Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, white sugar, and light brown sugar together until creamy and smooth.
Add the vanilla extract and milk to the butter mixture, and mix until fully combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Do not overmix.
Fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips using a spatula or wooden spoon.
Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. The centers may look slightly underbaked, but they will set as they cool.
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!
Notes
Storage:
Store: Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days.
Reheat: Warm in the microwave a few seconds to bring back that fresh-baked softness.
Freeze: Freeze dough scoops on a tray, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen, adding 1–2 minutes.
Make ahead: Refrigerate dough up to 2 days before baking. Let it soften slightly first.
Tips:
Chill dough 30 minutes for thicker cookies.
Rotate baking trays halfway through for even baking.
Don’t overbake; they’ll set as they cool.
Measure flour correctly using the spoon-and-level method.