Chef John's Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Combine dry ingredients, including flour, salt, and baking soda, in a bowl. In another container, blend the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until they form a smooth mixture with no lumps. This should take around 3 to 4 minutes of constant stirring.

Next, incorporate the egg, milk, and vanilla extract into the mixture. Make sure to blend these liquids thoroughly in small sections before combining them all together.

Now, pour the dry ingredients into the liquid mixture and stir until they are fully incorporated. Add some chocolate chips to the dough at this stage.

Transfer the dough to an airtight container and refrigerate it for at least 2 hours, allowing it to firm up completely.

Before baking, preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (or 190 degrees Celsius). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.

Scoop out rounded portions of dough, about the size of a tablespoon, and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Leave at least 4 inches of space between each cookie to allow for proper spreading during baking.

Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for around 12 minutes, or until they turn golden brown. Remove the parchment paper and cookies from the oven, then slide them onto a cooling rack for a few minutes to cool down slightly.