Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy—about 2-3 minutes.

Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then stir in the vanilla extract.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt until well combined.

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing just until combined. Avoid overmixing, as this can make the cookies tough.

If using chocolate chips or nuts, gently fold them into the dough.

Drop tablespoon-sized balls of cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.

Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden but the centers still look soft.

Remove from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.