Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups chocolate chips (semi-sweet or milk chocolate)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
2. Creaming the Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
3. Add Eggs and Vanilla: Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then, stir in the vanilla extract.
4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
5. Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough cookies.
6. Add Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in the chocolate chips until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
7. Shape the Cookies: Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto ungreased baking sheets, leaving enough space between each cookie.
8. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. The centers may still look slightly underdone, but they will continue to set as they cool.
9. Cooling: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Tips for the Best Cookies:

• Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure that your butter, eggs, and any other dairy ingredients are at room temperature. This helps create a smooth and uniform cookie dough.
• Measuring Flour: Measure the flour accurately using the spoon-and-level method. Too much flour can result in dry and crumbly cookies.
• Quality Chocolate: Use high-quality chocolate chips for the best flavor. You can also mix different types of chocolate for a more complex taste.
• Chilling the Dough: Consider chilling the cookie dough for at least 30 minutes before baking. This can help prevent cookies from spreading too much, resulting in a thicker texture.
• Parchment Paper: Use parchment paper on the baking sheets to prevent cookies from sticking and to make clean-up easier.