Cake Mix Toffee Bars (Printable)

Buttery, chewy bars with rich toffee and chocolate layers on a cake mix base. Ready in 35 minutes.

# What goes in:

→ Base

01 - 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix
02 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
03 - 1 large egg

→ Topping

04 - 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
05 - 1 cup toffee bits (such as Heath)
06 - 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan or line with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, melted butter, and egg. Mix until a soft dough forms.
03 - Press the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan to form the base layer.
04 - Bake for 15 minutes, until just set but not browned.
05 - Remove from the oven. Sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over the hot base; let sit for 2–3 minutes until melted, then gently spread with a spatula.
06 - Sprinkle toffee bits and, if using, chopped pecans over the melted chocolate.
07 - Return to the oven for 8–10 minutes, until the toppings are slightly bubbly and the edges are golden.
08 - Let cool completely in the pan before cutting into bars.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They come together in under 10 minutes of active prep time
  • The cake mix hack creates the perfect tender crumb every single time
02 -
  • The base must be slightly warm when you add chocolate chips or they will not melt properly
  • Cutting too soon will ruin those clean lines you want
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients prevent the dough from separating
  • Let the chocolate sit on the hot base untouched before spreading for the smoothest layer

Return