Begin by gathering all your ingredients. It's important to ensure that your butter is softened and your eggs are at room temperature for the perfect consistency.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and prepare your baking sheets by leaving them ungreased.

In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and packed brown sugar until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

Gradually beat in the eggs, one at a time, ensuring each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next one. Then, stir in the pure vanilla extract to infuse that irresistible flavor.

In a separate small bowl, dissolve the baking soda in hot water. Add this mixture to the cookie batter, along with the salt, and mix everything together thoroughly.

Now it's time to incorporate the flour into the dough. Stir in the all-purpose flour until it is just combined with the other ingredients. Be careful not to overmix, as this can affect the texture of your cookies.

Once the dough is ready, fold in the semisweet chocolate chips and the finely chopped walnuts. These delicious additions will bring extra bursts of flavor and delightful crunch to every bite.

Take spoonfuls of the dough and drop them onto the ungreased baking sheets, ensuring they are spaced about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading during baking.

Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake the cookies for approximately 10 minutes. Keep a close eye on them and remove them from the oven once the edges have turned a beautiful golden brown.

Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a brief moment before gently transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This will help them retain their shape and texture.

Finally, store your homemade chocolate chip cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh and scrumptious. Alternatively, indulge in their warm, irresistible goodness right away by serving them immediately.