Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a couple of baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, beat your softened butter with both sugars until it’s light and fluffy—about 2–3 minutes.
Crack in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Stir in the vanilla.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Add this dry mix to the wet ingredients in stages, stirring gently.
Fold in the chocolate.
If using flaky salt, sprinkle just a pinch over each dough ball once they’re scooped onto the trays.
Bake for 10–12 minutes, just until the edges are golden and the centers look a little underdone.
Let them cool for a few minutes on the tray before transferring to a rack.
