The Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies

I've been making chocolate chip cookies for at least 15 years. As a teenager my sister and I always ended up in the kitchen late at night baking something. Most of the time it was chocolate chip cookies. Over the years I made a few adjustments and now they are absolute PERFECTION. Just the right amount of sweetness. Not too hard and not too chewy. Perfection. Plan to share these with someone or else you'll eat all of them by yourself (which really isn't a bad thing ;)

Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies

Bake at: 375 degrees Fahrenheit Makes: 5 dozen Bake Time: 9-11 minutes

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour (add 1- 2 T. flour if omitting nuts)

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1/2 c. butter (softened)

1/2 c. shortening

3/4 c. packed brown sugar (light)

3/4 c. granulated sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 large eggs

2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 c. chopped nuts (optional)

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

2. In a bowl with mixer attachment, cream together butter, shortening, and sugar, until creamy.

3. Add vanilla and eggs one at a time. Beating well after each addition.

4. Add in flour mixture gradually. Mix until combined. Do not over mix.

5. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts if using.

6. Chill dough in refrigerator for one hour.

7. Place Tablespoon rounded balls onto un-greased baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown.

*cool on baking sheet for 2 minutes before placing on wire rack to cool completely

Tips: divide the dough in half. Roll dough into a log about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Wrap tightly in 3 layers of saran wrap and freeze. When ready to bake pull out of freezer and let sit for 15 min. Cut cookies about 1/2" thick and bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown.