When I pull a tray of these bakery-style chocolate chip cookies out of the oven, the whole house suddenly smells like the kind of place you wish you could bottle up and carry in your pocket. These aren’t the flat, lifeless cookies that get forgotten in the back of the jar. These are thick, golden, chewy, and just the right kind of soft in the middle with edges that hold their own. I’ve baked my share of cookies that spread too much, or didn’t taste like much beyond sugar, and let me tell you, I was about ready to swear them off. Then I figured out this chocolate chip recipe, and everything changed. There’s something about the way the dough comes together that makes it foolproof. No chill time, no complicated steps, just a handful of pantry staples and a whisk. Maybe you’re making a batch for a neighbor, or maybe you’re hiding them from your family (no judgment here). Either way, this recipe for chocolate chip cookies feels like the kind of easy chocolate chip cookie recipes we’ve all been searching for. And yes, if you’ve ever wanted to turn a cookie into a chocolate chip cookie cake recipe, this dough holds up like a champ.