1-First Step: Prep your oven and pans Preheat your oven to 375°F. Line your baking sheets with parchment paper so the cookies bake evenly and release easily after cooling. This also keeps cleanup easy, which is always a win on a busy day.

2-Second Step: Mix the dry ingredients In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and sea salt. Stir them together so the leavening and salt are spread evenly through the dough. This helps the cookies rise consistently and keeps the flavor balanced.

3-Third Step: Cream the butter and sugars In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, white sugar, and packed brown sugar until combined and fluffy. This step adds air to the dough and gives the cookies that tender bite. If the butter is too cold, the mixture may look lumpy, so make sure it is soft but not melted.

4-Fourth Step: Add the eggs and vanilla Beat in the eggs and vanilla for about 1 minute. The dough should look smooth and slightly glossy. The vanilla brings in a cozy bakery aroma that makes the whole kitchen smell amazing.

5-Fifth Step: Combine the wet and dry ingredients Add the dry mixture to the butter mixture and stir just until combined. Do not over-mix, because that can make the cookies tough. Stop as soon as the flour disappears into the dough.

6-Sixth Step: Fold in the chocolate chips and scoop Mix in the 2 cups of chocolate chips until they are spread throughout the dough. Roll 2 to 3 tablespoons of dough into balls and place them evenly spaced on the baking sheets. Leave room for spreading so the cookies bake into nice round shapes.

7-Seventh Step: Bake and cool Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, just until the edges are barely starting to turn brown. The centers may look soft, and that is exactly what you want. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then move them to a wire rack to finish cooling.