Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat Your Oven

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup. 🏠

2. Mix Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. This ensures that the baking soda is evenly distributed throughout the dough, giving you evenly risen cookies. 🌾🧁🧂

3. Cream the Butter and Sugars

In a large bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to cream the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This should take about 2-3 minutes. The key here is to incorporate air into the butter, which helps the cookies bake up light and tender. 🧈🍚🍯

4. Add the Egg and Vanilla

Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined. This step adds moisture and flavor to the dough. 🌟🥚

5. Incorporate the Cream Cheese

Add the softened cream cheese to the mixture and beat until smooth and creamy. The cream cheese is what gives these cookies their unique texture and flavor. 🧀

6. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough cookies. Fold in the chocolate chips by hand, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the dough. 🍫

7. Form the Cookies

Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. For uniform cookies, you can use a cookie scoop. 🍪

8. Bake to Perfection

Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. The centers will still be soft, but they’ll firm up as they cool. 🕰️

9. 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 step is crucial, as it allows the cookies to set and prevents them from breaking apart. Enjoy warm or store them for later—if they last that long! 😋🍪