Decadent Better Than Anything Bars: One Bite is All It Takes!

Have you ever found yourself yearning for a dessert so opulent, so gooey, and so deeply satisfying that it puts all other sweet treats in the shade? A concoction that perfectly blends chocolate, caramel, and cream into one moment of pure bliss? If your sweet tooth is demanding the ultimate indulgence, we believe we have the perfect solution. We’re thrilled to introduce you to the most sensational decadent better than anything bars one bite of which is enough to send you to a dessert lover’s paradise. Prepare to have your expectations for dessert bars completely transformed.

What Makes These Bars “Better Than Anything”?

We admit, it’s quite a bold title, but it’s a claim we wholeheartedly stand behind. Taking inspiration from the famous “Better Than Anything Cake” (which also goes by a rather more cheeky name!), these bars condense all the wonderful elements of that dessert into a convenient, easy-to-slice, and utterly tempting format. They represent the perfect union of texture and taste, creating a beautiful symphony with every single mouthful.

Let’s delve into the magic behind each layer:

• The Base: We begin with a rich, chewy chocolate layer that has the texture of a dense brownie. It’s firm enough to support the toppings, yet wonderfully soft and ready to melt in your mouth.
• The Soak: This is where the true alchemy happens. We perforate the warm base with holes and then pour over a luscious blend of sweetened condensed milk and caramel sauce, ensuring every last crumb is soaked in gooey delight.
• The Topping: A light and fluffy blanket of whipped topping provides a cool, creamy counterpoint to the intensely rich base.
• The Finish: To complete our masterpiece, we drizzle over yet more caramel and scatter a generous amount of crunchy toffee pieces and chocolate chips. It’s this final flourish that elevates the bars to something truly special.

Whether you’re after a spectacular dessert for a gathering, a prize-winning contribution to a bake sale, or just a comforting pick-me-up for the week, this dessert bars recipe will quickly become your new favourite.

Gathering Your Ingredients: The Keys to Decadence

The true charm of this recipe is rooted in its simplicity. We use a selection of straightforward ingredients, many of which may already be waiting in your cupboards, to craft something utterly remarkable. While we are great advocates for using a cake mix for convenience, investing in high-quality caramel and toppings can lift your final creation from delicious to truly unforgettable. Let’s assemble what we need.

For the Chocolate Base

• 1 box (around 430g) of devil’s food or chocolate fudge cake mix
• 1 large egg
• 115g unsalted butter, melted

For the Gooey Centre and Topping

• 1 can (397g) of sweetened condensed milk
• 1 jar (around 340g) of caramel sauce, divided
• 1 tub (250g) of whipped topping (like Cool Whip), thawed
• 1 cup (around 150g) of English toffee bits (like Heath bits)
• 1/2 cup (around 90g) of semi-sweet chocolate chips

The Ultimate Recipe for Decadent Better Than Anything Bars: One Bite Heaven

With all our components at the ready, it’s time to build this work of art. Simply follow our step-by-step instructions for perfect results every time. We promise that creating these amazing chocolate caramel bars is much simpler than you might imagine.

1. Prepare the Base: To begin, preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C Fan / Gas Mark 4). Grease a 9×13 inch baking tin and line it with baking parchment, ensuring you leave an overhang on the sides. This will make lifting the bars out later a breeze. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the chocolate cake mix, egg, and melted butter. The mixture will be very thick, almost like a cookie dough. Press this dough evenly across the bottom of your prepared tin.
2. Bake the Base: Place in the preheated oven and bake for 15-18 minutes. The edges should be set, and a wooden skewer inserted into the middle should come out with moist crumbs. Take care not to overbake; we’re aiming for a chewy texture, not a dry one.
3. Create the Caramel Layer: The moment the base comes out of the oven, use the handle of a wooden spoon or a skewer to poke holes all over the warm surface, spacing them about an inch apart. Immediately pour the entire can of sweetened condensed milk over it, spreading to cover. Follow this by pouring over about half of your caramel sauce. The warmth of the base will encourage the sauces to melt into the holes, creating delicious pockets of goo.
4. Cool Down Completely: This step is absolutely vital! Let the base cool completely in the tin on a wire rack, which will take around an hour. After it has reached room temperature, place the tin in the refrigerator to chill for at least one more hour. The base must be entirely cold before you proceed to the next step.
5. Add the Toppings: Once the base is properly chilled, spread the thawed whipped topping smoothly over the entire surface. Artfully drizzle the remaining caramel sauce over the whipped layer. To finish, sprinkle the toffee bits and chocolate chips evenly across the top.
6. Chill to Perfection: Cover your tin with cling film or a lid and place it back into the refrigerator. Allow the bars to chill for a minimum of 4 hours, though overnight is even better. This time allows the flavours to meld beautifully and helps the bars to set, ensuring they are firm enough to slice neatly.
7. Slice and Serve: When you are ready to serve, use the parchment overhangs to carefully lift the whole slab from the tin. Set it on a cutting board and, using a large, sharp knife, cut it into squares. For perfectly clean edges, we find it helps to wipe the knife clean between each cut.

