This Milky Way Cake is like a candy bar in cake form! A deliciously dense, moist cake with the flavors of chocolate and caramel that's put over the top with a chocolate glaze. It's the perfect way to put that leftover Halloween candy to use. Sweeten up any day with this easy dessert!
Halloween is just around the corner and there will be candy aplenty. So, instead of stashing it away and sneaking pieces all winter long (guilty, not guilty), I put it to good use by baking up some delicious candy bar desserts. Easy recipes like Loaded Brownies, Chocolate Candy Bar Cookies, and Peanut Butter Brownie Poke Cake. Don't those sound scrumptious?!
Now I am definitely adding this chocolate candy bar cake that tastes like a Milky Way candy bar to that list. I found this Milky Way Cake recipe, aka Candy Bar Cake, on one of my old 3x5" recipe cards that have been tucked away for years in, what my family calls, that "antique" recipe box. haha
Table of contents
This bundt cake has a delicious buttery vanilla cake base that bakes up super moist with just the right amount of chocolate and caramel sweetness. I love to add pecans for a little added crunch but those are totally optional. For all you chocolate lovers out there, you can drizzle the cooled cake with chocolate glaze but it's just as good as is or with a little powdered sugar on top.
Ingredients
Milky Way Candy Bars - give the cake its chocolate and caramel flavoring. I used the snack-sized bars, about 1-½ 10.65-oz packages.
Butter - helps to melt the candy bars to a smooth consistency and lends flavor at the same time.
Pecans - lend a nutty flavor to the finished cake along with a bit of crunch
Shortening - is used in place of butter so as not to dilute the flavor of the candy bars. It adds moistness as well as helps the cake hold its shape. By the way, you can add butter if that is all you have on hand.
Sugar - adds just the right amount of sweetness
Eggs - are the binding agent giving structure to the cake. They also create a balance between eggs and flour that provides height and texture.
Buttermilk - makes this cake not only richer but creates a fluffier cake.
Vanilla Extract - enhances all the flavors
All-Purpose Flour - is the base of the recipe
Baking Soda - provides the leavening and helps the cake to rise.
Variations
- Replace the Milky Way bars with Snickers for a little peanutty taste or 3 Musketeers which eliminates the caramel.
- Exchange butter for shortening in the cake. The butter will have a more pronounced flavor but using shortening lets the Milky Way flavor shine.
- Omit the pecans or add your favorite nut such as peanuts when using Snicker candy bars.
- Drizzle the cake with a caramel sauce rather than chocolate.
How to Make a Candy Bar Cake
Cake
- Combine candy bars, butter, and nuts in a small saucepan. Cook until melted and just comes to a boil. Remove from heat.
- Cream shortening and sugar until light and airy, about 3-5 minutes, then add eggs, one at a time.
- Combine buttermilk and vanilla in one bowl and the flour with the baking soda in another. Add alternately to creamed mixture.
- Pour melted candy bars into the batter.
- Mix well. Tip: Depending on how much you mix the melted candy bars into the batter will determine if you have swirls of caramel candy flavor or, if well mixed, just a consistent flavor throughout cake.
- Pour into a greased bundt pan. DO NOT FLOUR THE PAN!
- Bake the cake for 1-½ hours checking halfway through to see if the top is getting too brown. If so, just tent it with some foil and let it continue baking. It will pull away from the sides when done. Let it cool completely in the bundt pan then invert onto serving plate.
Chocolate Glaze
- In a microwave safe measuring cup or bowl, place chocolate and butter together. Melt in 30-second increments, stirring in-between, until the chocolate is melted and smooth. It usually takes about 1 minute.
- Stir in vanilla extract.
- Now add confectioners sugar and water alternately.
- You want to have a thick pourable chocolate glaze.
- Pour chocolate glaze over the cooled Milky Way Cake. (you're allowed to drool)
Now, slice a piece and give it a try. Look at all that moist deliciousness! Don't you just want to lick your screen?
This easy Milky Way Cake is a great dessert for Halloween or really any day of the year. I like to make it for an everyday treat or freeze it to have on hand for unexpected guests. And don't forget about it when the weather warms as it's great for summer BBQs and potluck dinners too. Enjoy!
