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Pumpkin Better Than Slice of Pumpkin Better Than Sex Cake with layers of caramel and Cool Whip topping

Pumpkin Better Than Cake

Ultra-moist pumpkin cake layered with sweetened condensed milk, Cool Whip, caramel sauce, and Heath toffee bits. Only 6 ingredients and no mixer required for this crowd-pleasing fall dessert.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 28 minutes
Chilling Time 4 hours 40 minutes
Total Time 5 hours 23 minutes
Servings: 12 portions
Course: Cake, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 385
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 box yellow cake mix 15.25 oz
  • 1 can pumpkin purée 15 oz, not pumpkin pie filling
  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk 14 oz
  • 1 tub Cool Whip 8 oz, thawed
  • 4 oz Heath toffee bits half of an 8 oz bag
  • caramel sundae sauce to taste for drizzling

Equipment

  • 9x13-inch baking dish
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Wooden spoon

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Generously grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  2. In a large bowl, combine yellow cake mix and pumpkin purée. Stir with a wooden spoon until just combined; some small lumps are fine. Do not overmix.
  3. Spread batter evenly into prepared baking dish. Bake for 23 to 28 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs.
  4. Let cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Using the handle of a wooden spoon, poke holes all over the cake surface, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
  5. Pour sweetened condensed milk slowly over entire cake, allowing it to soak into the holes rather than pooling on top. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  6. Spread Cool Whip evenly over chilled cake. Sprinkle Heath toffee bits across the top.
  7. Drizzle caramel sauce generously over the top in a zigzag pattern. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 to 4 hours, or overnight for best results.
  8. Let cake sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving to bring out the caramel's full flavor.

Notes

This cake improves after 24 hours as flavors meld. Store covered in refrigerator for up to 4 days. Can substitute Heath bits with crushed pecans or gingersnaps. Use spice cake mix instead of yellow for extra fall flavor. Cool Whip should be thawed in refrigerator before using.