1. Preheat the Oven  

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.

2. Prepare the Wet Ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cottage cheese, softened butter, and sugar. Beat them together until smooth and creamy. You can use a hand mixer or whisk by hand.

3. Add the Egg and Vanilla 

Crack the egg into the mixture and add the vanilla extract. Continue mixing until everything is fully combined.

4. Mix the Dry Ingredients 

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon (if using). Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.

5. Add Chocolate Chips (Optional)  

Gently fold in the chocolate chips (or any other add-ins like dried fruit or nuts if you prefer).

6. Chill the Dough

Cover the dough and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes. Chilling the dough helps the cookies maintain their shape while baking.

7. Scoop and Bake 

Using a spoon or cookie scoop, drop dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Flatten the dough slightly with the back of the spoon.

8. Bake  

Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown but the centers are still soft. Keep an eye on them to avoid overbaking.

9. Cool and Serve

Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy your soft, chewy cottage cheese cookie dough cookies!