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This toffee bar treat uses cake mix as a shortcut but delivers amazing layers of buttery candy chunks, melty chocolate, and sweet milk throughout. My taste testers always want more when I bring out these crowd-pleasing squares.
I whipped these up for my kid's school fundraiser and came back with nothing but an empty dish and folks asking how to make them. Now they're what we turn to whenever we want something sweet but don't have all day to spend baking.
What You'll Need
- Yellow cake mix: gives you that ideal cookie base without measuring lots of dry stuff
- Unsalted butter: brings flavor while letting you adjust saltiness yourself
- Large eggs: hold everything together and give the right texture
- Toffee bits: add that amazing crunch and caramel taste in every bite
- Sweetened condensed milk: creates those wonderful sticky sweet pockets
- Chocolate chips: soften while baking for heavenly chocolate spots
How To Make Them
- Get The Oven Ready:
- Turn your oven to 350°F (175°C) and put a thin coat of grease on your 9×13-inch pan. This thin layer helps your bars come out clean without sticking.
- Mix Your Base:
- In a big bowl, stir together the cake mix, melted butter, and eggs until they're well combined. You'll get a thick, slightly sticky mix that looks like cookie dough. Make sure you can't see any dry spots for the best results.
- Make The Foundation:
- Push exactly half your dough into a flat layer across the pan. Take your time here, and if it sticks to your fingers, just get them a bit wet first to help spread the mix across the whole bottom.
- Add The Good Stuff:
- Scatter the chocolate chips and toffee pieces evenly over your base. Then carefully pour the sweetened condensed milk back and forth across everything, making sure you don't dump it all in one spot.
- Finish The Top:
- Drop spoonfuls of your leftover dough over what you've got so far, then lightly push the pieces together, leaving some gaps where you can see the filling. This makes a pretty swirled look and lets the filling get extra tasty.
- Bake Until Just Right:
- Cook for exactly 25 minutes, then check if they're done. The edges should look golden and start pulling away from the pan, while the middle should be set but still a bit soft. Give it 2-3 more minutes if needed.
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My crew really goes crazy for the toffee bits in here. My hubby says they taste just like his grandma's famous butter cookies that always had that special buttery toffee flavor around the edges where the sugar got all caramelized.
Prep Ahead and Keeping Fresh
These yummy toffee squares stay fresh really well when stored right. Keep them in a sealed container with parchment between the layers so they don't stick together. They'll taste great at room temp for 4 days. Want to save them longer? Wrap each bar in plastic then tuck them in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Just let them sit out for about an hour before enjoying.
Simple Swaps
You can switch things up so easily with this treat. Try chocolate cake mix with white chocolate chips for a flip-flopped version. Instead of toffee bits, throw in chopped heath bars, butterscotch chips, or even smashed pretzels for that sweet-salty thing. Want nuts? Add 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts to your filling. During Christmas or other holidays, mix in 1/4 cup colorful sprinkles for festive party bars.
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Ways To Serve Them
These bars taste amazing by themselves, but dressing them up makes them extra special. Warm each square for 10 seconds in the microwave and add a scoop of good vanilla ice cream for a fancy dessert. Pour some warm caramel sauce on top with a tiny sprinkle of sea salt to impress guests. Cut them smaller and put them on a nice plate with fresh berries when company comes. For birthdays or holidays, dust with powdered sugar and serve with coffee or hot cocoa.
Common Recipe Questions
- → Can I swap for a different cake mix flavor?
Sure thing! Yellow cake mix works great for its taste, but you can try white or chocolate mix to switch things up a bit.
- → What's the best way to keep these squares fresh?
Put them in a container that seals tight at room temp for about 4 days. You can also wrap them up and freeze them one by one for up to 3 months.
- → Is it okay to add other mix-ins?
For sure! Throw in some nuts, caramel bits, or even peanut butter chips to make them your own.
- → Should I keep the bars cold?
Nope, they're fine sitting out. Sticking them in the fridge might make them last a tiny bit longer if you need that.
- → How can I tell they're done cooking?
Look for golden edges that seem set, with the middle still a bit sticky. Let them cool all the way before you cut them up.