Lazy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Imagine sinking your teeth into a soft, chewy, and chocolatey bar, where the sweet aroma of freshly baked cookies fills the air. Now, imagine all that deliciousness with none of the fuss! Enter Lazy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars a delightful, easy-to-make dessert that’s perfect for busy weeknights, last-minute gatherings, or simply when you need a treat but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. With just a few simple ingredients and minimal effort, you can whip up a batch of these delicious cookie bars that taste like they took a lot more work than they actually did.

Jump to Recipe

In this detailed recipe guide, we’ll break down each step to help you achieve the perfect cookie bars. Plus, we’ll throw in some tips, variations, and suggestions for taking your Lazy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars to the next level!

Why You’ll Love These Lazy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars ❤️

• Simple Ingredients: You only need four ingredients to make this recipe, and most of them are pantry staples like butter, eggs, cake mix, and chocolate chips.
• Minimal Effort: This is the ultimate “lazy” dessert because the recipe comes together quickly and doesn’t require a ton of steps. Just mix, bake, and enjoy!
• Customizable: You can get creative with this basic recipe by adding nuts, different types of chocolate, or even a drizzle of caramel.
• Perfect for Sharing: These cookie bars are great for sharing at parties, potlucks, or family gatherings. They’re easy to cut into squares or bars, making them ideal for serving a crowd.
• Delicious Texture: The combination of cake mix and melted butter gives these bars a soft, chewy, almost cake-like texture, while the chocolate chips add rich bursts of flavor.

Ingredients for Lazy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars 📝

Let’s break down the four key ingredients you’ll need to make these cookie bars:

1. Butter (1 stick) 🧈

• The butter adds richness and flavor to the cookie bars, giving them a soft and chewy texture. You’ll need to melt the butter to help it combine smoothly with the other ingredients.

Pro Tip:

• Use unsalted butter so you can control the amount of salt in your dessert. If you only have salted butter, just reduce or omit any added salt.

2. Eggs (2 large eggs) 🥚

• The eggs help bind the ingredients together and give the cookie bars structure. They also add moisture, making sure your bars stay soft and tender.

Pro Tip:

• For best results, make sure your eggs are at room temperature before mixing. This helps them incorporate more easily into the batter.

3. Yellow Cake Mix (1 box) 🍰

• The secret to the “lazy” part of this recipe is using a box of yellow cake mix instead of making the cookie dough from scratch. The cake mix provides the perfect base, saving you time and effort while still delivering that classic cookie flavor.

Pro Tip:

• You can use other flavors of cake mix, like chocolate or spice, if you want to switch things up. Each one will give the bars a slightly different taste but still be delicious.

4. Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (1 bag) 🍫

• The chocolate chips are the star of the show in these cookie bars, providing rich, melty pockets of chocolate in every bite. Semi-sweet chocolate is ideal because it strikes the right balance between sweet and bitter.

Pro Tip:

• If you prefer milk chocolate or dark chocolate, feel free to swap out the semi-sweet chips for your favorite kind.

Step-by-Step Directions for Lazy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars 🍪

This recipe is as simple as it gets, making it perfect for anyone who wants a sweet treat without all the hassle. Here’s how to make your Lazy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars:

Step 1: Melt the Butter 🧈

• Start by melting 1 stick of butter in a microwave-safe bowl. You can do this by microwaving the butter in short increments (about 10-15 seconds at a time), stirring between each until it’s fully melted.

Pro Tip:

• Be careful not to overheat the butter! If it gets too hot, let it cool for a minute or two before mixing it with the eggs to avoid cooking the eggs prematurely.

Step 2: Whisk Together the Eggs and Butter 🥚🧈

• In the same bowl, whisk together the melted butter and 2 large eggs until well combined. This step ensures that the butter and eggs are evenly mixed, which is crucial for achieving a smooth batter.

Pro Tip:

• Use a whisk to mix the butter and eggs thoroughly, but don’t over-whisk. Just mix until everything is combined and smooth.

Step 3: Stir in the Cake Mix 🍰

• Once the butter and eggs are mixed, stir in 1 box of yellow cake mix. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to combine the cake mix with the wet ingredients, stirring until a thick dough forms.

