Cake Mix Toffee Bars Recipe

The Perfect Gooey Cake Mix Toffee Bars Recipe You’ll Love

Sweet dreams come alive with these irresistible cake mix toffee bars that blend convenience and decadence in one simple treat.

Chocolate chips dance alongside rich caramel notes, creating a symphony of flavors.

Baking enthusiasts will adore this shortcut dessert that looks impressively homemade.

Minimal ingredients mean maximum satisfaction for anyone craving a quick indulgence.

Pantry staples transform into something magical with just a few simple steps.

Crispy edges and gooey centers promise pure bliss in every bite.

You might want to make a double batch because these bars disappear fast.

Toffee Bars Made From Cake Mix Everyone Keeps Asking For

  • Streamline Baking: Create delectable dessert bars with minimal effort using just a few pantry staples and a boxed cake mix.
  • Quick Crowd-Pleaser: Whip up these irresistible toffee bars in under an hour, perfect for spontaneous gatherings or unexpected sweet cravings.
  • Versatile Dessert Option: Easily adaptable recipe that works for potlucks, family parties, school events, or casual weekend treats.
  • Minimal Ingredient Magic: Transform simple cake mix, butter, and sweetened condensed milk into a rich, indulgent dessert that looks professionally made.

Cake Mix Toffee Bars Recipe Ingredient Guide

Cake Base:
  • Yellow Cake Mix: Convenient base for quick and easy bars, provides structure and sweet flavor.
  • Butter: Adds richness and helps bind the crust together, unsalted recommended for better control of saltiness.
  • Egg: Provides binding and helps create a cohesive texture for the crust.
Topping Ingredients:
  • Toffee Bits: Adds sweet, caramel-like crunch and rich flavor to the bars.
  • Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: Provides extra sweetness and chocolate depth, optional but recommended.
Moisture and Binding Ingredient:
  • Sweetened Condensed Milk: Creates a gooey, sticky layer that holds ingredients together, adds rich sweetness and helps create a signature bar texture.

Cake Mix Toffee Bars Baking Made Easy

Step 1: Warm Up the Cooking Space

Fire up your oven to a toasty 350°F.

Prep your baking dish by giving it a quick spray of cooking oil or draping it with parchment paper to prevent any sticky situations.

Step 2: Create the Delicious Base

Grab a big mixing bowl and toss in:
  • Yellow cake mix
  • Melted butter
  • One egg

Blend everything until you’ve got a soft, irresistible dough.

Using your fingers or a spatula, press this mixture into the baking dish, creating an even, smooth foundation for your bars.

Step 3: Shower with Sweet Bits

Sprinkle generously across the surface:
  • Crunchy toffee bits
  • Semi-sweet chocolate chips

Make sure these tasty morsels are spread out evenly for maximum flavor in every bite.

Step 4: Drench in Creamy Goodness

Slowly pour sweetened condensed milk over the entire surface, ensuring complete coverage of the toffee and chocolate layers.

Step 5: Bake to Perfection

Slide the pan into the preheated oven.

Let the bars bake for 25-30 minutes until the edges turn a beautiful golden brown and the center looks completely set.

Step 6: Transform and Serve

Pull the pan out of the oven and let the bars cool completely inside the dish.

Once cooled, slice into delectable squares and watch them disappear quickly!

Easy Baking Tips for Cake Mix Toffee Bar Lovers

  • Choose a high-quality yellow cake mix for the best texture and flavor in your toffee bars.
  • Line the baking dish with parchment paper for easy removal and clean cutting of bars.
  • Experiment with different chocolate chip varieties like milk, dark, or white chocolate to match your taste preferences.
  • Watch the edges carefully during baking to ensure a golden-brown crust without over-browning.
  • Keep bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, maintaining their delicious soft texture.

Keep Cake Mix Toffee Bars Fresh

  • Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days, keeping them fresh and preventing them from drying out.
  • Wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for maximum 3 months to maintain quality and taste.
  • Remove frozen bars from the freezer and let them sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before enjoying their delicious flavor.
  • Warm bars in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or in a preheated oven at 300°F for 5 minutes to restore their soft, gooey texture.

Sweet Treats for Cake Mix Toffee Bars

  • Pair Robust Coffee: Dark roast or espresso complements the rich, sweet toffee bars, cutting through the richness with bold, bitter notes that balance the dessert's intense sweetness.
  • Enhance with Vanilla Ice Cream: Creamy, cold vanilla ice cream creates a delightful temperature and flavor contrast, melting softly against the warm, chewy toffee bar texture.
  • Match with Caramel Liqueur: A smooth caramel liqueur echoes the toffee's deep, buttery flavor profile, offering an adult twist that intensifies the dessert's sweet, indulgent character.
  • Serve with Salted Almond Milk: Chilled, unsweetened almond milk with a hint of salt provides a nutty, refreshing counterpoint to the dense, sweet toffee bars, cleansing the palate between bites.

