In a food processor, process walnuts until crumbly. Place in a medium sized bowl. If using whole almonds, add them with walnuts in this step.

To the medium bowl, add almond meal, chia seeds, cocoa powder, and salt.

In the dirty food processor, process the dates, cherries, and vanilla until a thick paste is formed. You know you're done when the mixture rolls into a ball and the food processor starts wobbling. So stay close! (No need to clean out the food processor from the walnuts first! WIN!)

Add all the ingredients from the bowl (nuts, chia, cocoa, salt) to the food processor (which has the dates and cherry paste.) Pulse several times until the mixture is the consistency of cooked ground meat. Place mixture back into bowl.

Coat hands with a small amount of oil, to keep the mixture from sticking to your hands. Knead dough until uniform in consistency. Add 2 Tbsp chocolate chips, optional. (But is added chocolate ever realllly optional)

Place a piece of parchment paper into and over the edges of a 8.5 inch loaf pan. Press dough into pan.

Melt 1/4 cup chocolate chips in the microwave. Spread over brownies. Cool in refrigerator until set.

Cut into 10 brownies - store any extra in the fridge up to a week or so. Enjoy!