Pro Tip:

• The dough will be quite thick, almost like cookie dough, so don’t worry if it feels a bit stiff. That’s exactly what you want!

Step 4: Mix in the Chocolate Chips 🍫

• Now it’s time to fold in 1 bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips. Stir until the chocolate chips are evenly distributed throughout the dough. This ensures that every bite will have plenty of gooey chocolate!

Pro Tip:

• For a bit of variety, you can mix in other types of chips like white chocolate, peanut butter, or butterscotch chips. You can also add nuts like chopped walnuts or pecans for extra crunch.

Step 5: Press the Dough into a Greased Pan 🧈🍪

• Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray, then press the dough evenly into the pan. Make sure the dough is spread out to the edges and is as level as possible.

Pro Tip:

• For easier spreading, you can lightly wet your hands or the back of a spoon and press the dough into the pan. This will prevent the dough from sticking to your hands or utensil.

Step 6: Bake 🍪🔥

• Bake the cookie bars in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 20 minutes if using a 9×13-inch pan. If you’re using a smaller pan, such as an 8×8-inch or 9×9-inch pan, bake for 25-28 minutes to ensure they cook all the way through.
• The cookie bars are done when the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.

Pro Tip:

• Keep an eye on the bars during the last few minutes of baking to ensure they don’t overbake. You want them to be golden and slightly soft in the center, as they will continue to firm up as they cool.

Step 7: Let Cool and Enjoy 🍫😋

• Once the cookie bars are baked, remove them from the oven and let them cool in the pan for about 10-15 minutes before slicing. This helps them set and makes them easier to cut into neat bars.
• Slice the bars into squares and serve them warm for a gooey, melty chocolate experience, or let them cool completely for a firmer, chewier texture.

Tips for Perfect Lazy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars 🛠️

Want to make sure your Lazy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars turn out perfectly every time? Here are some additional tips and tricks to keep in mind:

1. Don’t Overmix: When stirring in the cake mix, be careful not to overmix the dough. Overmixing can result in denser, tougher bars. Just mix until everything is combined.
2. Line the Pan for Easy Removal: If you’re worried about the bars sticking to the pan, line the baking dish with parchment paper or aluminum foil. This makes it super easy to lift the bars out of the pan once they’ve cooled.
3. Customize the Recipe: While the basic recipe is delicious as is, feel free to get creative with mix-ins. Add your favorite nuts, sprinkle sea salt on top for a salted chocolate chip variation, or swirl in caramel or peanut butter for extra indulgence.
4. Underbake Slightly for Gooey Bars: If you prefer your cookie bars on the gooier side, bake them for 1-2 minutes less than the recommended time. They’ll be extra soft and chewy in the center.
5. Serve with Ice Cream: For an over-the-top dessert, serve these cookie bars warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. The contrast between the warm, melty bars and the cold ice cream is irresistible!

Creative Variations on Lazy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars 🎨

While the classic Lazy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars recipe is perfect on its own, here are a few fun variations to try if you want to mix things up:

1. S’mores Cookie Bars 🍫🔥

• Add mini marshmallows and crushed graham crackers to the batter along with the chocolate chips. Bake as usual and enjoy the s’mores-inspired twist!

2. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars 🥜

🍫

• Swirl in a few tablespoons of creamy peanut butter into the dough before baking. You can also replace some of the chocolate chips with peanut butter chips for an extra peanut butter punch.

3. Triple Chocolate Bars 🍫🍫🍫

• If you’re a chocoholic, try using a chocolate cake mix instead of yellow and adding a mix of dark, milk, and white chocolate chips for a triple chocolate treat.

4. Funfetti Cookie Bars 🎉

• Swap out the chocolate chips for rainbow sprinkles and white chocolate chips to make funfetti-inspired cookie bars. These are perfect for birthday parties or any festive occasion.

Conclusion: Why Lazy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Are a Must-Try 🍪❤️

Lazy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are the perfect combination of simplicity and indulgence. With just a handful of ingredients and a few easy steps, you can create a dessert that’s rich, chewy, and packed with gooey chocolate goodness. Whether you’re making these for a party, a potluck, or just a cozy night in, these bars are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth without the hassle. So go ahead, whip up a batch of these delicious cookie bars, and enjoy every bite!