Pro Tips for Bar-Making Perfection

To guarantee your Better Than Anything Bars are truly deserving of their name time after time, we’ve gathered a few of our best tips. These small tweaks can have a huge impact on the final result!

• Parchment Paper is Your Best Friend: We cannot say this enough. Lining your tin with baking parchment is the key to effortless removal and a flawless presentation.
• Don’t Overbake the Base: A base that has been in the oven for too long will turn out dry and crumbly. You’re looking for it to be just a little underdone in the centre when you take it out, as it will carry on cooking for a few minutes in the hot tin.
• The Poke Technique: Be generous when you poke the holes! The more holes you make, the more of that delicious caramel filling can soak into the base, making every single bite a gooey sensation.
• Patience is a Virtue: The chilling period is not something you can skip. Attempting to top or slice the bars while they are even slightly warm will result in a delicious, but very messy, puddle. Let them chill thoroughly for clean cuts and the ideal texture.
• Level Up Your Dessert Game: If you adore making irresistible layered desserts, we think you will also fall head over heels for our classic Brownie Recipe For Deliciously Fudgy Treats.

Fun Variations on a Classic Dessert

Although the original recipe is simply heavenly, one of the greatest things about these bars is their versatility. Don’t hesitate to get creative and adapt them to suit your own preferences. Here are a few of our favourite ideas to spark your imagination.

Nutty Indulgence

For an additional layer of crunch and rich flavour, try adding a cup of chopped, toasted pecans or walnuts. You can either incorporate them into the base dough itself or sprinkle them over the top with the toffee pieces.

Peanut Butter Bliss

This variation is a must-try for any peanut butter enthusiast. Gently melt half a cup of smooth peanut butter and drizzle it over the base at the same time as the caramel sauce. You could also swap the chocolate chips for chopped peanut butter cups on top.

Dark Chocolate Dream

For a more grown-up, less sweet take on the recipe, use a dark chocolate cake mix for the base. Exchange the semi-sweet chocolate chips for dark chocolate chunks or shavings to create a wonderfully intense flavour. Lovers of complex chocolate bakes should also check out our recipe for Fudgy Chewy Browkies (Brookies), a perfect hybrid of brownie and cookie.

Storing Your Better Than Anything Bars

As these bars feature a whipped dairy topping, it is essential that they are kept in the refrigerator. Store them in an airtight container, placing a sheet of baking parchment between layers to stop them from sticking together. They will stay fresh and delicious in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.

You can also freeze these bars if you wish to store them for longer. To do this, arrange the cut bars on a baking tray and freeze until they are solid. Next, wrap each bar individually in cling film before placing them inside a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be frozen for up to 3 months. To serve, just let them thaw in the refrigerator for a few hours.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I make these bars ahead of time?

Of course! In fact, we highly recommend it. These bars are an ideal make-ahead dessert as they benefit from a long chilling period. Preparing them the day before you intend to serve them gives all the wonderful flavours a chance to mingle and deepen.

What can I use instead of a chocolate cake mix?

If you would rather bake from scratch, you could substitute your favourite brownie recipe for the base. We suggest choosing a fudgy brownie recipe, as a more cake-like one may not absorb the sauces as effectively. That said, using a cake mix is a wonderfully quick and dependable method.

My bars are too gooey to cut. What did I do wrong?

This problem almost always stems from insufficient chilling time. If your bars have become a gooey mess, it’s very likely they were not chilled for long enough. The base must be cold and firm to properly support the toppings and allow for neat slicing. Put them back in the fridge for a couple more hours (or even in the freezer for 30-45 minutes) before trying to cut them again.

Can I use real whipped cream?

You may, but it is essential to use stabilised whipped cream. Standard whipped cream tends to weep and turn watery after just a few hours. To stabilise it, whip 475ml of double cream with 50g of icing sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract until soft peaks appear. Then, add 2 tablespoons of cornflour and continue to whip until you have stiff peaks. The topping is a vital component of this no-bake dessert layer, and the sweetened condensed milk in the base is crucial for that gooey texture, a product for which brands like Carnation are renowned.

Are these the same as “Better Than Anything Cake”?

They are a very close cousin! The flavour profile is almost identical. The main distinction lies in the format. The cake version is built on a baked sponge which is then soaked, whereas our bar version features a denser, chewier, cookie-style base, which makes it much easier to eat by hand.

Your Journey to Dessert Paradise Awaits

And there we have it—your complete guide to crafting the most magnificent dessert bars you’re ever likely to taste. With their delicious layers of chewy chocolate, gooey caramel, creamy topping, and crunchy toffee, they truly are a festival of all things sweet. These decadent better than anything bars one bite at a time are sure to become your new signature recipe for any and all occasions.

So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to get into the kitchen, gather your ingredients, and prepare to be utterly delighted. We are certain that you, and anyone lucky enough to share them with you, will fall completely in love. Please do leave a comment below to tell us how yours turned out, or tag us in your wonderful creations on social media!