Description
Better Than Anything Bars are a deliciously rich and gooey dessert featuring a buttery vanilla cake crust topped with melted chocolate and butterscotch chips, nuts, and a drizzle of caramel sauce. These bars combine a quick cake mix base with a luscious, melty topping, baked to perfection for a satisfying treat that’s perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 1 box of vanilla cake mix (15.25 oz)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
Topping
- 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
- 1/2 cup crushed pecans or walnuts (optional)
Finishing
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or line it with parchment paper for easy removal of the bars.
- Make the Crust Dough: In a medium bowl, combine the vanilla cake mix, melted butter, and egg. Stir until well combined and a thick dough forms.
- Press Crust into Pan: Evenly press the dough into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to form the base crust layer.
- Bake the Crust: Bake the crust for 10-12 minutes, or until it begins to turn golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow it to cool slightly.
- Melt Topping Ingredients: While the crust bakes, combine sweetened condensed milk, semi-sweet chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and crushed nuts (if using) in a medium saucepan over low heat. Stir occasionally until the chips are fully melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Pour Topping Over Crust: Pour the melted mixture evenly over the slightly cooled crust, spreading it out to cover the entire surface.
- Bake the Bars: Return the baking dish to the oven and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the center is set and bubbly.
- Cool and Add Caramel: Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the baking dish. Once cooled, drizzle with caramel sauce.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the bars for at least 1 hour to set properly. Once chilled, cut into squares and serve. Enjoy!
Notes
- You can substitute walnuts or pecans depending on your preference or omit nuts for a nut-free version.
- Using parchment paper helps lift the bars easily from the pan for cleaner slices.
- For a homemade caramel sauce, gently melt sugar with butter and cream until smooth.
- Make sure to cool the crust slightly before adding the topping to prevent it from sinking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
