Ooey Gooey Sticky Toffee Cake (Disney Copycat)
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Sticky Toffee Cake is a very popular dessert at Disney’s Magic Kingdom, and now you can save yourself the park admission by making it at home! It’s got everything you could want in a sweet treat: crispy edges and a gooey center with chocolate, caramel, and toffee flavors. I dare you to resist a second slice!
Sticky Toffee Cake
I really thought nothing could top Disney’s churro toffee… and then I had their ooey gooey toffee cake. Talk about DELISH!!
The edges are a little bit crispy, which perfectly contrasts the deliciously gooey center. And it’s absolutely bursting with chocolatey, caramel-y, toffee flavor to satisfy any sweet tooth.
Despite the decadence, it’s actually quite simple to make sticky toffee cake at home. Bake two layers together in one large pan, then slice and serve warm.
Next, try more homemade versions of your Disney park favorites like Jack Jack Num Num Cookies and adorable Tigger Tails. Cute and delicious!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Yellow Cake Mix – Choose your favorite brand! All you need is the powdered mix — don’t worry about the extra ingredients listed on the back of the box.
- Eggs – Use 1 egg for the cake batter, plus 3 more for the gooey filling layer. You’ll get better results if these are at room temperature.
- Butter – It’s true that this makes everything better, which is why we’re adding 2 whole sticks to the toffee cake batter, plus another stick for the filling!!
- Cream Cheese – Soften a brick of cream cheese on the counter along with the butter before getting started.
- Powdered Sugar – Also known as confectioner’s sugar, the fine, powdery texture adds sweetness and structure the the gooey layer. Don’t try to substitute it with anything else!
- Chocolate Chips – I like the flavor of milk chocolate chips best in this toffee cake recipe, but semi-sweet will work too. Avoid dark chocolate as it will be too bitter.
- Toffee Pieces – You can use packed toffee bits (found near the chocolate chips) or break up real toffee candy into smaller pieces.
The bits melt more evenly, but the chopped candies add some crunch — so it’s really up to your preference!
Tips and Tricks to Make Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake
- Soften the butter and cream cheese before getting started.
While you’re at it, bring the egg to room temperature too! You’ll get smoother results when creaming and a lump-free batter when all the ingredients are at a similar temperature to start.
It can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to warm ingredients on the counter, so plan ahead!
Short on time? You can place the eggs in a bowl of warm water for 5-10 minutes until they no longer feel cold.
Unwrap the cream cheese and place it on a microwave-safe plate, then heat for 15 seconds. For butter, leave the sticks wrapped but heat for 20-30 seconds at 50% power instead.
- Grease your pan really well.
Trust me, you don’t want to find out what happens if you don’t! Cooking spray tends to coat the surface more evenly, but there’s a chance it will slide down the side the longer it sits.
Butter, on the other hand, will stay in place but may be thicker in some spots than others. I find it easiest to unwrap a stick that’s slightly softened and rub it all over the inside of the pan.
- Use your hands to spread the cake layer into the pan.
The texture is much closer to cookie dough than traditional cake batter since the only liquid is from the eggs.
Press the mixture gently towards the edges to create an even layer, but don’t press too hard or your sticky toffee cake will come out dense. You can also use a silicone spatula if you prefer.
Prep Ahead
- Grease baking pan with butter or cooking spray
- Soften butter and cream cheese
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- 9×13 Baking Dish – This set is one of my favorites! It comes with a lid for easy storage and is great for casseroles too.
- Stand Mixer or medium mixing bowls with Hand Mixer.
- A sturdy Silicone Spatula can be used for scraping, stirring, and smoothing and is easy to clean too!
Serving Suggestions
Top each slice of sticky toffee cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and your choice of chocolate syrup or caramel sauce — or both!
You can also sprinkle extra toffee bits and chocolate chips on top for extra crunch.
This dessert is also delicious plain or with a simple swirl of whipped cream. I like to enjoy a slice with a cup of coffee or tea to help balance the rich, sweet flavor.
Storing and Reheating Toffee Cake
Copycat Disney toffee cake is best served warm from the oven, but you can save leftovers for up to 2 days at room temperature.
Keep tightly covered with plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container.
Reheat individual slices in the microwave before serving to make them warm and gooey again.
Toffee Cake Recipe FAQ
Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake is the signature dessert at Liberty Tree Tavern, found in Liberty Square at Disney’s Magic Kingdom.
I’ve seen this toffee cake recipe made both ways! A muffin pan will certainly make for a better presentation — and get you closer to an exact lookalike — but the cake can sometimes come out dry when baked this way.
Your best option for individual desserts is to use ramekins, though you’d need to divide the batter evenly and adjust the baking time.
For crispy edges but a gooey, moist center, I find it best to make this dessert in a large baking dish and then slice it up for serving.
Create a Southern version by adding chopped pecans or pralines to the filling layer. Maybe a splash of bourbon too… or swap the vanilla extract for bourbon extract.
You can also balance the sweetness by swapping the caramel drizzle with salted caramel sauce, or by simply sprinkling flaky sea salt over the dessert before serving.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Ooey Gooey Sticky Toffee Cake (Disney Copycat)
Equipment
Ingredients
Cake Layer Ingredients:
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1 egg
- 8 ounces butter, softened
Filling Layer Ingredients:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 4 ounces butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips
- 1 cup toffee pieces
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325ºF. Prepare a 9×13 baking pan with butter or non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat yellow cake mix, egg, and butter until smooth.
- Press mixture into a prepared pan using clean hands or a spatula.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese.
- Add eggs and vanilla and beat again.
- Add butter and powdered sugar and beat again.
- Stir in chocolate chips and toffee pieces.
- Transfer batter on top of cake layer in baking dish.
- Bake for 50 minutes or until the center is baked and set.
- Serve with ice cream, chocolate syrup, or caramel syrup is desired.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published November 2024
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