Why You’ll Love These Lazy Cake Cookies
When life gets hectic and your sweet tooth comes calling, these Lazy Cake Cookies are about to become your new best friend. I’m not kidding—I make these whenever I need cookies in a pinch.
What’s not to love? They require just four ingredients, one bowl, and about 20 minutes from start to finish. No chilling, no fancy techniques, no fuss.
The texture is absolutely perfect—crispy edges with soft, chewy centers.
And talk about versatile! Don’t feel like chocolate chips? Swap in sprinkles, nuts, or whatever you have in the pantry. Convenience never tasted so good.
What Ingredients are in Lazy Cake Cookies?
What makes these cookies truly “lazy” is the brilliantly simple ingredient list. The secret weapon here is using boxed cake mix as the base—it contains all the dry ingredients you’d normally have to measure out separately. This smart shortcut gives you that perfect cookie texture without having to stock a pantry full of baking staples.
Let’s break down exactly what you’ll need:
- 1 box (15.25 oz / 432 g) yellow or white cake mix
- 2 large eggs
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) vegetable oil
- 1 cup (170 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips (or mix-ins of choice)
The beauty of this recipe is how adaptable it’s to what you have on hand. While semi-sweet chocolate chips are the classic choice, you could get creative with white chocolate chunks, butterscotch chips, chopped nuts, M&Ms, or even colorful sprinkles.
The cake mix flavor matters too—yellow cake creates a buttery, vanilla-forward cookie, while white cake offers a lighter, more neutral base.
And while vegetable oil is specified, in a real pinch, melted butter or even coconut oil could work, though each would add its own flavor profile to the final cookie.
How to Make These Lazy Cake Cookies
Making these cookies couldn’t be easier—which is exactly why they’ve earned the “lazy” title. Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and preparing a baking sheet with parchment paper or a light coating of cooking spray.
Trust me, this prep step saves so much headache later when you’re trying to remove warm, gooey cookies without them falling apart.
Now for the truly simple part: grab a large bowl and combine 1 box (15.25 oz) of cake mix, 2 large eggs, and ⅓ cup of vegetable oil. Mix until everything is well incorporated and you don’t see any dry pockets hiding in the mixture.
The dough will be thick and a bit sticky—that’s exactly what you want. Gently fold in 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips, making sure they’re evenly distributed throughout.
Don’t you just love how we’ve skipped all those tedious steps of measuring flour, baking powder, and salt?
Using a tablespoon (or a small cookie scoop if you have one), portion the dough onto your prepared baking sheet, keeping the cookies about 2 inches apart. They’ll spread a bit while baking.
Slide them into your preheated oven for 10-12 minutes. You’re looking for set edges with centers that still appear slightly soft—this guarantees they’ll have that perfect chewy texture once cooled.
Let them rest on the hot baking sheet for 2-3 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. This brief resting period helps them firm up enough to move without breaking.
Patience here is key, though the aroma might make it difficult to resist sampling immediately.
Lazy Cake Cookies Substitutions and Variations
The beauty of these lazy cake cookies lies in their endless adaptability—a perfect canvas for your creative kitchen adventures.
I’ve swapped chocolate chips for butterscotch morsels, crushed Oreos, and even chopped dried fruit when my pantry was looking sad.
Don’t have yellow cake mix? No problem. Devil’s food or strawberry mix work beautifully, creating entirely different cookie experiences.
Sometimes I add a teaspoon of cinnamon or almond extract for unexpected depth.
For my gluten-sensitive friends, I use gluten-free cake mix with fantastic results.
You can even substitute applesauce for half the oil if you’re watching calories.
Trust me, they’ll still disappear fast.
What to Serve with Lazy Cake Cookies
While these delightfully simple cookies stand perfectly well on their own, pairing them with complementary treats elevates the entire dessert experience.
I love serving mine with a scoop of vanilla ice cream while the cookies are still warm—the contrast between hot and cold is simply divine.
A tall glass of cold milk is the classic companion, of course.
For grown-up gatherings, try matching them with coffee or a dessert wine.
My personal favorite? A creamy hot chocolate alongside these cookies on chilly evenings.
The chocolate-on-chocolate combination might seem indulgent, but isn’t that what dessert is for?
Final Thoughts
After discovering these lazy cake cookies, I’ve completely changed my perspective on homemade treats.
Who knew that something so simple could taste so incredible? I’m all about efficiency in the kitchen, and these cookies deliver maximum flavor with minimal effort.
I love how versatile they are, too.
Feeling chocolatey? Add chips. Craving something nutty? Toss in some walnuts. The possibilities are endless, really.
These cookies have become my go-to when I need something sweet but don’t have the patience for complicated baking.
Sometimes the laziest recipes turn out to be the most delicious ones.
Lazy Cake Cookies
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, and vegetable oil. Mix until well incorporated with no dry pockets.
- Fold in chocolate chips until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Using a tablespoon or small cookie scoop, portion the dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing cookies about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until edges are set but centers still appear slightly soft.
- Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