Toffee Bars with Cake Mix Add-Ins

  • Gluten-Free Toffee Bars: Replace yellow cake mix with gluten-free cake mix or almond flour blend, ensuring celiac-friendly alternative while maintaining rich flavor profile.
  • Dairy-Free Version: Swap butter with coconut oil or vegan margarine, use dairy-free chocolate chips, and opt for coconut condensed milk to accommodate lactose-intolerant individuals.
  • Nutty Crunch Edition: Sprinkle chopped pecans or almonds over the toffee layer before adding condensed milk, introducing delightful texture and nutty undertones to the classic recipe.
  • Low-Sugar Option: Utilize sugar-free cake mix, reduced-sugar toffee bits, and use sugar-free condensed milk alternative to create a lighter dessert for health-conscious bakers.

FAQs

  • What are toffee bits, and where can I find them?

Toffee bits are small, crunchy pieces of toffee candy, often made with butter and sugar. You can find them in the baking aisle of most grocery stores, usually near chocolate chips or in the dessert section.

  • Can I use a different type of cake mix for this recipe?

Yes, you can substitute the yellow cake mix with other flavors like white or butter cake mix. The texture and taste might slightly vary, but the overall recipe will work well.

  • Is it necessary to use parchment paper when baking these bars?

While not absolutely required, parchment paper makes it easier to remove the bars from the pan and ensures they don’t stick. If you don’t have parchment paper, generously grease the baking dish with butter or cooking spray.

  • How can I tell if the bars are fully baked?

Look for golden brown edges and a set center. The bars should not look wet or jiggly when you gently shake the pan. A toothpick inserted near the center should come out mostly clean.

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Cake Mix Toffee Bars Recipe

Cake Mix Toffee Bars Recipe


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4.8 from 33 reviews

  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x

Description

Irresistible cake mix toffee bars blend sweet simplicity with rich caramel notes, creating a quick dessert sensation. Chocolate drizzles and crunchy toffee bits elevate these bars, making you crave another delightful bite.


Ingredients

Scale

Cake Base:

  • 1 box yellow cake mix
  • 1 large egg
  • 6 tablespoons (3/8 cup / 85 grams) unsalted butter, melted

Topping Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (170 grams) toffee bits
  • 1 cup (170 grams) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Binding Ingredient:

  • 1 (14 ounces / 397 grams) can sweetened condensed milk

Instructions

  1. Prepare the workspace by positioning the oven rack in the center and heating to 350°F (175°C). Create a non-stick surface in a 9×13-inch baking pan using parchment paper or a light butter coating.
  2. Craft the foundational layer by merging yellow cake mix, melted butter, and egg into a cohesive, slightly sticky dough. Use gentle pressing motions to distribute the mixture uniformly across the pan’s bottom, creating an even, smooth base.
  3. Transform the crust into a decadent landscape by scattering toffee bits across the entire surface. Enhance the flavor profile by sprinkling semi-sweet chocolate chips over the toffee, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
  4. Drizzle sweetened condensed milk methodically across the textured layer, allowing the liquid to cascade and fill every crevice between toffee and chocolate fragments.
  5. Position the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. Monitor the edges for a rich golden-brown hue and the center for a firm, set consistency, indicating perfect doneness.
  6. Extract the pan from the oven and permit complete cooling at room temperature. Once temperature stabilizes, slice into precise squares, revealing the layered, caramelized interior.

Notes

  • Ensure butter is fully melted but not too hot when mixing with cake mix to prevent uneven texture.
  • Use parchment paper for easier removal and cleaner cutting of bars, creating perfect squares every time.
  • Customize by swapping toffee bits with chopped nuts or different types of chocolate chips for unique flavor variations.
  • For gluten-free option, replace yellow cake mix with gluten-free cake mix and check ingredient compatibility.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 12
  • Calories: 240
  • Sugar: 20 g
  • Sodium: 180 mg
  • Fat: 10 g
  • Saturated Fat: 5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4.5 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 35 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 3 g
  • Cholesterol: 25 mg
James Walker

James Walker

Lead Recipe Developer & Culinary Educator

Expertise

Southern Cuisine & Farm-to-Table Cooking, Recipe Development & Testing, Culinary Education & Instruction​

Education

School: Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts

Program: Diploma in Culinary Arts and Operations

Focus: Comprehensive training in classical and modern culinary techniques, kitchen operations, and farm-to-table practices. ​


James didn’t learn cooking from a TV show, he learned it from busy kitchens, family gatherings, and long afternoons spent testing recipes the hard way.
After training at the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, he brought his love for real, down-to-earth food to every dish he makes.
At Dining At Home, James loves building recipes that feel familiar but still have something special, like adding a twist to a classic or making a slow Sunday dinner feel brand new.
When he’s not in the kitchen, you’ll probably find him swapping garden tips at the farmers’ market or teaching his daughter how to flip pancakes without a mess (almost).

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