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Home ≫ Desserts

Chocolate Dream Cake (Cake Mix Recipe)

By Nikole Berg Jun 24, 2024

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Chocolate dream cake.

This chocolate dream cake is for all you chocolate lovers out there. This version is so simple because you make it with cake mix in a bundt pan. It's topped with chocolate ganache and candy pieces for the ultimate delicious and decadent dessert.

Chocolate dream cake on a cake stand and one slice being served.

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I love chocolate! It's my absolute favorite flavor for dessert so I'm always looking for new and delicious cakes to bake.

The thing is they have to be easy to make. Even though I have been baking for 30 years, sometimes I still prefer something simple. This chocolate dream cake does the trick every time because using cake mix simplifies the process and makes it foolproof.

This dark chocolate cake is covered in a melted chocolate sauce and topped with chopped candy. As you can see by the photos, it makes a dramatic presentation. If you want to wow your friends and family, then make this today! 

If you like chocolate, try my No Bake Chocolate Pie made with Jello Pudding and Cool Whip.

Why you'll love this recipe

  • Chocolate cake that is extra chocolaty with a little crunch.
  • Easy to make because it's made with cake mix!
  • Perfect for a special occasion like birthdays and holidays.

Ingredients needed

  • Non-stick cooking spray, baking spray, or shortening for greasing the pan
  • Chocolate fudge cake mix-chocolate would be ok
  • Chocolate milk-regular milk would be okay
  • Butter
  • Eggs-we always use large eggs when baking
  • Sour cream-we used full fat
  • Chocolate fudge instant pudding and pie mix
  • Chocolate chips-we used semi-sweet
  • Whipping cream or heavy cream
  • Caramel topping-homemade or store bought
  • Toffee bits or chopped up Heath bar
  • Snickers candy bar or your favorite candy bar
Ingredients to make the chocolate dream cake.

Helpful equipment

  • 12 cup fluted bundt pan or tube cake pan
  • Wire racks for cooling cake.
  • Cake plate or cake stand and server

How to make it

For the cake: 

1/ Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Generously grease (with shortening) or spray the interior of a 12 cup bundt pan with non-stick cooking spray. Dust lightly with flour if using shortening or butter.

2/ In a large bowl, add the cake mix, chocolate milk, melted butter, eggs, sour cream, and dry pudding mix. Stir with a spoon until well blended. Batter will be thick, so I like to use a wooden spoon or silicone spoon. Fold in 2 cups of chocolate chips, being sure they are well distributed throughout the batter.

Mixing cake ingredients together.
Adding chocolate chips to the cake batter.

3/ Spoon cake batter into the cake pan and smooth the top. Bake for 50 to 65 minutes, or until the cake top springs when touched. Cool cake for 10 minutes in the pan on a wire cooling rack. Invert the cake onto the cooling rack or onto a cake plate and let cool until room temperature, about 2 hours.

Spreading cake batter in bundt cake pan.
Cooling cake on a wire rack.

4/ For the ganache: place 1 cup chocolate chips in a glass bowl or other heat proof bowl. Heat cream to a simmer (careful not to scald) then pour the cream over the chocolate chips. Let it stand for 5 minutes then stir until smooth. 

Pouring cream to make chocolate ganache.
A smooth chocolate ganache.

5/ Pour the ganache (chocolate mixture) over the cake then sprinkle with remaining chocolate chips. 

6/ Pour the caramel sauce over the cake then top with toffee bits and chopped Snickers bar.

Pouring the chocolate ganache over the cake.
Topping cake with chocolate chips.
Pouring caramel sauce over cake.
Adding chopped toffee and snickers to the top of the cake.

Tips

  • I used a rack to layer on the ganache and caramel topping to keep them from pooling on the cake stand.
  • I used packaged Heath toffee bits, but you can chop up a Heath bar, Skor bar, or your favorite toffee.
  • Try different candy bars to your liking. Any candy bar will work. Cookies like Oreos will also be tasty. 
  • Keep an eye on the cake to avoid over baking. The toothpick test method might not work well because of the chocolate chips in the batter.
  • Chocolate syrup can work in place of the ganache if that's easier for you.

