Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

Beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer until light and fluffy.

Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined

Stir in the flour, baking soda, and salt until just combined.

Fold in the chocolate chips and, if using, the chopped nuts.

Use a large spoon or cookie scoop to portion out the dough (about 1/4 cup for each cookie). Arrange the dough on the prepared baking sheet. Leave enough space between each cookie as they will spread slightly while baking.

Freeze the formed dough for at least 45 minutes. This will help the cookies maintain their shape while baking.

After chilling, bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown but the center is still underbaked. They should look slightly soft when you take them out of the oven.

Cool on the baking sheet for about 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.