Preheat your oven to 350ºF. In a large bowl, combine the almond butter, cacao powder, coconut sugar, eggs, vanilla, baking soda, and sea salt. Stir until the batter is very thick and uniform looking.
Lightly grease an 8-inch square dish and line it with parchment paper for easy removal later. Spread the thick brownie batter into the bottom of the pan. It will be very thick, so you'll need to press it firmly with the spatula. Sprinkle the top with chocolate chips, and lightly press them into the top of the batter, if desired.
Bake at 350ºF for 20 minutes. It's okay if the brownies don't look totally firm to the touch in the center, because they will firm up as they cool. In my experience, baking for 30 minutes will dry them out too much, so I err on the side of under-baking for a fudgy middle. Let them cool completely before slicing.
These brownies can be served at room temperature or chilled straight from the fridge. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days, or you can freeze them for up to 3 months.
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Notes
Nutrition information is for 1 of 16 squares. This is automatically calculated, and is just an estimate, not a guarantee.See the full post for substitution suggestions.Update Note: This recipe was updated in February 2021 for a better texture and flavor. If you'd like the original version, use only 5 tablespoons cacao powder, 6 tablespoons coconut sugar, 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, and only 1 flax egg. This version tastes more like almond butter, and less like a brownie, which is why my family requested that I re-work it again, but those are the changes if you preferred the older version.