1-First Step: Prep the oven and baking sheets Start by preheating your oven to 375°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper so the cookies do not stick and clean-up stays simple. This also helps the bottoms bake evenly, which is especially useful if your oven runs hot or cold.

2-Second Step: Mix the butter and sugars In a large bowl, beat the 1 cup cold salted butter, cubed with the 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, 1/2 cup light brown sugar, and 1/2 cup granulated sugar until the mixture looks creamy and well combined. Cold butter will take a little more mixing, but it helps create a slightly thicker cookie. If you want a softer cookie with more lift, do not rush this step.

3-Third Step: Add the eggs and vanilla Mix in the 2 eggs and 2 teaspoons vanilla until the dough looks smooth. Scrape down the bowl as needed so everything blends evenly. This is where the dough starts to smell amazing, and that vanilla aroma is a good sign that the cookies will bake up with warm, classic flavor.

4-Fourth Step: Add the dry ingredients In a separate bowl, whisk together the 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 2 teaspoons cornstarch, and 3 cups all-purpose flour. Add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients in batches, mixing just until combined. Do not overmix, or the cookies may turn out dense instead of soft and chewy.

5-Fifth Step: Fold in the chocolate chips and walnuts Stir in the 2 1/2 cups chocolate chips and 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts. Make sure the mix-ins are spread evenly through the dough so every cookie gets a good balance of chocolate and crunch. If you prefer fewer nuts, you can reduce the walnuts slightly, but the full amount gives the best texture.

6-Sixth Step: Portion the dough Scoop the dough into balls using about 2 tablespoons of dough for each cookie. Place them on the prepared baking sheets, leaving enough space for spreading. If you want bakery-style cookies, make the dough balls a little taller than they are wide.

7-Seventh Step: Bake until golden Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers still look a little soft. The cookies will continue setting as they cool, so do not wait for them to look fully done in the oven. That small bit of underbaking is what helps create the chewy center everyone loves.

8-Eighth Step: Cool and enjoy Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before moving them to a wire rack. This helps them firm up without breaking apart. Serve them warm with a glass of milk, pack them in lunch boxes, or enjoy one as an afternoon snack with coffee or tea.