Almond Brownies

We are pumped to post this brownie recipe for several reasons.  First, this recipe is a sneak preview of Tia Mowrey's, whose show Tia Mowry at Home premiers on The Cooking Channel on Wednesday, April 29th at 9:00pmET/6:00pmPT.  Tia is a busy mom herself, and we are thrilled to have been asked by The Food Network/The Cooking Channel to give her recipe a try in our Busy Moms' kitchens.

Second, I am excited to share this recipe because, well, these brownies are flat out awesome.  The prunes seem a bit unconventional, but the added sweetness and flavor mixed with the cocoa, mmmmmm.... And the best part? The sea salt sprinkled on top.  The combination of the sweet, almondy, chocolaty goodness and the salty topping provided by our favorite sea salt - Sea Love Sea Salt out of Wrightsville Beach, NC - is decadent and irresistible.  This one is so worth the splurge.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for greasing the pan
• 1/2 cup almond butter
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup prune puree (I used baby food)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
• 3/4 cup mini chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt (try Sea Love's!)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Grease an 8-by-8-inch pan with butter. Cut a piece of parchment to hang over 2 sides of the pan.  Mix together the butter and almond butter by hand in a large mixing bowl. Beat the eggs in a small bowl, then add them to the butter mixture. Mix in the sugar, prune puree and vanilla.
2. Whisk together the cocoa powder, flour and salt in a separate bowl. Gently stir the flour mixture into the wet ingredients. Mix by hand just until combined; do not over-mix. Stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with the flaky sea salt.
3. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the brownies comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool, and then cut into squares.

Difficulty: medium

Time: 1 hour 20 minutes (includes 20 minutes prep as well as cooking and cooling time)

Source: Tia Mowry at Home- Premiering Wednesday, April 29^th at 9:00pmET/6:00pmPT - SERIES PREMIERE! (COOKING CHANNEL)