Looking for an easy oatmeal recipe for babies? This baby oatmeal (also known as porridge fingers) is the perfect size and texture for little ones, and can be whipped together in less than 5 minutes! Perfect for baby-led weaning or as a finger food for toddlers! {Gluten-free & vegan-friendly}
Baby Oatmeal Recipe – Perfect First Food for Baby!
We are huge oatmeal lovers, so naturally when our little guy turned 6-months of age and we started with baby-led weaning, I was looking for an easy and convenient way to serve him oatmeal that was relatively mess-free.
Enter this homemade baby oatmeal recipe, also known as porridge fingers. Let me just say that these have been a TOTAL lifesaver. This recipe is such a great way to serve up oatmeal to babies and incorporate some extra whole grains, vitamin C and healthy fats!
Our baby and toddler have been eating them at least 3-4 times per week and they definitely have become one of our go-to breakfasts since they’re so easy to make!
These fingers are only made with a few simple ingredients and are ready to serve in less than 20 minutes. You can make them in advance for an even faster breakfast. They’re the perfect texture for babies and toddlers and are really nutritious too!
A super convenient and healthy option for those chaotic mornings? Sign me up!
For more healthy and easy toddler and baby-led weaning breakfasts, be sure to also check out these 3-ingredient Banana Oatmeal Bars and Raspberry Oatmeal Muffins.
What are Porridge Fingers?
Porridge fingers are firmer strips of oatmeal that resemble the texture of baked oatmeal, but are much easier to prepare, as they can be whipped together and served in less than 20 minutes.
They’re the perfect size and texture for babies who are just starting on solid foods and also serve as a great finger food for toddlers.
Why We Love this Baby Oats Recipe
- Super easy – This recipe for baby’s oatmeal only requires five basic ingredients, most of which you probably already have in your kitchen. It’s one of those recipes that can be easily memorized. I can now whip it together in less than a minute without even looking at the recipe — it’s that easy!
- Safe and nutritious – In the past, rice cereal has been commonly recommended as a first food for baby since it tends to be free of common allergens. However, it can often be contaminated with heavy metals such as arsenic, which is why other grains such as oatmeal are now being recommended (source). Additionally, oatmeal is rich in iron, which is one of the big nutrients of concern for babies.
- No added sugar – This baby oatmeal is sweetened naturally with applesauce so it contains no added sugar. You can spruce it up and add additional sweetness by topping the fingers with fruit!
- Perfect for little hands – These porridge fingers have a great soft texture and shape for babies and toddlers that’s easy to hold and fun to eat. Our little guys can’t get enough of these!
- Can be made in advance – You can make up a batch of these fingers ahead of time for a convenient breakfast option that can be easily reheated.
- Totally customizable – Eat them as is or top them up with peanut butter or almond butter, fruit, coconut, hemp hearts, mini chocolate chips — you name it! So many different ways to serve up them up!
Ingredient Notes for Oatmeal Fingers
- Oatmeal: Use iron-fortified quick oats or instant oats for the best results. Old-fashioned oats and steel-cut oats are too tough and chewy for this recipe, so they’re not a good substitute.
- Applesauce: Provides natural sweetness to the oatmeal. Use unsweetened regular applesauce or sub in a different flavour. You can also replace the applesauce with about 2 tablespoons mashed bananas (about a quarter of a banana) or other fruit puree.
- Milk: If making these fingers for babies under the age of two, I recommend using a full-fat homogenized milk for extra fat and calories. For older children and adults, you can sub in a lower fat cow’s milk or use a plant-based milk alternative such as unsweetened almond or soy milk.
- Hemp hearts: Incorporates a slight nutty flavour along with some protein, omega 3 fatty acids, potassium and magnesium. You can also replace with chia seeds, although the texture will be a bit more chewy.
- Cinnamon: Adds some additional flavour to the oatmeal.
How to Make Oatmeal for Babies – Step-by-Step Instructions
- Step 1 – Add the oats, hemp hearts, cinnamon, applesauce and milk to a cereal bowl. Stir with a spoon until well combined, making sure that you scrape any ingredients off the side of the bowl so that it’s in a circle in the bottom of the bowl.
- Step 2 – Microwave for 2 minutes. Remove bowl from microwave. Be careful as the bowl may be hot.
