1-First Step: Get your kitchen ready Start by preheating your oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper so the cookies bake evenly and release easily. This small step saves time later and helps prevent sticking. If your butter has not softened yet, let it sit at room temperature until it is soft enough to press with a finger.

2-Second Step: Mix the butter and sugars In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened salted butter, granulated white sugar, and packed light brown sugar until the mixture looks light and creamy. This usually takes about 2 to 3 minutes with a hand mixer or stand mixer. Proper creaming adds air to the dough and helps the cookies bake with a soft center and gently crisp edge.

3-Third Step: Add the eggs and vanilla Mix in the 2 large eggs, one at a time, followed by the pure vanilla extract. Stir until everything looks smooth and well blended. Adding the eggs one by one helps the dough stay even and stable. The vanilla will make the dough smell amazing already, which is always a good sign.

4-Fourth Step: Combine the dry ingredients In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and sea salt. This helps distribute the leavening evenly so you do not end up with cookies that rise unevenly. Once mixed, slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Mix just until the flour disappears. If you stir too long, the cookies can turn tough.

5-Fifth Step: Fold in the chocolate chips Use a spatula or wooden spoon to fold in the 2 cups of semisweet chocolate chips. Make sure the chips are spread throughout the dough so every cookie gets plenty of chocolate. If you like extra chocolate in every bite, you can press a few chips into the tops of the dough balls before baking.

6-Sixth Step: Shape the cookies Scoop the dough into rounded tablespoons and place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. A cookie scoop makes this step faster and helps the cookies bake evenly. For thicker cookies, keep the dough mounds a little taller instead of flattening them. If you want more uniform cookies for a party tray or bake sale, weigh the dough into equal portions.

7-Seventh Step: Bake until just set Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes, depending on your oven and how soft you want the centers. The edges should look set and lightly golden, while the centers may still look a little soft. That is exactly what you want for the best chocolate chip cookie recipe. The cookies will keep cooking on the hot baking sheet after you take them out.

8-Eighth Step: Cool before moving Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. This short cooling time helps them firm up enough to move without breaking. After that, place them on the rack to cool completely or enjoy them warm with gooey chocolate. If you are making cookies for a gathering, this is a nice time to set out a few for tasting while the rest finish cooling.