Caramel Pecan Bars with Yellow Cake Mix Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (2024)

February 27, 2022November 15, 2023

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Pecan Bars with Toffee are a shortcut Caramel Pecan Bars with Yellow Cake Mix. Imagine a slightly gooey center filled with pecans and English Toffee Bits. These delights will satisfy your sweet tooth without requiring much effort.

Pecan Bars with Toffee

I love yellow cake mix, pecans and English Toffee Bits (like Heath Brand); put them together and what do you get?

You’ll get these deliciously, nutty Caramel Pecan Toffee Bars. The toffee bits melt just enough to add to the perfect consistency.

The bottom layer is made using yellow cake mix, and the top is a slightly ooey gooey caramel pecan layer filled with chopped pecans and toffee pieces drowned in sweetened condensed milk (the best ever ingredient in my humble opinion).

These almost taste like caramel pecan pie bars. Try serving these at Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Ingredient List for Pecan Toffee Bars Recipe

Yellow Cake Mix, dry mix (or butter cake mix)

Margarine, softened

Large Eggs

Sweetened Condensed Milk

Vanilla Extract

Chopped Pecans (fine crumbs)

English Toffee Bits

Caramel Pecan Bars with Yellow Cake Mix

I just absolutely love using boxed cake mix to create other breakfast and dessert recipes. The options are downright endless.

This particular recipe for pecan bars with English bits calls for a yellow cake mix or butter cake mix, but try swapping in a different variety to change things up.

Here are 10 amazing desserts using boxed cake mix:

1. Yellow Cake Mix Gooey Bars
2. Pumpkin Crunch
3. Cake Mix Cinnamon Rolls
4. Easy Cake Mix Caramel Bars
5. Applesauce Coffee Cake with Yellow Cake Mix
6. Rhubarb Spoon Cake
7. Cherry Almond Dump Cake
8. Lemon Glazed Blueberry Cake
9. Chocolate Kahlua Bundt Cake
10. Chocolate Cake Mix Gooey Bars

How to Make Pecan Toffee Bars with Yellow Cake Mix

Step by Step Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 13 x 9 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. If desired, line pan with parchment paper.
2. Cream together dry cake mix, soft margarine and one egg at medium speed. Press shortbread crust into the bottom of the prepared dish.
3. Beat together in a separate bowl, sweetened condensed milk, one egg and vanilla. Stir in chopped pecans and English Toffee Bits.
4. Pour mixture over base in the dish.
5. Bake for 25-35 minutes or until light brown. Do not over cook, the center will finish setting up as it cools.
6. Let cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars with a sharp knife.

Storage Instructions

Let leftovers cool. Transfer to an airtight container and store at room temperature for 3 to 5 days.

For the full recipe steps and ingredient amounts for caramel Pecan bars with yellow cake mix, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Recipe FAQs

• Butter cake mix or white cake mix could be substituted for yellow cake mix.
• Unsalted butter can be used instead of margarine.
• Be sure to use sweetened condensed milk not to be confused with evaporated milk.
• English Toffee Bits are found in the baking aisle with the chocolate chips or here on Amazon.
• Do not over bake, you want the center to be a bit gooey. The bars will continue to set up as they cool.
• These caramel pecan dream bars actually get better after a couple of days as the bottom layer softens up.
• Check out our Amazon Store for our favorite pantry staples and kitchen gadgets.

Will toffee bits melt when baking?

When using English Toffee Bits in baked goods, the larger pieces mostly stay intact while the smaller bits tend to melt into the batter for a little gooey goodness.

How to use leftover toffee bits?

Have a leftover toffee bits from another recipe? Here are a few ways to use them up.

• Add them to pancake or waffle batter.
• Stir them into your coffee or hot chocolate.
• Serve over yogurt.
• Add them to your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe.
• Sprinkle over brownies before baking.
• Use as an ice cream topping.
• Pour them from the bag directly into your mouth.

Recipes using Pecans

Pineapple Cheese Ball with Pecans

Grandma’s Butterscotch Pecan Rolls

Cinnamon Glazed Nuts

Praline Pumpkin Pie Bars