More Bundt Cakes to Drool Over
Louisiana Stranger Cake is a butter pecan cake made with cake mix.
Chocolate Peppermint Marble Cake with chocolate ganache is perfect for Christmas.
Pistachio Bundt Cake from Living Sweet Moments
Banana Crunch Cake made with oats, sour cream, and yellow cake mix.
Melted Ice Cream Cake with rich mocha flavor and made with only 3 ingredients.
Find lots of easy cake recipes here on 2CM!
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Milky Way Cake
Ingredients
Cake
- ¾ lb. Milky Way Candy Bars
- ½ cup butter 1 stick
- 1 cup pecans, chopped
- 1 cup shortening
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 ¼ cups buttermilk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
Chocolate Glaze
- 2 oz unsweetened baking chocolate, chopped
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups confectioner's sugar
- 2-4 Tablespoons water just enough to thin for drizzling
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 10" tube pan or bundt pan very thoroughly.
- In a small sauce pan, combine candy bars, butter and nuts and heat over low heat, stirring occasionally until the mixture is completed melted and comes to a low boil. Set aside.
- In an electric mixer, cream shortening and sugar together. Beat for about 4-5 minutes until creamy and airy.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each.
- Combine buttermilk and vanilla.
- Combine flour and baking soda.
- Add buttermilk mixture and flour mixture alternately to creamed mixture, mixing until well incorporated.
- Stir in melted caramel candy mixture.
- Pour into prepared pan and bake for 1-½ hours. Check after 45 minutes to make sure top is not getting too brown. If it is, cover it with foil.
- Remove from oven and let cool completely before inverting.
Chocolate Glaze
- In a microwave-safe measuring cup or bowl, combine chopped unsweetened chocolate and butter. Melt in 30-second increments, stirring in-between, until melted and smooth.
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
- Alternately add confectioners sugar and water, stirring well. Add as much water as needed to make the chocolate just thin enough to drizzle. You don't want it too watery so keep it slightly on the thick side.
- Drizzle over cooled cake and allow to set. You can also serve it as is or sift powdered sugar over the top.
Notes
- Replace the Milky Way bars with Snickers for a little peanutty taste or 3 Musketeers which eliminates the caramel.
- Exchange butter for shortening in the cake. The butter will have a more pronounced flavor but using shortening lets the Milky Way flavor shine.
- Omit the pecans or add your favorite nut such as peanuts when using Snicker candy bars.
- Drizzle the cake with a caramel sauce rather than chocolate.
Nutrition
This post has been updated with new photos and more great tips for baking. It was first published on April 15, 2018.
Colleen Pacocha says
I have been making this exact cake for over 50 years when I found it in a cookbook I got as a wedding shower gift. It has been a favorite with family and friends alike all this time. In fact, my son just asked me to send it to him so he could make it. But my original recipe calls for "4 Milky Way bars." Needless to say, Milky Way bars are not the same size that they were in 1973 so for years I've had to guess how many to use. I found this while searching my computer for the recipe to send to my son and I am so happy to find this recipe where the amount of candy is given by weight. Plus, I've always only topped it with powdered sugar so I'm looking forward to trying the chocolate glaze.
Linda Warren says
Wow! So glad I could help! Isn't it a great feeling when your kids ask you for their favorite recipe? I'll have to try it with the powdered sugar next time.
Angie says
Made this cake and received rave reviews! A couple of people swore I used box mix for it but oh well it will be our secret.
Baking two more as I text.
Linda Warren says
That makes me so happy to hear! I guess it must have been good if they thought it was a boxed mix. lol Save some for me!
Liz says
That looks so delicious and chocolatey! I love candy bars and this cake takes them to the next level! 🙂
Linda Warren says
Thanks so much Liz! I love adding the candy bars and I one day I'm going to try this same recipe with Snickers.
Jenn L says
I love the way MW taste but I'm not a huge candy bar person - so this cake version is PERFECTO! Thanks for the awesome recipe!
Linda Warren says
Thanks Jenn! I'd rather eat the cake than a candy bar too so I think you'd love this dessert. Hope you get a chance to try it.