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This Heath Bar Cake is one of my classic, go-to cake recipes, and it really is the ultimate chocolate dessert. It all starts with a simple box of cake mix that is transformed into a moist, gooey cake, soaked in caramel, topped with Cool Whip, and finished with crushed toffee candy. Make this amazing Heath Bar poke cake and everyone will be raving about it for weeks afterward!
If you love chocolate poke cakes as much as I do, then you also need to try my Better Than Anything Cake, Chocolate Poke Cake, and Snicker’s Poke Cake.
Why you’ll love this Heath Candy Bar Cake Recipe!
When I was younger, my mom used to make this Heath bar cake for no specific reason at all — but it was always a treat! Sometimes she’d make it when the weather was nice and we were going to grill out or just for an easy dessert after dinner. Other times we’d take it to my aunt’s house for a family gathering. No matter the occasion, this Heath bar cake was loved by all!
So if you’re craving something sweet, gooey, and chocolatey for no reason at all, this delicious Heath cake recipe is for you. A doctored-up cake mix and other store-bought ingredients make this Heath bar poke cake super easy to make and a guaranteed hit every time.
Here are just a few reasons you’ll love it:
✅ Starts with a simple chocolate cake mix – it’s easy and foolproof!
✅ Caramel and toffee make it irresistibly rich and sweet – a decadent dessert.
✅ Perfect for make-ahead parties or holidays, as everyone loves cake!
Table of Contents
Ingredients You Need
This rich chocolate cake with heath bar bits comes together with easy-to-find ingredients!
- Heath bars – The star of this poke cake recipe, you will need a few Heath bars or 1 bag of Heath bar topping.
- Egg – Here’s a list of egg substitutes for baking.
- Cake mix – I used a box of Devil’s food cake for the base of this Heath cake recipe. Any brand of chocolate cake mix will work!
- Caramel topping – Mixed with sweetened condensed milk to fill all the holes in your delicious Heath bar poke cake, you can use any of your favorite store-bought brands. I’d recommend using a caramel sauce over a syrup when possible.
- Cool Whip – This is the finisher that your cake needs! Spread a thick layer on top, then add your crushed Heath bar.
Variations
This recipe will work with any of your favorite candy bars! If you want to switch things up, you can always substitute Snickers, Twix, or any of your other favorite chocolate bar sweets.
How To Make Heath Bar Cake
This cake comes together relatively easily.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Make the cake mix according to the package directions. Spread the cake batter in a 9 x 13 x 2-inch pan. Bake as directed until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- While the cake is still hot, poke holes in the top of the cake with a skewer or large fork.
- Pour the caramel topping and sweetened condensed milk over the hot Heath bar cake.
- Let the cake cool completely. Finally, spread with whipped topping and sprinkle crushed Heath bars over the entire cake. Refrigerate until ready to serve!
This cake is best when enjoyed 24 hours after assembly. However, you cover and store it for up to 3 days. I like to add fresh toffee bits each day before serving if you want the crunchy texture. The toffee absorbs moisture and can soften in the fridge.
FAQs
If you happen to have leftovers of your Heath bar poke cake, you can store it in the fridge for up to 2 days. Keep the cake from becoming soggy by wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap or storing it in an airtight container.
Place the candy bars in a sealed bag and gently tap with a rolling pin until broken into small pieces.
Absolutely! Devil’s food or fudge cake mix pair perfectly with toffee, and vanilla cake mix would also be nice for a milder cake. +
More Amazing Poke Cakes
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Heath Bar Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box devil’s food cake
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 egg
- 1 jar caramel topping
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 12 oz container cool whip
- 3-4 crushed up heath bars OR 1 bag of heath bar topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Bake cake mix according to package directions – adding in flour, sugar, vanilla and an egg
- Spread in a 9 x 13 x 2-inch pan.
- Bake as directed until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
- While still hot, poke holes in the top of cake with a skewer or large fork.
- Pour caramel topping and sweetened condensed milk over hot cake.
- Let cake cool completely.
- Spread with whipped topping and sprinkle crushed Heath bars over entire cake
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Video
Notes
- Keep the ingredients on hand! The next time you’re at the store, grab a boxed cake mix and a few other ingredients and whip up this cake in no time — just because. Your family will be begging you to make it again and again!
- Mix up the ingredients. Technically this recipe will work with any of your favorite candy bars! If you want to switch things up, you can always substitute Snickers, Twix or any of your other favorite sweets.
- Upgrade your cake mix. Store-bought cake mix doesn’t have to be boring! Check out my guide and learn 10 tricks to make a box cake mix taste homemade. I’ll bet no one even notices the difference!
Extra ingredients make for an 18oz cake box size, we used to could buy. Extra egg will make a pound cake consistency, which is a plus! I also add a jar of hot fudge sauce! Perfect!
So so good
I would say, the extra ingredients is to equal up to what we used to buy in the 18oz cake mix box. The extra egg will give it a bit more bounce and moisture, kind of a pound cake consistency. Perfect!!!!
Need more info using the flour, sugar, etc. added to the cake mix? What does do to the cake?
Can this be frozen with cool whip
On top??
It would be helpful to have exact amount of the caramel topping. There are several different sizes of this at the store.
So just to be sure I make the cake mix according to directions on box using 3 eggs plus the one egg in this recipe total 4 eggs?
I believe so. I was also confused but if you don’t use the wet ingredients per the box instructions it’s extremely dry. So once I began it all made sense to add it all together.
I always use German Chocolate cake mix
Great variation!
I love this cake! I use a straw instead of a fork or skewer as a “poker”. It removes a tiny bit of the cake so the sweetened condensed milk/caramel mixture really soaks in good. I use Butterfinger instead of Heath bars too sometimes. Yum!
What a great tip! Glad you enjoyed!
-From the All Things Mamma Team
Do u mix the Carmel sauce and sweetened condensed milk together first or pour them seperate- not clear on that! And what iscreason for extra flour and egg
I was wondering about the extra flour and sugar myself……
How has this not been answered yet?! It’s the most important detail that’s been left to our own to decide. 😆
How has this not been answered yet?! It’s the most important detail that’s been left to our own to decide. 😆
I live in Canada and haven’t seen Heath bars in the store… What would an alternative candy bar be?
Butterfingers! Or you could order Heath bars on Amazon maybe.
Look in the baking section. Where the chocolate morsels are. There should be bags of chopped Heath bar pieces.
Skor bars are the same
I’d like to make this a layered round cake. Any suggestions on proportion changes?
This cake will go fast anywhere you take it! So so delicious!
This is a guarantee HIT at any party. I always bring home and empty dish!
It really is so good!
This looks sooo good!
This is my hubby’s all time favorite cake. He requests it every year for his birthday!! It is AMAZZZZZZING!!!
Is it self rising flour or all purpose?
Is it self raise flour