This is the loaf we keep coming back to. Ayurvedic-inspired, grain-free, and quietly loaded — seven tonic herbs go into a single bake, which makes it one of the more generous recipes in the Journal. It is balancing for all doshas, and I daresay, quite delicious.
The herbs do not fight the banana. Tocos and Pearl bring softness, He Shou Wu and Reishi bring an earthiness that reads as depth rather than bitterness, and the warming spices carry all of it. If you have never baked with tonic herbs before, banana bread is a forgiving place to start — the fruit and the fat do most of the work.
A note on the spices
The recipe below is the full spiced Ayurvedic version. There is also a simpler variation we make often: swap the bananas for blackberries and leave the spices out entirely, letting the fruit and the herbs speak on their own. Both work. Start with the spiced version if you want the warmer, chai-adjacent loaf.
Ingredients3 ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 1/2 cups or 1 pound once mashed) 4 free range eggs (or flax / vegan egg equivalent) 2 tbsp. pure maple syrup, coconut nectar or honey 3 tbsp. Tocos 3/4 cup coconut flour 3/4 cup sprouted almond / macadamia flour 3/4 cup gluten free oats 2 tbsp. turmeric powder 2 tsp. Cordyceps 2 tsp. He Shou Wu 2 tsp. Mucuna Pruriens 1 tsp. Ashwagandha 1 tsp. Reishi 1 tsp. Pine Pollen 1 tsp. Pearl 1 tsp. cardamom 1/2 tsp. cumin 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 7 whole star anise 3/4 tsp. baking soda 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg 1/8 tsp. kosher salt 4 oz. sprouted almond milk 3 tbsp. grassfed ghee 2 tbsp. coconut oil |
MethodMix all dry ingredients in a large bowl Add mashed banana, oil and liquids Blend until smooth, then coat a roasting pan with a light layer of coconut oil, fill, and bake at 375°F for 45 minutes or until golden Serve + Share with Love + In Joy |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you bake with tonic herbs?
Yes. Most tonic herb powders are heat-stable enough for baking, and banana bread is a forgiving place to start because the fruit and fats round out any earthiness.
Which herbs are in this loaf?
Seven: Cordyceps, He Shou Wu, Mucuna Pruriens, Ashwagandha, Reishi, Pine Pollen and Pearl, plus Tocos.
Is this banana bread gluten free and grain free?
It's gluten free as written. For fully grain-free, leave out the oats and add a little more almond flour.
Can I make it vegan?
Yes — use a flax or vegan egg equivalent in place of the eggs, coconut oil in place of the ghee, and maple syrup or coconut nectar rather than honey.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
