Preheat Your Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat for easy cleanup.

Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and white granulated sugar together until light and fluffy. This step is crucial as it incorporates air into the mixture, giving the cookies a nice lift.

Add Eggs and Vanilla: Mix in the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract, which will add a lovely flavor to your cookies.

Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tougher cookies.

Fold in Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in the chocolate chips until evenly distributed throughout the dough. If you like your cookies extra chocolatey, feel free to add more chips!

Chill the Dough (Optional): For thicker cookies, chill the dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. This helps the cookies maintain their shape during baking.

Scoop and Bake: Use a cookie scoop or spoon to drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Leave about 2 inches between each cookie to allow for spreading.

Bake to Perfection: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. The centers might look slightly underdone, but they'll set as the cookies cool.

Cool and Enjoy: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This helps them firm up while staying soft and chewy in the middle.