Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare an 8x8 inch baking pan by lining it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to make it easier to remove the brownies later.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the almond butter, unsweetened cocoa powder, maple syrup, eggs, and pure vanilla extract. Whisk these ingredients together until the mixture is smooth and well integrated, ensuring no lumps remain.
Once combined, add in the baking soda and fine sea salt. Stir until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
If desired, gently fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips and the chopped nuts to introduce some delightful texture and enhanced flavor.
Pour the thick brownie batter into your prepared baking pan. Use a spatula to spread it evenly across the pan for uniform baking.
Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. They are done when the edges start to pull away slightly from the sides and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean (a few crumbs are perfectly fine).
Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and allow the brownies to cool in the pan on a wire rack until completely cooled. After cooling, use the parchment overhang to lift them out and cut into 16 squares.
Notes
For a stunning finish, consider dusting the brownies with powdered sugar or serving them warm with vanilla ice cream.