think just a drizzle of the condensed milk would suit this dessert better. Maybe a drizzle of caramel sauce on the cool whip instead of the toffee would be an alternative as well. But as it is I will not repeat this recipe again.
I use hot fudge in addition to caramel & sweetened condensed milk. Also drizzle caramel over the cool whip before sprinkling Heath pieces. Decadent!
Has anyone made this cake as a double layer cake? I would like to do the double layer for a bday cake but I’m worried it would be to heavy and mush together or the layers would slide apart :/
I made this cake this past week for a colleague (it is her fav) and gosh your recipe was awesome!!! I share recipes I try on my blog….I have shared the recipe there…linked it to your blog and this particular post too :)) Thank you soo much for sharing the recipe :)) Absolute Fav!!!
My Post: http://lifescribblesovercoffee.wordpress.com/2014/01/12/better-than-anything-cake/
Looks really yummy. I like.
SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK makes it way too sweet, I just put some hot fudge topping on and cool whip, so goog. You can also put chocolate pudding and cool whip!!
SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK and caramel is,way too sweet, we use hot fudge sauce for the poke and pour sauce, then instant chocolate pudding and then cool whip, topped with chopped dandy of your choice!!
I used a carrot cake, cool whip frosting and not just cool whip, crushed butterfingers. The rest of the cake was the same as the recipe. They swarmed me wanting to what was in it. Thisv4th I am making this exact one only I just have aplain chocolate cake but I will use buttermilk, butter and an extra egg to make up the mic. Should be a hit. Great recipe.
I love this recipe -with a few changes. We call it Turtle Cake.
I use chopped pecans on top of the caramel sauce – then chill. Then I “swirl on” ReddiWip at serving time.
My other favorite poke cake is Lemonade Cake. Typically it calls for a lemon or yellow cake, but I prefer to use a confetti cake. It’s so much more festive.
http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/lemonade-party-cake/885e15c0-231d-41aa-8b3f-d30a3112c400
I’ve never heard of this kind of cake before, so I had no idea what to expect. I did use your recommended “Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Cake” recipe and regular whipped cream with some sugar and vanilla instead of Cool Whip (mainly because my husband is a whipped cream snob). Incredible how the caramel and condensed milk just soak into the cake. This cake sure does but a smile on my face:)
Oh my gosh! Best cake EVER. I used to make this for my school’s bake sale and it was ALWAYS the first to sell out. Memories! 😀
Mmmm this looks delicious, and it sounds so simple to make!
Sydney Sun
http://www.forloveofbaking.com
Oh my goodness, this looks delicious! I’m definitely making this! thanks for sharing!
I am hoping that the posting of this recipe means you have delivered your much anticipated bundle of joy.
I was coming to post the exact same thing!!!
I made this cake for Christmas Eve and it was a huge hit! I love every single recipe on your site! Thank you!!!
Ha! I was pretty little but I so remember my mom passing on those email chains to get recipes. So funny, what a throwback!
And this cake really is better than anything, so simple but outrageously delicious!
Holy smokes!!! I can’t WAIT to make this!
I can’t stop laughing at the title. I haven’t had a version of this cake in 20 years, but knew exactly what it would be from the post title, even before I clicked over to your site from Bloglovin’. I love it!! I’m pinning it to try it soon. Thanks! 🙂
While I bake mostly from scratch, I do like to have boxed mixes on hand for special circumstances.
This cake looks amazing! I’d love a slice right now.
Thanks for sharing your recipe!
My son’s birthday is this weekend. This has been his favorite, most requested birthday cake every year for about 12 years. We love it!
Caramel sauce and toffee bits. Ohhh yea! I’ve made a similar cake with pumpkin before, but you can’t really beat caramel and chocolate can you? 🙂
There is a whole lot of good things going on in this cake! Looks fabulous!
good luck Michelle! I have a feeling today is the day!!
maria in nj…I was thinking the same thing!!! Maybe last night even…so excited for Michelle and her hubby! Wishing them the very best!
I think we all have a feeling this is baby day. Either last night or today….guess no blog today kinda gives it away. Happy delivery when it happens.
Came to see if you had updated lol – happy baby day!
I’m so excited to try this recipe. So delicious! So inspirational!
http://www.trangscorner.com
I am thinking that this week will have the best “Friday Things” post ever!
Agreed! So excited!
This looks soooooo delicious!!
Think I may need to try this on my cheat day!!!
fifty two fridays
You know, it just occurred to me that I probably visit your blog more than any other website, including Google and Amazon. I think that speaks volumes about what a fantastic job you do and today I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. Blessings to you, your husband, your beloved dogs and your future son.
Made this yesterday. Got as far as poking holes and filling then found out group I was making it for was cancelled! Can I cover with plastic wrap and keep in fridge til Thurs night then frost and return to fridge and serve Fri morning? Or will it be too gooey? Thanks!
Ha ha! I keep checking to page too to see those baby pics!!!
It’s interesting – I keep thinking about how any of us with a regular job gets a full maternity leave – we don’t have to give work another thought after we go on leave. But, I suspect most of us do contact our co-workers to let them know that baby has safely delivered, and, in the blogger world, are readers the equivalent of co-workers? I certainly respect BEB’s privacy and desire to be focused on her new son, becoming a mother, breastfeeding, and recovering from childbirth. BUT, with no announcement, I worry.
Lynne, I had our son on Monday evening, via c-section, and was in the hospital until late Thursday afternoon. I posted the announcement on Friday. I did not bring my laptop to the hospital with me, thus it was the first opportunity I had to share the news.
Oh, please, I understand! I hope I didn’t sound like I was complaining – just the mom in me was worried. Best to you and your family.
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.
Is she having the baby?
I use twix on top and caramel sauce for the cake when I make it.
Wow, it’s simple but it also looks so amazing
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!
Thank you for this recipe. The cake was a big hit last night when we had company for dinner!
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.
what size pan do you use for this recipe? 9×13?
Hi Joan, Yes, 9×13.
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?
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.
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’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.