Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat and set aside.
In a medium-sized mixing bowl using an electric mixer, beat the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together for 1 to 2 minutes or until well combined.
Mix in the egg yolk and vanilla extract until fully combined, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Add the flour, baking soda, and salt and mix until just combined. Then, mix in the semi-sweet chocolate chips on low-speed until fully incorporated into the cookie dough.
Cover tightly and transfer to the freezer to chill for 10 minutes.
Using a 1.5 tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet, making sure to leave a little room between each one.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges of the cookies are lightly golden brown and the tops are set.
Remove the cookies from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 to 10 minutes, then transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.To freeze the cookie dough: Scoop the cookie dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and place it in the freezer for 1 to 2 hours. Once the cookie dough balls are frozen, store them in a freezer bag or container in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can thaw the cookie dough overnight in the refrigerator and bake as directed or bake frozen balls of cookie dough for an additional 1 to 2 minutes.To freeze the baked cookies: Once the cookies have cooled completely, place them in a freezer bag and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw the cookies to room temperature before serving. VariationsYou may omit the semi-sweet chocolate chips and use the following mix-ins for each type of cookie.White Chocolate Macadamia Nut: ⅓ cup (65 g) white chocolate chips and ¼ cup (35 g) chopped macadamia nutsFunfetti: ½ cup (90 g) white chocolate chips and 1 tablespoon (13 g) sprinklesM&M Chocolate Chip: ¼ cup (45 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips and ¼ cup (50 g) mini M&M’s