Cake Mix Toffee Bars (Print version)

Buttery, chewy bars with rich toffee and chocolate layers on a simple cake mix base.

# What you need:

→ 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
06 - 1/2 cup chopped pecans

# Directions:

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

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • The cake mix base creates the most tender buttery foundation without any measuring or guessing
  • These bars come together in under 10 minutes of active prep but taste like you spent hours
  • The combination of melted chocolate and crunchy toffee creates the most irresistible texture contrast
02 -
  • Pressing the dough into the pan with slightly damp hands prevents it from sticking to your fingers and helps create an even layer.
  • The first bake is crucial, an underbaked base will be soggy underneath the toppings while an overbaked one becomes tough and dry.
  • Letting the chocolate chips sit on the hot base for those few minutes makes spreading so much easier than trying to melt them separately.
03 -
  • If your toffee bits seem large, give them a quick chop so they distribute more evenly across the chocolate layer.
  • The edges tend to bake faster and become crispier, which some people actually prefer, so don't worry if they look more done than the center.

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