Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Make the Dough: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
Chill the Dough: Cover the dough and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes. This helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much while baking.
Shape the Cookies: Once the dough is chilled, scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll them into balls. Place them onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
Top with Sugar: Sprinkle a generous amount of granulated sugar over the top of each cookie. This will create the caramelized "brulee" topping when baked.
Bake the Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden but the centers are still soft.
Caramelize the Sugar: After baking, turn on your broiler. Place the baking sheet under the broiler for 1-2 minutes to lightly caramelize the sugar on top of the cookies. Watch closely to prevent burning.
Cool and Serve: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
