1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. I like to use my trusty hand mixer for this step.
3. Add the egg and vanilla extract to the bowl, mixing until well combined. This is where my kids usually step in to help with a little supervised mixing.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon (if using). Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
5. Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. I use a cookie scoop to keep them uniform.
6. Bake in the preheated oven for about 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown. The centers might look slightly underbaked, but that’s okay—they’ll firm up as they cool.
7. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

And there you have it—warm, chewy Brown Sugar Cookies that are perfect for any occasion!