Better Than Sex Cake is rich, gooey, chocolatey, and unapologetically over the top. This chocolate poke cake is soaked with caramel and sweetened condensed milk, then topped with whipped cream and crushed toffee bars.

I’ve baked a lot of cakes in my time, but this one? Let’s just say it lives up to the hype in the name.

A close-up of a slice of Better Than Sex Cake topped with whipped cream, caramel sauce, and chopped toffee pieces on a white plate.

Ingredients For Better Than Anything Cake

Overhead view of ingredients for better than sex cake including devil’s food cake mix, eggs, oil, Cool Whip, Heath bars, caramel sauce, and sweetened condensed milk.

Ingredients Needed

Devil’s food chocolate boxed cake mix plus ingredients listed on the cake box
1 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk
jar of caramel sauce
8 ounce tub of Cool Whip
4 Heath candy bars

Ingredient Substitutions

CAKE MIX: Try making this with a different type of chocolate cake mix such as German chocolate cake instead of devil’s food cake mix.

SAUCE: Substitute hot fudge topping for the caramel sauce.

WHIPPED CREAM: You can either use a whipped topping such as Cool Whip or make your own homemade fresh whipped cream using our recipe found here.

Flavor Variations

OREO TWIST: Swap the toffee bars for crushed Oreos and drizzle with hot fudge.
PEANUT BUTTER LOVERS: Add mini peanut butter cups to the topping for a Reese’s-inspired version.
HOLIDAY FLAIR: Use peppermint candy instead of toffee for a festive Christmas cake.

If you’re deciding between this and more traditionally baked from scratch, you can browse the full dessert recipes collection to compare.

How to Make It

The secret to a great Better Than Sex Cake is balance—making sure the cake has enough structure to hold the creamy filling, and letting it chill so the caramel and condensed milk soak in fully. This method keeps every bite moist and flavorful without turning mushy.

Step-by-step process shots showing poking holes in chocolate cake, pouring condensed milk, spreading caramel, adding Cool Whip, and topping with chopped Heath bars.

Prepare the chocolate cake. While it’s still warm, use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes all over the cake.
Pour the sweetened condensed milk over the cake
And then the caramel sauce , letting it seep into the holes.
Once the cake has cooled, spread whipped topping.
Sprinkle with crushed Heath bars.

Poke cakes are my go-to for feeding a crowd, and I have a whole collection waiting for you on my poke cake recipes page. Looking for something different? Check out my collection of over 1000 tested dessert recipes, or find another simple treat that uses Cool Whip over on my Cool Whip desserts page.

Serving Suggestions

This cake is at its peak straight from the fridge. The layers hold together, and the caramel stays gooey without being runny.

Storage Instructions

Cover and refrigerate for up to four days. The cake only gets moister over time. For longer storage, wrap tightly and freeze for up to two months. Thaw in the fridge before topping and serving.

Fork cutting into a slice of better than sex cake with gooey caramel filling and fluffy whipped topping.

This Better Than Anything Cake is, well, better than anything!

This delectable cake is known by many names including Better Than Best Cake, Almost Better Than Sex Cake, Better Than Anything Cake or Better Than You Know What Cake. If you’ve heard of Sex in a Pan, this is it…or perhaps you know it as Robert Redford Cake or Better Than Robert Redford Cake. No matter what it is called, the result is no ordinary chocolate cake.

It’s nostalgic, it’s indulgent, and it’s a guaranteed conversation starter. Whether you’re baking it for a birthday, a barbecue, or a rainy Tuesday, don’t be surprised if everyone asks for the recipe.

More Poke Cakes

BTS Cake (Better than Sex Cake)

5 from 103 votes

This better than sex cake is a moist, decadent chocolate poke cake soaked with sweetened condensed milk and caramel, then topped with whipped cream and Heath bits.

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Total Time 2 40

Servings

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Review Recipe

Ingredients

Devil’s Food Chocolate cake mix, plus ingredients listed on the cake box
14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
16 ounces caramel sauce
8 ounces Cool Whip
4 Heath bars, chopped

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare a 9×13 dish by spraying with nonstick spray.
Make the cake according to the package directions for a 9×13 cake.
When the cake is done baking use the round handle end of a wooden spoon and poke holes all throughout the cake.
Pour the sweetened condensed milk all over the top of the cake and spread it out.
Then pour the caramel sauce over the top of the cake and spread it out.
Refrigerate the cake for at least two hours.
Spread the Cool Whip on top of the cooled cake and sprinkle with chopped Heath bars.

Video

Notes

It’s best to make the holes in the cake while it is still slightly warm because as it cools, the crust on top of the cake will crumble more easily.
When you’re pouring the cream into the holes, tap the pan on the counter a few times to get rid of any air bubbles and make sure the cream fills the holes completely.