Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures that the cookies bake evenly and achieve that perfect golden-brown finish.

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. This will take about 3-4 minutes with a hand mixer or stand mixer. The more air you incorporate, the fluffier your cookies will be!

Add in the vanilla extract and eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. This helps the dough come together smoothly.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. This step helps evenly distribute the dry ingredients so you won’t have any clumps of flour or salt in your cookies.

Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to over-mix, as this can result in dense cookies.

Gently fold in the chocolate chips until they’re evenly distributed throughout the dough. This is the fun part—you can even add a little extra if you want a more chocolaty experience!

Use a cookie scoop or a tablespoon to portion out dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Space the cookies about 2 inches apart to allow them room to spread as they bake.

Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, or until they’re golden brown around the edges but still soft in the center. Keep an eye on them—baking times may vary slightly depending on your oven. Remember, the cookies will continue to set on the baking sheet after you take them out, so don’t wait for them to fully harden in the oven!

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This step helps them firm up and makes them easier to handle without breaking apart.