The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies!

I always like to be creative and punny with the names of my blog posts, but this one I just can't.  It's too true!  Chocolate chip cookies are a sacred item in my household as they're both mine and my dad's favorite cookie.  Due to our love for them, we have tried so many different recipes and so many different store bought mixes and ready-to-bakes and none of them stand up to the amazing-ness that is this recipe!  So let's jump right into it!

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs 
• 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) semi-sweet chocolate chips (I would like to note that this is usually a bit too much so you can always eyeball it)
• 1 cup chopped nuts, optional

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil on it.  This will keep the cookies from sticking to the pan and makes for easier clean up.
3. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl.
4. Beat the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract in a large bowl until creamy.  You can use a stand mixer or a handheld mixer, both work fine for this.
5. Add eggs to the butter mixture, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  
6. Gradually add in flour mixture.  (To do this, add a bit of the flour mixture and then pause and let the mixer combine it before adding more flour.)
7. Once all the flour is added, turn the mixer off and fold in the chocolate chips and nuts (if you're adding nuts).  
8. Form rounded balls of cookie dough, about the size of a tablespoon, onto the cookie sheet.
9. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown.  Make sure to watch the bottoms so that they don't burn.
10. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes, then move to a wire rack to finish cooling.

I absolutely love this recipe!!!  This is originally a Nestle Toll House recipe and can be found here.  I highly suggest giving it a look over.  You'll find not only these directions, but the directions to take this cookie dough and make it into a pan cookie version, a slice and bake cookie version (I tried this one, it's hard to do with the chocolate chips in it), and even alterations for high altitude baking.  Good luck in your future baking endeavors!