Preheat the Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it to prevent sticking.
Mix the Wet Ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the almond butter, maple syrup, egg (or flax egg), and vanilla extract. Stir until smooth and well-blended.
Tip: If your almond butter is a bit thick, you can slightly warm it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to make it easier to mix.
Add the Dry Ingredients: Add the sea salt and baking soda to the wet mixture. Stir until everything is evenly combined.
Fold in the Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in the chocolate chips (and any optional chopped nuts). You can also reserve a few chocolate chips to sprinkle on top before baking.
Pour the Batter: Pour the batter into your prepared pan, spreading it evenly with a spatula.
Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
Cool and Slice: Allow the blondies to cool completely in the pan before slicing them into squares. They will continue to firm up as they cool.
Tip: For a gooey texture, slightly underbake the blondies and let them cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting.