Heath Bar Cake Recipe (With Crumb Topping)

There’s something magical about the combination of buttery toffee and tender cake that makes Heath bars irresistible. This homemade Heath Bar Cake captures all that nostalgic flavor while elevating it into an elegant dessert that’s perfect for any occasion. Unlike many recipes that rely on boxed mixes, this version is made completely from scratch with a rich brown sugar base and a gorgeous crumb topping.

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Why This Recipe Works

The secret lies in building layers of flavor and texture. Starting with a brown sugar cake base creates deeper, more complex sweetness than white sugar alone. The crumb topping serves double duty as both a cake component and a finishing touch, while the Heath bar pieces provide delightful bursts of toffee crunch throughout every bite.

What Makes Heath Bar Cake So Good?

This fluffy cake is delicious. Its simple yet tasty vanilla base allows the indulgent Heath Bar pieces to take center stage.

Additionally, the crumble topping makes it so unique that it might remind you of a fancier version of coffee cake. With the moist cake, sweet streusel, and crunchy toffee bits from the Heath Bar, this dessert tastes like a dream!

Ingredients

Crumb Topping Base:

• Butter – Creates rich, flaky texture when cold and worked into flour mixture
• Brown sugar – Provides molasses depth and helps create tender crumbs that won’t become too hard
• All-purpose flour – Forms structure for both crumb topping and cake base

Cake Enhancement:

• Baking soda – Provides lift and helps create a tender crumb structure in the brown sugar cake
• Salt – Enhances all flavors and balances the sweetness throughout the cake
• Vanilla extract – Adds aromatic depth that complements the toffee flavors beautifully

Binding Elements:

• Large egg – Provides structure rand ichness, and helps bind all ingredients together
• Milk – Creates tender texture and helps dissolve the brown sugar for even distribution

Flavor Additions:

• Chopped nuts – Add complementary crunch and nutty flavor that pairs perfectly with toffee
• Heath candy bars – Provide signature toffee flavor and satisfying textural contrast throughout

How to Make the Crumble Topping

1. Combine the butter, flour, and brown sugar in a large bowl.
2. The butter should be very cold and cut into small cubes.
3. Quickly use your hands to push all the ingredients into a solid block. Make sure there are no dry bits on the bottom of the bowl or stuck to the outside of the block.
4. Use the back of a fork or a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment to break apart the block into a crumble, not crumbs.
5. Reserve a cup of the crumble and place it in the fridge.
6. Continue with the recipe with the remaining crumble.

How to Make Heath Bar Cake

1. Add baking soda, salt, vanilla, egg, milk, and nuts to the crumble mixture.
2. Pour the batter into a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and spread it evenly.
3. Sprinkle the reserved 1 cup of crumbs on top of the cake.
4. Sprinkle crushed Heath bars on top.

7. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. It’s done when a toothpick or skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. Let the cake cool to room temperature.
9. Cut the cake into square slices and enjoy!

Tips for Making a Heath Bar Cake from Scratch

Keep the Heath bars in the freezer. Popping the chocolate bars in the freezer overnight makes them easier to break into small pieces. Place the frozen bars in a plastic bag and hit them with the back of a heavy spoon. Don’t smash the bars too hard. You want the pieces to be about the same size as your crumble.

Keep things light. Use a light-colored baking pan for this recipe. Darker pans will bake the cake faster and color the exterior, two things you don’t want in this recipe. If you only have dark-colored baking pans, there is no need to buy a new one for this recipe. All you need to do is wrap the outside of the entire pan with tinfoil with the shiny side facing out.

Recipe Variations

• To make it easier, you can purchase the health bar bits from your local grocery store. You can find them in the baking aisle. Standard-sized bars weigh 1.4 ounces, and the Health Bar bits come in an 8-oz bag. So, one bag is a few ounces less than you need for this recipe. You can purchase two bags if you would rather have a surplus!
• Did you know that Heath Bars are naturally gluten-free? You can make this cake gluten-free by substituting the flour with your preferred alternative.
• If you want the cake batter to be more chocolaty, add chocolate chips. You can also include mixed-ins like shredded coconut, which tastes amazing with the Heath candy.
• Experiment with different candy bars. For instance, use crushed Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, 100 Grand Bars, Snickers, or plain toffee! You can also mix multiple types of candy bars to take it up a notch.

What to Serve with This Dessert

To make this cake more special, serve it with a dollop of whipped topping or a scoop of vanilla ice cream, toasted almonds, and chocolate syrup or caramel sauce. You can also enjoy it with fresh fruits, like strawberries, a dollop of Cool Whip, or simply with a cup of hot coffee!

Storage & Reheating Instructions

• Freezing: Wrap the cooled cake tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature for several hours before serving.
• Room Temperature Storage: Cover tightly with plastic wrap or store in airtight container for up to 3 days for optimal freshness.
• Reheating Method: Not typically necessary, but can warm individual pieces in microwave for 10-15 seconds if desired.

Love homemade cakes? Try these recipes!

• Ambrosia Cake
• Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake
• Chocolate Pudding Cake
• Coca Cola Chocolate Cake
• Fresh Peach Dump Cake
• Jello Poke Cake
• Lemon Cream Cake
• Pistachio Cake
• Sara Lee Pound Cake

Favorite Dessert Recipes

• Cherry Cream Cheese Pie
• Easy Lemon Bars
• Toll House Pie
• Red Velvet Brownies

Check out my easy cake recipes and the best dessert recipes here on CopyKat!

And take a look at my other creative cakes on YouTube!