“Better Than” Better Than Sex Cake with Triple Fudge Dark Chocolate Cake, Dulce de Leche Soaking Cream, Toffee Bits, Mascarpone Whipped Cream, Salted Caramel Whipped Cream, Salty Bourbon Caramel Sauce, & Ruffled Potato Chips

“Better Than” Better Than Sex Cake with Triple Fudge Dark Chocolate Cake, Dulce de Leche Soaking
 Cream, Toffee Bits, Mascarpone Whipped Cream, Salted Caramel Whipped Cream, Salty Bourbon
 Caramel Sauce, & Ruffled Potato Chips

Hey y'all, it's been a superrrrrr long time ((sorry about that)). BUT but but... I have a new recipe today, yay!! I'm usually the first person to turn their nose up towards anything easy or store-bought. However, I have always had a place in my heart for "better than sex cake". You know, that cake where its soaked in sweet condense milk and topped with whipped cream + toffee bits? Well, I always thought to myself, someone should make a gourmet version of this. Thus, I introduce to you my “Better Than” Better Than Sex Cake with Triple Fudge Dark Chocolate Cake, Dulce de Leche Soaking Cream, Toffee Bits, Mascarpone Whipped Cream, Salted Caramel Whipped Cream, Salty Bourbon Caramel Sauce, & Ruffled Potato Chips. It's the perfect balance of sweet + salty. Ya know how?? Through the toffee bits, salty bourbon caramel sauce, & ruffled potato chips. I love love love the addition of potato chups, like fo'real y'all. It might sound super weird, but just go with it, I promise that you'll adore it! I fancied it up a bit by using Dulce de Leche (versus caramel) in multiple components. You can either make this from scratch or buy a good brand from your grocery store (I prefer the La Salamandra brand myself). Now some of y'all might be shocked, but I actually went the cake-box-route, which I absolutely never do. But, I find this type of cake most conducive for the soaking method. Every time I soaked a homemade, high-quality cake... it always turned out grainy + soggy, not moist and de-lush-cious. I will say though, you still make a great cake from box mixes!! I do this buy subbing in some heavy cream and coffee liqueur, and boosting the flavor with pudding, vanilla, and salt. It turns out great every time, AND it takes much less time--yippee!! Don't get too excited though, I have ya busy doing a whole bunch of homemade toppings (sorry about that, it's so worth it in the end). Just promise me one thing... don't leave out the potato chips. Okay? Deal? Deal!! Enjoy :)

For the Salted Caramel Whipped Cream:

1C Heavy Cream

2T Sugar

½C Dulce de Leche 

Pinch of Salt (or to taste)

1t Vanilla

For the Dulce de Leche Soaking Cream:

1 Can of Sweetened, Condensed Milk

1C Dulce de Leche

1t Vanilla + Bourbon

Pinch of Salt

For the Dark Chocolate Cake:

2 Boxes of Triple Fudge Chocolate Cake

1 Box of Dark Chocolate Pudding

1C Vegetable Oil

6 Eggs, Beaten

2C Heavy Cream (or Buttermilk) + 1C Kahlua Coffee Liqueur

1t Vanilla

1t Salt

1 Bag of Heath Bar Toffee Bits

Cape Cod Ruffled Potato Chips, For Topping

Homemade Chocolate Ganache or Chocolate Syrup, For Drizzling

For the Salty Bourbon Caramel Sauce:

1C Sugar + ¼C Water

½C Heavy Cream

1t Smoked Sea Salt

1T Bourbon

For the Mascarpone Whipped Cream:

8oz Mascarpone Cheese

½C Confectioners’ Sugar

Pinch of Salt

1t Vanilla

1 ½C Heavy Whipping Cream

Directions:

1. Prepping for the Salted Caramel Whipped Cream: The night before you make the cake, heat a small pot over medium-low heat. Add in the heavy cream, sugar, dulce de leche, & a pinch of salt to taste and whisk constantly until the dulce de leche has dissolved into the cream and has become smooth (it should be a light khaki color). Remove the heat from the pan and add vanilla extract. Pour this dulce de leche infused cream into and container and let it chill overnight.

2. Firstly, make sure the cream is thoroughly chilled. Add it into the bowl of a standing mixer, fitted with the whisk attachment, and whip on high-speed until a fluffy, yet thick whipped cream. Season it with some sugar, vanilla extract, and salt if needed (really it’s up to your tastes).

3. For the Dulce de Leche Soaking Liquid:  In a saucepan, heat the sweetened condensed milk over medium heat. Add in the dulce de leche and whisk until it has completely melted into the milk. Add in the vanilla, bourbon, and a pinch of salt and whisk until combined. Turn off the heat and continue whisking.

4. For the Dark Chocolate Cake: In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add the two boxes of cake mix and pudding mix. Quickly add in the vegetable oil, eggs, heavy cream, coffee liqueur, vanilla, and salt. Mix until everything is just combined and a smooth batter is formed. Spray a 9x13 pan with Pam and pour the cake batter into the prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes until the cake is cooked through, but not overcooked. Let the cake cool for 20-30 minutes, and then using a straw, poke the cake full with holes and pour the slightly warm dulce de leche soaking liquid over the cake evenly. Let it soak for 4 hours before assembling the rest of it.

5. For the Salted Caramel Sauce: In a large saucepan, bring it up to medium-high heat. Pour in sugar and water, and whisk until the sugar begins to melt and the lumps dissolve. Let this simmer until the sugar begins to turn a light caramel color, at this point add in the salt. Finally, take the pan off the heat, and pour in the heavy cream (once again, it will bubble, but just keep stirring) and stir until it is a smooth, consistent sauce. Add in the bourbon and return the caramel to the heat for another minute or so. Pour this caramel into a bowl and set aside.

6. For the Mascarpone Whipped Cream: In a mixing bowl, combine the mascarpone, confectioners’ Sugar, salt, and vanilla. Stir together until smooth and set it aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the whipping cream until stiff peaks form. And then, gently fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture until combined.

7. Assembling the Cake: Once the cake has cooled & soaked, sprinkle the top of the cake with half of a bag of heath bar toffee bits. Spread the top with mascarpone whipped cream  + salted caramel whipped cream, and then drizzle with the salted caramel bourbon caramel sauce and chocolate ganache (or store bought fudge sauce). Swirl the two sauces together with the two whipped creams. Once again, sprinkle the top with the other half of the bag of toffee bits. Push the ruffled chips into the whipped cream, so that they stay up and the cake has a jagged top. Again, drizzle the top with more salted caramel sauce + chocolate ganache. Place into the refrigerator and chill for 1-2 hours or until you are ready to serve.

8. Cut the cake into square servings and enjoy!!