1-First Step: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and packed light brown sugar until the mixture looks light and fluffy. This usually takes about 2 to 3 minutes with a hand mixer or stand mixer. The creaming step matters because it traps air in the dough, which helps the cookies bake up with a soft middle and a pleasant lift. If you rush this part, your cookies may turn out dense.

2-Second Step: Add the 2 teaspoons vanilla and the 2 large eggs. Mix until everything is smooth and fully combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl so no butter or sugar is left behind. The eggs help the dough come together and give the cookies structure, while the vanilla adds that warm bakery-style flavor everyone loves.

3-Third Step: In a separate bowl, whisk together the 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, and 1 teaspoon sea salt. This dry mix helps spread the leavening evenly through the dough. Then slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed or stirring by hand until just combined. Avoid overmixing because that can make the cookies tough.

4-Fourth Step: Fold in the 2 cups chocolate chips using a spatula or wooden spoon. Make sure the chips are evenly distributed so every cookie gets plenty of chocolate. At this stage, you can also cover the bowl and chill the dough for 30 minutes if you want a slightly thicker cookie with a more developed flavor.

5-Fifth Step: Scoop the dough into tablespoon-sized balls and place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. For larger bakery-style cookies, use a cookie scoop and add a little extra dough per cookie. If you want very even baking, shape the dough balls so they are similar in size. This also makes the cookies look more polished once baked.

6-Sixth Step: Bake for 10 to 12 minutes at 350°F, or until the edges look golden and the centers still appear a little soft. That slightly underbaked center is the secret to chewy chocolate chip cookies. Do not wait until the cookies look fully set in the oven, because they will continue baking on the hot pan after you remove them.

7-Final Step: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before moving them to a wire rack. This resting time helps them finish setting without drying out. Then serve warm with milk, coffee, or tea. If you are baking for a crowd, these cookies are wonderful on a dessert tray next to something fruity like this refreshing mango peach strawberry smoothie for a sweet and bright pairing.