BEST-EVER THICK AND CHEWY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Steps:

• 1. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt until well combined. In a stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, cream the butter with the sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing between additions and scraping down the bowl as needed. Add the vanilla extract and mix. On low speed or by hand, stir in the dry ingredients until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips, mixing until just incorporated. Do not over-mix. Scrape down the bowl as needed. Using a cookie scoop, ice cream scoop, or two spoons, form dough balls and place on prepared cookie sheets with a few inches of room in between. Refrigerate overnight. Preheat the oven to 375 F with rack in the center. Line cookie sheets with parchment or silicone baking mats. Bake for 10-13 minutes (depending on the size of your dough balls), until they are golden brown around the edges and puffy in the center. Let cookies cool a few minutes on baking sheets before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
• 2. • "Another trick of the trade is refrigerating the dough," he says. "We make the dough, shape it into balls, refrigerate and bake it the next day. It keeps [the cookies] a little bit thicker but still moist." • "The key is getting really good chocolate," advises LoCascio. "We use a darker chocolate." Buy your favorite dark chocolate bar and cut it into chunks yourself, or buy the best quality dark chocolate chunks you can find in the baking aisle.