A Spicy Perspective

Better Than Sex Cake (Retro Recipe!)

Retro Better Than Sex Cake – This classic poke cake recipe is made with Devil’s food cake mix, shredded coconut, whipped topping, caramel, and chocolate toffee candy bars for a deliciously decadent “naughty” dessert that everyone loves!

close view chocolate poke cake with whipped topping, caramel and chocolate sauce, and chopped Heath bars

Imagine it… Thick, rich, chocolate coconut cake soaked with sticky-sweet caramel sauce and covered with fluffy whipped cream topping and chopped toffee candy bars. I mean, it’s not difficult at all to see why this recipe is called Better Than Sex Cake!

This was seriously THE cake once served at nearly every 80’s party. Although chocolate caramel poke cake was served to everyone, all of the parents would whisper the name with a giggle… At least that’s how I remember it. LOL!

top view two pieces of BTS cake on white and blue plates with pan of cake and spatula to the side

What is Better Than Sex Cake?

Better Than Sex Cake is also known as BTS cake, for those who like a bit more modesty with their desserts.

It features boxed Devil’s food cake mix, shredded coconut, chopped Heath bars, and Cool Whip – so basically all of your favorite “naughty” nearly ready-to-use sweet treats. The baked chocolate cake is poked (hence the name Poke Cake) and soaked with luscious caramel and sweetened condensed milk sauce. So every forkful is moist, soft, and utterly decadent.

Layers of crunchy chunks of toffee candy bars, fluffy whipped topping, and an extra drizzle of caramel and chocolate make this cake a serious texture party.

Serve it at your next gathering and I promise there will be no whispers… Everyone will loudly declare their love for this BTS chocolate poke cake!

forkful of chocolate cake and layered goodies

Ingredients You Need

  • Devil’s food cake mix plus the additional ingredients needed per the box, like oil and eggs
  • Sweetened shredded coconutyou can leave out if preferred
  • Caramel saucestore-bought or homemade salted caramel sauce
  • Sweetened condensed milk optional, but I highly recommend
  • “Heath” chocolate toffee barsor other chocolate toffee candy bars, chopped
  • Cool Whipor your favorite refrigerated whipped topping
  • Chocolate syrupfeel free to use low sugar
wooden cutting board with chopped toffee bars, can of condensed milk, and bottle of caramel sauce in the background

How to Make Better Than Sex Cake

First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Set out a 9 X 13-inch baking dish. Bake the cake according to the package instructions, adding 1 cup shredded coconut to the batter before baking.

Meanwhile, chop the Heath bars. Then mix ¾ cup caramel sauce with ¼ cup sweetened condensed milk.

Once the cake comes out of the oven, use a chopstick or wooden skewer to poke holes over the entire surface of the cake.

using a chopstick to poke holes in the baked Devil's food cake

Slowly pour the caramel mixture over the cake so that it runs down into all the holes.

Then sprinkle 1 cup of chopped Heath bars over the cake. Refrigerate until cool. 

top view white long baking pan with cake topped with chopped Heath bars

Once the cake has cooled, spread the Cool Whip evenly over the top.

Get the Complete (Printable) Better Than Sex Cake Recipe + VIDEO Below. Enjoy!

adding a layer of whipped topping on top of the chopped candy bars

Drizzle the cake with the remaining ¼ cup caramel sauce and chocolate syrup. Then sprinkle the top with the remaining chopped Heath bar.

sprinkle chopped Heath bars on top of better than sex cake with layers of whipped cream, chocolate and caramel sauce

Cover and chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

top view finished better than sex chocolate poke cake in a large white baking dish with chocolate and caramel sauce and chopped toffee candy bars

Serving Suggestions

Keep the cake in the refrigerator until ready to enjoy, and serve the slices cold.

Try some of these classic snacks for a truly fun-tastic retro party!

side view metal spatula lifting a piece of better than sex cake out of the pan

Frequently Asked Questions

What other candy bars can I use to make BTS cake?

Chocolate toffee “Heath” bars are classic, but you certainly can swap them with other candies you like! Try chopped Reese’s peanut butter cups, almond Hershey’s bars, or chopped Twix bars.

How do you make this a gluten-free Better Than Sex cake recipe?

Use your favorite GF-friendly boxed Devil’s food cake mix. All of the other ingredients are naturally gluten-free!

Do chocolate poke cakes get soggy?

Nope! If you make the cake according to the recipe you should get a perfectly moist sponge. Keep the cake in the refrigerator until ready to serve as the cold will help keep the caramel sauce and cake nice and thick.

How long does Better Than Sex Cake last?

It will keep well for up to a week in the fridge. Cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap, or transfer leftovers to an airtight container.

better than sex chocolate poke cake with whipped topping and caramel sauce on a white and blue plate, baking dish and spatula in the background

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5 from 4 votes
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Better Than Sex Cake (Retro BTS Cake Recipe!)

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
This classic poke cake is made with Devil's food cake mix, shredded coconut, whipped topping, caramel and chocolate toffee candy bars for a deliciously decadent "naughty" dessert recipe!
Servings: 12 servings

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Set out a 9 X 13 inch baking dish. Bake the cake according to the package instructions, adding 1 cup shredded coconut to the batter before baking.
  • Meanwhile, chop the Heath bars. Then mix ¾ cup caramel sauce with ¼ cup sweetened condensed milk.
  • Once the cake comes out of the oven, use a chopstick or wooden skewer to poke holes over the entire surface of the cake.
  • Slowly pour the caramel mixture over the cake so that it runs down into all the holes.
  • Then sprinkle 1 cup of chopped Heath bars over the cake. Refrigerate until cool.
  • Once the cake has cooled completly, spread the Cool Whip over the top. Drizzle the cake with the remaining ¼ cup caramel sauce and chocolate syrup. Then sprinkle the top with the remaining chopped Heath bar.
  • Cover and chill until ready to serve.

Video

Notes

If the cake seems too sweet, you can omit the sweetened condensed milk from the recipe. It is in all classic BTS cake recipes, but is not technically necessary.
Keep leftovers wrapped or sealed in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Nutrition

Serving: 1pc, Calories: 516kcal, Carbohydrates: 79g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 23g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 14mg, Sodium: 546mg, Potassium: 218mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 50g, Vitamin A: 68IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 106mg, Iron: 2mg
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Author: Sommer Collier

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4 comments on “Better Than Sex Cake (Retro Recipe!)”

  1. Delicious cake! So rich and moist! Easy, too! Perfect to serve up for any occasion!

  2. So yummy and absolutely addicting!!

  3. Super scrumptious and way too easy, this may be the perfect chocolate dessert! We love it!

  4. Holy Crap. This cake is AMAZING! Thank you for sharing this recipe!