Ayurvedic Banana Bread

Banana bread is the classic comfort food, but wouldn’t it be great to have a slightly healthier version? Keep reading to get my Ayurvedic Banana Bread recipe!

One of my favourite things to do is find healthier alternatives to the food I already love. You might be surprised to learn that in Ayurveda, you don’t have to completely cut out certain foods.

Of course, banana bread isn’t going to make up a regular part of your daily diet. But everything can (and should!) be enjoyed in moderation.

When I started to improve my own diet, I tried to turn it into a hobby. It was the only way I could make eating well a lasting part of my daily life.

I found starting with fun, treat recipes was easiest and then I gradually started to have fun with my main meals of the day too!

There are a few key differences to this banana bread than a regular recipe – let’s check out the ingredients:

Why Use Spelt Flour?

I love using spelt flour and it’s often the first one I use when replacing regular flour in baking and pancakes etc. Wholegrain flours, like spelt, haven’t been stripped of it’s nutrients in the same way the refined white flour has been, so it can be a source of important minerals like magnesium and zinc.

Spelt flour does have a denser consistency than regular flour so your banana bread might not be super fluffy. But if that’s what you’re after, try my Fluffy Vegan Banana Bread.

If you don’t have access to spelt flour you can use wholewheat flour instead. You can also substitute spelt flour for gluten-free all purpose flour if you follow a gluten free diet.

Almonds & Ayurveda

Almonds hold a special place in Ayurveda. These nuts are considered to be a sattvic ingredient, meaning they are healthy, nourishing and ‘pure’.

Adding some ground almonds also gives a nutty flavour and some texture to the banana bread.

Coconut Sugar – Is It Healthier?

It’s important to remember that all types of sugar, whether it’s considered more ‘natural’ or not, have a similar effect on spiking blood sugars. Coconut sugar, like all sweeteners, should be enjoyed in moderation.

While coconut sugar is not a miracle sweetener, it does have a slightly lower GI than regular sugar. Plus, it also gives baked goods a lovely, rich colour!

I use 1/2 cup in this recipe, but you can feel free to reduce that to ¼ cup if you prefer. Don’t have coconut sugar on hand? Use brown sugar instead!

The Right Amount of Spice

Using a mixture of spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom not only give this banana bread more flavour, they also support its digestion and absorption.

Banana bread is heavy and dense – too much can bog your digestive fire down! Adding spices helps support strong digestion – feel free to add more to the recipe if you like.

I always suggest enjoying a rich treat like this with a warming cup of ginger tea.

Delicious, Buttery Ghee!

Ghee is one of the most important ingredients in Ayurvedic cooking and it renowned for its health properties. Ghee is a type of clarified butter.

The processes of making ghee removes many of the difficult to digest proteins but still retains the delicious, melt in your mouth buttery feel making it perfect for baking.

You can use store bought ghee, or if you want to try making it yourself at home, you can use this homemade recipe.

No Eggs?

Yep, no eggs! If you want a completely plant based recipe, you can use melted coconut oil instead of ghee to make this recipe vegan friendly.

Yummy Add Ons

The recipe below is truly delicious as it is, but sometimes you might want to mix things up!

Want to add some extra sweetness to this recipe? Feel free to add a handful of chocolate chips! But personally I think it’s sweet enough 😉

Prefer a crunchy texture? Try walnuts! A little more flavour? Add 1 tsp vanilla extract. Making for kids? Throw in some raisins.

How to Make Ayurvedic Banana Bread

This is such an easy recipe you can whip it up in just a few minutes. Keep scrolling below to get the full recipe, but basically you just need to combine the wet and dry ingredients and whisk together in a large bowl, pour the batter into a lined loaf pan and bake for about 45 minutes!

What You’ll Need

• Spelt flour
• Ground almonds
• Coconut sugar
• Baking powder
• Spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom)
• Ripe bananas
• Almond milk
• Ghee

If You Love This Ayurvedic Banana Bread, Try These Too!

• Easy Vegan Pumpkin Bread
• Fluffy Vegan Pancakes
• Healthy Ginger Latte with Cinnamon Swirl
• The Best Vegan Banana Bread

Are You Going to Make Ayurvedic Banana Bread?

If you make one of my recipes, I would love to know how it turns out! Make sure to leave a review in the comments section below. It means so much to me and helps others find my recipes too!

Also, make sure to follow @ayurvedawithrebecca on Instagram & Pinterest for more healthy, Ayurveda inspired recipes! You can also save this recipe for later by adding it to your recipe board on Pinterest!