CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Welcome, cookie lovers, to Cookie Monster's secret recipe for the most divine chocolate chip cookies in the land of the cookies!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened and ready for action
• 1/2 cup white granulated sugar, or as the Cookie Monster likes to call it, "the sparkly white stuff"
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, for that extra oomph
• 2 cups all-purpose flour, because you need something to hold all the butter and sugars together, silly
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract, because who doesn't love a good 'scent'?
• 2 eggs, beaten to a pulp (just kidding, don't overdo it)
• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, because CHOCOLATE!
• optional: 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans for added crunch

Now, preheat your oven to 375 degrees F and get ready for some serious cookie magic!

To assemble the cookie dough, cream the butter and sugars together in a large mixing bowl. Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract.

Add the flour and stir until just combined. Don't overmix, or your cookies will be tougher than the Cookie Monster's heart.

Stir in those glorious chocolate chips and nuts (if using).

Scoop the dough into balls of 1-2 Tbsp, and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the centers are soft and chewy.

Sprinkle with sea salt, and serve warm. Or not. The cookie's the boss.

Want to try something minty? Try the Chocolate Mint Cookies of doom! Peanut butter lovers, rejoice! The Peanut Butter Banana Cookies are coming for you!