Preheat oven to gas 4 or 180c

Prepare the baking trays by cutting greaseproof paper to fit

Melt the butter in a pan on the hob and bring to a frothy boil

Meanwhile place sugar and vanilla in a bowl then add melted butter and beat well

Add flour, baking powder and salt.

Using your fingers firstly crumble the mixture then as it comes together gently knead into a ball - if you have warm hands, then wrap the dough in cling and refrigerate for half an hour or more.

Add chocolate chunks or whatever else you've chosen and press lightly into the cookie dough or halve the dough and make 2 different types of cookie.

Roll mixture into small balls about 1½ inches diameter evenly space on baking sheet and slightly flatten top. A tip here: make cookie dough, roll into balls and then flatten, freeze on trays. When they are fully frozen transfer them to bags to store in freezer.

Place in centre of oven or on racks as close as possible to centre of oven and bake for 8 - 10 minutes (8 minutes for top rack, 10 minutes for lower rack) - if using pre-made cookie dough from the freezer, place in trays 30 mins before baking and bake at same heat for 14 minutes

Remove from oven and leave to cool on their trays - if you move them too soon they may fall apart - when sufficiently cooled remove to wire racks to fully cool