- Step 3 – Use a spatula (I like to use a small one) to push any ingredients down off the side of the bowl into the oatmeal mixture. It should look like a small oatmeal cake in the bottom of the bowl.
- Step 4 – Allow it to cool for at least 10-15 minutes. This step is VERY important as this allows the homemade oatmeal cereal to solidify enough to remove it from the bottom of the bowl in one piece. If it still feels too mushy to remove, allow it to cool for longer.
- Step 5 – Once solidified, gently nudge the spatula underneath the edges of the oat cake to remove it from the bottom of the bowl.
- Step 6 – Carefully place on a flat surface such as a cutting board or plate. Top with desired toppings and cut into strips or small bite-sized pieces.
Tips for Making Baby Oatmeal
- Allow to cool sufficiently: It’s important that you don’t try to remove the cooked oatmeal from the bowl before it has cooled and firmed up, otherwise it will be too mushy and difficult to cut into strips or smaller pieces. You also want to allow it to cool sufficiently so that it’s not too hot when serving to baby or young children.
- Use a small spatula: I like to use a small spatula to gently nudge the oatmeal “patty” out of the bowl to ensure that it doesn’t stick to the bowl. If a little bit does stick to the bottom, I just scrape it off with the spatula and press it into the top or bottom of the oatmeal patty.
- Top it up: I like to spread the the oatmeal cake with a thin layer of nut butter such as natural peanut butter or almond butter for some extra healthy fats before cutting it into fingers and then stick small pieces of fruit to it or sprinkle additional hemp hearts or unsweetened coconut on top.
- Cut them depending on baby’s age: If baby is less than 9 months old and/or has not yet established their pincer grip, you can cut the oatmeal fingers in half and serve them so that baby can hold them in his or her palm. For older babies with an established pincer grip, you can cut the strips into smaller bite sized pieces.
Storage Guidelines
Refrigerator: You can store this baby oatmeal in the fridge for up to three days covered tightly with saran wrap or in an airtight container.
Freezer: Freeze these porridge fingers for up to a month. I recommend freezing them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and then transferring them to a freezer safe bag or container.
To reheat: You can reheat them in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds or until desired temperature is reached.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, oatmeal is a great nutritious food for babies as it contains fibre, protein and minerals, including iron, phosphorus and zinc. It makes a great first food for babies since it’s soft enough for them to chew even without teeth.
Babies can eat oatmeal as soon as they show signs that they’re ready for solids (read about the signs here). This generally occurs between the ages of 4-6 months.
When babies display appropriate developmental milestones such as adequate head control and the ability to sit on their own, you can try introducing oatmeal in various forms. It can be served on a spoon (like with these BLW Overnight Oats), in the form of baked oatmeal, in muffins, or as porridge fingers!
Absolutely! Oatmeal fingers are perfect for baby-led weaning since the texture is a bit firmer than your typical bowl of oatmeal, so it’s much easier for babies to pick up. The fingers are especially suitable if babies aren’t yet able to bring a spoon to their mouth. You can cut the fingers into longer strips for babies who haven’t yet established their pincer grip, or smaller bite-sized pieces for babies who are more advanced.
For the purpose of this recipe, we use iron-fortified quick oats as they lend the best texture for the oatmeal fingers and also incorporate iron, which is especially essential for babies after the 6-month mark when their iron stores start to become depleted.
Iron-fortified oatmeal baby cereal that is more finely ground can also be a great option for babies who are being spoon-fed. This smoother texture of this oatmeal is also handy for dipping foods into to prevent them from being too slippery for baby to hold (i.e. banana, avocado, mango, etc.)
The type of oatmeal that you use is largely dependent on the recipe you’re preparing or how you’re planning on serving the oats.
No, this baby oatmeal requires a smaller amount of liquid, resulting in a firmer oatmeal that resembles a small oatmeal cake that can be cut into fingers that are the perfect shape and size for babies to hold and transfer to their mouths.
Regular oatmeal, on the other hand, generally requires more liquid which results in a creamier and mushier texture that is more suitable for eating with a spoon.
Yes! Follow the instructions provided in the recipe card and then bake them in a ramekin or small baking dish at 375°F for 15-20 minutes. The oatmeal will be slightly firmer when cooked in the oven.
Serving Suggestions
You can eat these baby porridge fingers plain or better yet, spruce them up with some additional toppings!
I love to spread them with natural peanut butter or almond butter (or use a seed butter if nut-free) to use as a “glue” to help those additional toppings adhere to the surface.
