the {best} chocolate chip cookies

Happy 4th of July!

So thankful for time with wonderful family and friends. And nothing is better than a Monday holiday, right?!

I've posted these before, but they are my number one fall back when I am bringing food to gatherings. They are also the number one thing I make for family and friends. If you need that "one" chocolate chip cookie and still haven't found it… you must try this one!

*these cookies are of the sweet, very vanilla-y, soft and chewy variety!

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

You will need:
 2 1/4 c flour
1 tsp baking soda

2 sticks real, salted butter softened (NOT melted)
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1-2 tsp vanilla extract (not imitation) (optional - sub 1 tsp almond extract for a delicious mix up!)
1 box instant vanilla pudding (not prepared)
2 eggs
1/2 bag (or however many you like!) semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Whisk together 2 1/4 cups flour and 1 tsp baking soda in a separate bowl.

In mixer, cream together 2 sticks of real butter (soft but not melted) with 3/4 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup sugar. Add 2 eggs, one at a time. When this is all combined, add a box of instant vanilla pudding powder (make sure it's instant, not the kind you boil) and mix well. Add vanilla and almond flavoring. The recipe calls for 1 tsp of vanilla, but I typically do 1 tsp of vanilla and 1 tsp of almond.

Then, slowly add in your flour/baking soda mix until it's all combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.

Know your oven! I only bake until the top starts to get golden and then I take it out and let the cookies bake on the pan for a couple minutes. Transfer to wire rack to cool.

ENJOY!

PS- For good measure, here is a link to a 10 minute workout that I love to do when I am in a hurry. It will get your legs burning and your heart rate up! And then have a cookie. Life is about balance! :)