Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line your baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup a breeze.

In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Mix on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy—this usually takes about 2-3 minutes.

Beat in the eggs, one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated. Then, add the vanilla extract and mix until smooth.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; you want the dough to stay tender.

Gently fold in your rainbow sprinkles, M&Ms, freeze-dried fruit, or other colorful toppings of your choice. This step is where the magic happens, so feel free to get creative!

Using a cookie scoop or a tablespoon, drop rounded portions of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. This gives the cookies room to spread as they bake.

Place the baking sheets in the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden but the centers still look slightly soft. Keep a close eye to avoid overbaking—they’ll continue to firm up as they cool.

Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes. Then, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. This step ensures the cookies maintain their perfect texture.