Here are some topping ideas to try out:
- Fresh fruit (i.e. banana slices, diced strawberries, blueberries, etc.)
- Unsweetened coconut flakes
- Hemp hearts
- Raisins
- Mini chocolate chips
Recipe Variations
- To make dairy-free: Use a soy or pea milk (such as ripple) for equivalent protein to dairy, or sub in coconut milk, oat milk or other desired plant-based milk alternative.
- To make gluten-free: For celiac disease, use certified gluten-free quick oats.
- Use different fruit: Rather than applesauce, you can also use a bit of mashed banana. You could even try some mashed sweet potatoes or pumpkin puree to switch up the flavour.
- Different spices: Try a bit of apple pie spice, pumpkin pie spice or nutmeg for a different flavour.
More Similar Recipes
- Peanut Butter Banana Baked Oatmeal
- Pumpkin French Toast Sticks Recipe
- Spinach Zucchini Frittata Fingers
- Baby-Led Weaning Meal Ideas
- Banana Egg Pancakes
- Healthy Kids’ Breakfast Ideas
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a rating and review!
Baby Oatmeal {Porridge Fingers}
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup quick oats
- 2 teaspoons hemp hearts
- 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup milk
Instructions
- Add the oats, hemp hearts, cinnamon, applesauce and milk to a cereal bowl. Stir with a spoon until well combined, making sure that you scrape any ingredients off the side of the bowl so that it's in a circle in the bottom of the bowl.
- Microwave for 2 minutes. Remove from microwave and use a spatula (I like to use a small one) to push any ingredients down off the side of the bowl into the oatmeal mixture. It should look like a small oatmeal cake in the bottom of the bowl.
- Allow it to cool for at least 10-15 minutes. This step is VERY important as this allows the oatmeal to solidify enough to remove it from the bottom of the bowl in one piece. If it still feels too mushy to remove, allow it to cool for longer.
- Once solidified, gently nudge the spatula underneath the edges of the oat cake to remove from the bottom of the bowl.
- Carefully place on a flat surface such as a cutting board or plate. Top with desired toppings and cut into strips or small bite-sized pieces.
Video
Notes
- Allow to cool sufficiently: It’s important that you don’t try to remove the oatmeal from the bowl before it has cooled and firmed up, otherwise it will be too mushy and difficult to cut into strips or smaller pieces. You also want to allow it to cool sufficiently so that it’s not too hot when serving to baby or young children.
- Use a small spatula: I like to use a small spatula to gently nudge the oatmeal “patty” out of the bowl to ensure that it doesn’t stick to the bowl. If a little bit does stick to the bottom, I just scrape it off with the spatula and press it into the top or bottom of the oatmeal patty.
- Top it up: I like to spread the the oatmeal cake with a thin layer of nut butter such as natural peanut butter or almond butter before cutting it into fingers and then stick small pieces of fruit to it or sprinkle additional hemp hearts or unsweetened coconut on top.
- Cut depending on baby’s age: If baby is less than 9 months old and/or has not yet established their pincer grip, you can cut the oatmeal fingers in half and serve them so that baby can hold them in his or her palm. If baby has an established pincer grip, you can cut the strips into smaller bite sized pieces.
Iris says
This looks like a perfect breakfast item for my 1-year old. I don’t have a microwave though, do you think I can bake them in the oven? Thanks!
Elysia Cartlidge says
I haven’t personally tried baking these oats, but I think it could work if you use a small enough baking dish like a ramekin or oven-safe bowl. Also, allow the oats to fully cool once out of the oven to give them a chance to firm up so that you can remove and cut it easily. Keep me posted if you decide to try it out!
Elaine says
My 22 month old son has been enjoying these. They turn out a bit sticky, so I stick the whole bowl in the freezer to help it cool. Once I pop the cake out I turn it over on a plate and cut it into pieces and put it back in the freezer to continue to cool. I ball up the pieces a bit and pack them for my son’s daycare breakfast. Was surprised how much he enjoys them and just how easy they are. Thank you!
Elysia Cartlidge says
So glad your son has been enjoying these! I also find that it helps to stick them in the fridge or freezer to allow them to cool faster. Thanks for reminding me of this tip! I also love the idea of packing them up for a daycare breakfast..so handy! I appreciate you taking the time to leave a rating and review :)