Chewy Sweetened Condensed Milk Cookies

Start off with preheating your oven to 350°F (180°C). This is an essential step, since an accurately heated oven ensures evenly baked cookies.

In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar using an electric mixer. It's important to mix it until it's light and fluffy - usually around 3-5 minutes. This process ensures a wonderfully smooth cookie dough.

Gradually beat in the egg yolks, one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract and the can of sweetened condensed milk. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure everything is well combined, giving your cookies consistent flavor and texture.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually incorporate these dry ingredients into the wet mixture. I've found that adding in batches prevents the dough from becoming too dry or floury.

Once your dough is evenly mixed, drop rounded tablespoon portions onto your prepared cookie sheets. As an experienced tip, make sure to leave ample space between cookies as they do spread out.

For that final touch, you can optionally sprinkle each cookie with a bit of granulated sugar - it will give them a nice sweet crunch.

Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned. A useful tip here is to rotate your cookie sheets halfway through baking to ensure even browning.

Allow the cookies to cool on the cookie sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely. Remember, cookies continue cooking on the hot cookie sheet so don't risk drying them out by leaving them for too long.