How to store

Store the cake covered loosely or in a cake storage container. It will keep at room temperature for a day or two. Beyond that, store in the refrigerator.

Freeze in a freezer safe container for a month or two. For best results, wrap the cake or cake slices in plastic wrap then place in your container such as a zip top storage bag.

More bundt cake desserts

  • Guinness Beer Dark Chocolate Cake
  • Butterscotch Bundt Cake
  • Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake
  • Chocolate Cherry Bundt Cake
A slice of chocolate dream cake on a plate.

Thank you for checking it the Chocolate Dream Cake recipe post! If you make it, please leave me your feedback. I love hearing from my readers!

Email me the recipe!

Enter your email and I'll send it to your inbox!

Plus get all our new recipes too!

A slice of chocolate dream cake.

Chocolate Dream Cake

Recipe by Nikole Berg
This chocolate dream cake recipe is sure to please all the chocolate cake lovers!
5 from 1 vote
Prevent your screen from going dark
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 50 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr
Course Desserts
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 703 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • Cooking spray
  • 1 box chocolate fudge cake mix
  • ¾ cup chocolate milk
  • ⅓ cup butter melted and cooled
  • 3 large eggs
  • 8 ounces sour cream
  • 1.4 ounce box chocolate fudge pudding pie mix
  • 4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips divided use; about 24 ounces total
  • ⅔ cup heavy cream or whipping cream
  • ½ cup caramel sauce
  • ½ cup toffee bits or chopped toffee
  • 1 bar Snickers chopped
US Customary - Metric

Instructions
 

For the cake:

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Generously grease (with shortening) or spray the interior of a 12 cup bundt pan with non-stick cooking spray. Dust lightly with flour if using shortening or butter.
  • In a large bowl, add the cake mix, chocolate milk, melted butter, eggs, sour cream, and dry pudding mix. Stir with a spoon until well blended. Batter will be thick, so I like to use a wooden or silicone spoon. Fold in 2 cups of chocolate chips, being sure they are well distributed throughout the batter.
  • Spoon cake batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top. Bake for 50 to 65 minutes, or until the cake top springs when touched. Cool cake for 10 minutes in the pan on a wire cooling rack. Invert the cake onto the cooling rack or onto a cake plate and let cool until room temperature, about 2 hours.
  • For the ganache: place 1 cup chocolate chips in a glass bowl or other heat proof bowl. Heat cream to a simmer then pour the cream over the chocolate chips. Let it stand for 5 minutes then stir until smooth.
  • Pour the ganache (chocolate mixture) over the cake then sprinkle with remaining 1 cup chocolate chips.
  • Pour the caramel sauce over the cake then top with toffee bits and chopped Snickers bar.

Notes

  • I used packaged Heath toffee bits, but you can chop up a Heath bar or your favorite toffee candy bar.
  • Try different candy bars to your liking. Any candy bar will work. Cookies like Oreos will also be tasty.
  • Keep an eye on the cake to avoid over baking. The toothpick test method might not work well because of the chocolate chips in the batter.
  • Chocolate syrup can work in place of the ganache if that's easier for you.

Nutrition

Calories: 703kcalCarbohydrates: 74gProtein: 7gFat: 43gSaturated Fat: 23gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 413mgPotassium: 526mgFiber: 6gSugar: 52gVitamin A: 528IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 131mgIron: 6mg
Keyword cake mix, chocolate chips, snickers
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About Nikole Berg

Nikole is the creator and photographer behind The Travel Palate, a food and travel blog featuring quick and flavorful recipes and getaway guides. Nikole hopes to inspire your inner foodie whether you're in the kitchen or traveling on your next adventure.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mom

    June 24, 2024 at 5:54 pm

    5 stars
    Really good!

    Reply
5 from 1 vote

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