Next, beat in the eggs, one at a time, along with the vanilla extract until everything is perfectly incorporated. Gradually add in the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. Avoid overmixing; you want those rich flavors to meld without losing that tender texture. Finally, fold in the chocolate chips with a rubber spatula—this, my friends, is where the magic happens!
Now, it’s time to scoop out your cookie dough! I like using a cookie scoop for uniformity, but a tablespoon works just fine as well. Place the dough on a prepared baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving enough space between each dollop because these cookies will spread slightly as they bake. Bake them for 12-15 minutes until the edges are golden brown, but the centers are still soft. As soon as you take them out, let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Your kitchen will smell absolutely divine!
Pro Tips for Best Results
I’ve tested this recipe a few different ways, and one of my biggest lessons was to ensure your butter is at the right temperature. If it’s too warm or too cold, you might end up with cookies that spread too much or not enough! Slightly softened but still cool is the goal here.
Another tip is to chill your dough for at least 30 minutes if you want thicker cookies—this allows the flavors to develop and the butter to firm up a bit, yielding that perfect chewy texture! I’ve made the mistake of skipping this step in the past and wished I hadn’t.
Lastly, I love using a variety of chocolate chips. Sometimes, I mix in dark chocolate chips or even add a sprinkle of sea salt on top before baking for that perfect contrast of flavors. It’s these small tweaks that can take your cookies from good to absolutely sensational!
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When I first started baking cookies, I often overbaked them because I thought they needed to be firm when they came out of the oven. This is a classic rookie mistake! Remember, they will continue to bake on the hot baking sheet after you take them out, so it’s okay to pull them while they still look slightly underdone. (See the next page below to continue…)