Salted Chocolate Chunk Cookies

 By Ina Garten she made them on her new show BE MY GUEST for Willie Geist - needless to say I had to make them for my cookie monster! SOOOOO GOOD!

1/2 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature 

1 cup light brown sugar, packed 

1/2 cup granulated sugar 

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 

2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature 

2 cups all-purpose flour 

1 teaspoon baking soda 

1 teaspoon kosher salt 

1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts 

1 1/2 pounds semisweet chocolate chunks 

Flaked sea salt or fleur de sel

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. 

Add the vanilla, then the eggs, one at a time, and mix well. 

Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt and, with the mixer on low speed, slowly add to the butter mixture, mixing only until combined. 

Fold in the walnuts and chocolate chunks. 

Drop the dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, using a 1 3/4-inch diameter ice cream scoop or a rounded tablespoon. 

Dampen your hands and flatten the dough slightly. 

Bake for exactly 15 minutes (the cookies will seem underdone). 

Remove from the oven, sprinkle with flaked sea salt, and allow to cool slightly on the pan, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.