0.5cupchopped walnuts or pecans (optional, but highly recommended)
Instructions
Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the granulated sugar and packed brown sugar. Pour in the melted butter and whisk together until the mixture is smooth and well blended.
Next, add the eggs and the pure vanilla extract into the bowl. Beat the mixture with a whisk until it's creamy and homogenous, ensuring that everything is well incorporated.
In a separate medium bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, fine sea salt, and baking powder. This step helps to prevent lumps and ensures even distribution of dry ingredients.
Gradually add the sifted dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring gently with a spatula or wooden spoon until just combined. Take care not to over-mix; a few dry streaks are perfectly fine.
Gently fold in the chocolate chips and optional chopped nuts until they are evenly dispersed throughout the cookie dough, creating delightful pockets of chocolate and nutty crunch.
Using a tablespoon or a cookie scoop, drop generous heaping spoonfuls of the dough onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches of space between each cookie to allow for spreading.
Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes. You'll know they're ready when the edges are set, and the centers still have a soft, slightly gooey appearance.
Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for approximately 5 minutes. This allows them to firm up slightly before transferring them swiftly to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
For an elegant finish, lightly dust the cookies with powdered sugar.