Soft, gooey, and golden — the easiest dessert you’ll ever make with just three main ingredients!
These Lazy Cookie Bars taste like the love child of a brownie and a fresh-baked cookie. They’re buttery, chewy, and so simple you’ll wonder why you ever bothered with store-bought dough. Perfect for bake sales, last-minute parties, or when that sweet craving hits hard.
🍽 Recipe Card
Servings: 12–16 bars
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Dietary Tags: Kid-Friendly | One-Bowl | Crowd-Pleaser
✅ Ingredients
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1 stick butter (½ cup or 113 g), melted
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2 large eggs
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1 box yellow cake mix (any brand — classic or vanilla)
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1–1½ cups chocolate chips (semisweet, milk, or dark)
(Optional add-ins: chopped nuts, peanut butter chips, or M&Ms for color)
🔢 Instructions
1️⃣ Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350 °F (175 °C). Grease or line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
2️⃣ Mix the Base
In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter and eggs until smooth.
3️⃣ Add Cake Mix
Pour in the cake mix and stir with a spatula until a thick dough forms.
4️⃣ Fold in Chocolate Chips
Gently mix in the chocolate chips (and any extras you like).
5️⃣ Spread & Bake
Press dough evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 20–25 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the center is just set.
6️⃣ Cool & Slice
Allow to cool completely before cutting into bars. (Warm slices are heavenly with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!)
💡 Quick Tips
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Don’t overbake — they’ll continue to set as they cool.
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Add a sprinkle of sea salt on top for a sweet-salty finish.
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Swap chocolate chips for white chocolate + macadamia for a bakery-style twist.
🌟 Introduction
When life gets busy but your sweet tooth won’t wait, these Lazy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars come to the rescue. No mixer, no complicated steps — just melt, mix, and bake. The yellow cake mix gives them a chewy, buttery texture that tastes homemade without the effort.
They’re perfect for kids’ lunches, potlucks, or that midnight craving that only warm cookie bars can fix.
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1 – Melt & Mix
Combine melted butter and eggs until glossy. This will make your bars extra rich and fudgy.
Step 2 – Add the Mix
Dump in the cake mix — it’s your secret shortcut to that chewy, bakery-soft texture.
Step 3 – Fold in the Fun
Add your chocolate chips (and any extras). Don’t over-stir or the bars can turn dense.
Step 4 – Bake & Cool
Spread evenly in the pan and bake until lightly golden. Cooling helps them set and makes slicing easier.
🍫 Ingredient Details & Substitutions
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Cake Mix: Any brand works (yellow, white, butter, or even funfetti for a playful twist).
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Butter: Use salted for a richer flavor; coconut oil works if dairy-free.
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Eggs: Help the bars rise and bind — use 2 flax eggs for vegan adaptation.
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Chocolate Chips: Semisweet gives balance, but dark chocolate adds depth.
🍪 Variations & Serving Ideas
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S’mores Bars: Add mini marshmallows and crushed graham crackers on top.
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Peanut Butter Swirl: Drop spoonfuls of peanut butter before baking, then swirl.
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Holiday Version: Mix in red and green M&Ms for festive cookie bars.
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Ice-Cream Sundae: Serve warm with vanilla ice cream and caramel drizzle.
🧊 Storage & Make-Ahead
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Room Temp: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
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Fridge: Lasts up to 1 week; warm briefly before serving.
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Freeze: Wrap bars individually and freeze up to 2 months; thaw at room temp.
🧮 Nutrition (per bar, estimated)
Calories: 210 kcal | Carbs: 28 g | Fat: 10 g | Protein: 3 g | Sugar: 19 g
Allergens: Contains wheat, eggs, and dairy.
❓ FAQs
Q: Can I use white cake mix instead?
A: Absolutely — it gives a slightly lighter vanilla flavor.
Q: How do I make these extra chewy?
A: Slightly underbake and let them cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
Q: Can I double the recipe?
A: Yes! Bake in a 9×13 for thicker bars or a half-sheet pan for a party batch.
❤️ Story Behind the Recipe
This recipe came from a “lazy baker” moment — I wanted something sweet without the cleanup. A box of cake mix and a handful of chocolate chips turned into these chewy, buttery cookie bars that became an instant favorite. Now, they’re the treat I bring to every casual get-together — and they always disappear first.
💬 Join the Conversation
Tried these Lazy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars?
Share your batch with #LazyBakerMagic and tell us your favorite add-ins — nuts, candies, or double chocolate?