1-First Step: Start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). This ensures the oven is at the correct temperature when your cookies are ready to bake, which is crucial for even cooking. While the oven heats up, prepare your baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper. This prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze.

2-Second Step: Combine the dry ingredients in a small bowl. Whisk together 2 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1 teaspoon of salt until they are well blended. Set this mixture aside. Sifting these ingredients together helps distribute the leavening agent evenly throughout the flour, ensuring your cookies rise uniformly.

3-Third Step: In a large mixer bowl, beat 1 cup of softened butter, 3/4 cup of granulated sugar, and 3/4 cup of packed brown sugar together. You want to beat this mixture until it is creamy and light in color, usually about 2 to 3 minutes on medium speed. This process, called creaming, incorporates air into the dough, which helps create a lighter texture.

4-Fourth Step: Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and then add the 2 large eggs one at a time. Beat well after adding each egg. This step is vital for emulsifying the fats and liquids, creating a stable dough structure.

5-Fifth Step: Gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed butter and sugar mixture. Mix on low speed just until blended. Be careful not to overmix at this stage, as overworking the flour can lead to tough cookies. The dough will start to pull away from the sides of the bowl and become thick.

6-Sixth Step: Stir in the 2 cups of Nestle Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels. If you are using nuts, add 1 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans at this stage as well. You can do this with a spatula or by turning the mixer on for just a few seconds.

7-Seventh Step: Drop the toll house cookie dough by rounded tablespoons onto the ungreased baking sheets. Leave about 2 inches of space between each dough ball to allow for spreading. If you want uniform cookies, use a cookie scoop.

8-Eighth Step: Bake in the preheated 375°F oven for 9 to 11 minutes. You are looking for a golden brown color around the edges, while the centers may still look slightly soft. They will continue to cook on the baking sheet after you remove them from the oven.

9-Final Step: Cool the cookies on the baking sheets for 2 minutes. This allows them to set slightly so they hold their shape when moved. After 2 minutes, carefully remove them to wire racks to cool completely. Once cooled, they are ready to serve.