First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). You want the oven nice and hot before you pop these bars in to bake. Then, grease a 9x13-inch baking pan to make sure the bars don’t stick once they’re done. I like to use cooking spray for this, but you can also line the pan with parchment paper for easy cleanup. Totally your call!

In a large bowl, combine the yellow cake mix, melted butter, and egg. Mix it up until a dough forms. It’s going to be a bit thick, but that’s okay—that’s the consistency we want for the base. Once it’s all mixed together, press about two-thirds of the dough into the bottom of your prepared baking pan. You want a nice, even layer, so don’t rush this part. It’s the foundation for all the deliciousness that’s about to come!

Once you’ve pressed the dough down, it’s time to add the star ingredient—the toffee bits! Sprinkle them evenly over the dough layer, making sure every bite will have that crunchy, caramelized flavor. Trust me, this is where the magic happens.

Now, in a small saucepan over low heat, combine the sweetened condensed milk, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and vanilla extract. Stir it constantly until everything is melted and smooth. This will become a rich, glossy sauce that gets poured over the toffee bits. If you’re like me, you’ll be tempted to taste it before it even gets on the bars (and honestly, I don’t blame you—it’s THAT good).

Once the chocolate mixture is ready, pour it evenly over the toffee bits. You’ll see that it starts to ooze and coat everything in a luscious layer of chocolatey goodness. Now, crumble the remaining dough over the chocolate layer. It doesn’t have to be perfect—just scatter it across to create a crumbly topping that will bake into a golden brown crust.

Now, pop the pan into the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when the top turns a golden brown. Once baked, let the bars cool completely before slicing into them. I know, it’s hard to wait, but trust me, you’ll want to let them set so they slice perfectly.

Once they’ve cooled, slice them into 24 bars. They’re rich, so you don’t need huge portions. But if you’re like me, you’ll find it hard to resist going back for seconds. And honestly? Go ahead—life’s short, and these bars are worth it! 🍫