Porridge fingers (oatmeal fingers) are a great way for babies to eat oatmeal. Serve them plain or add different fruits, vegetables and spices to add variety. They only take a couple of minutes in the microwave, perfect for when your baby wakes up looking for food in a hurry!
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Porridge fingers are a mess-free solution for serving oatmeal to babies. While you won't be rushing to make these for yourself, they are perfect for baby-led weaning, offering an easy-to-handle alternative to traditional porridge.
If your baby enjoys these, be sure to explore our range of hand-held baby oatmeal breakfasts, including mango baked oatmeal, plum baked oatmeal, blueberry breakfast balls, raspberry breakfast balls and fruity baked oatmeal cups.
Reasons to Love this Recipe
- Super quick to prepare and cook
- Being finger-formed they are easy for babies to pick up (resulting in a much quicker cleanup at the end!)
- Serving food in different ways allows babies to get used to different textures and food experiences.
- Customisable - flavour this easy breakfast with a variety of ingredients!
Ingredient Information
The full list of ingredients and amounts can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
You only need two ingredients to make the basic porridge recipe
- Oats - Porridge oats (old fashioned rolled oats) produce a better result than quick oats. Steel cut oats are not suitable in this recipe.
- Milk - I used cow's milk but you can use milk of choice.
However, you can flavour oatmeal fingers with a range of fruits, vegetables and spices. The recipe card below includes the following three flavours
- Raspberry and Coconut addition of crushed raspberries and desiccated coconut
- Carrot Cake addition of grated carrot, apple puree (apple sauce), ground cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg
- Apple Pie addition of grated apple, apple puree and cinnamon
Of course, you can get creative, just try to keep the ratios the same. Some other addition suggestions include mashed banana, blueberries, chopped raisins, pumpkin puree, sweet potato puree or a range of fruit purees.
Step By Step Instructions (with Images)
This section features step-by-step photos for visual reference. The complete recipe can be found by scrolling to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Mix Porridge Finger Ingredients.Combine oats and milk for the plain version, or add additional ingredients for flavored variations. Let the mixture sit until it becomes mushy.
- Press mixture into microwavable dish. Use the back of a spoon to do this until the mixture is flat. I used a dish of approx. 13cm x 10cm (5x4inch) and the mixture was around 3-5mm thick. If your dish is bigger you don't have to fill the whole space, the mixture shouldn't spread much.
- Microwave. Cook for 2 minutes, though microwave timings may vary. Check periodically; the cooked mixture should be soft but cuttable.
- Cut and Serve. While still hot, cut the mixture into fingers. You may need to tidy up the edges as you cut. Allow the fingers to cool before removing from the dish and serving.
Storage Instructions
- Refrigeration:Once oatmeal fingers have cooled completely, transfer them to an airtight storage container and refrigerate for 2-3 days.
- Freezing: Allow the fingers to cool and freeze them on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container. They can be stored in the freezer for up to a month. When ready to serve, thaw them in the refrigerator overnight before offering them to your baby.
Recipe FAQs
Porridge fingers are suitable for babies who have started solids and are developmentally ready, typically 6 months of age plus.
This recipe contains dairy, a common allergen. Ensure you have safely introduced dairy to your baby before offering these fingers.
As will all new foods, create a safe eating environment and closely supervise your baby during mealtime.
Not personalised advice - for informational purposes only. Consult with your paediatrician regarding the introduction of solid foods and any potential allergy risks for your baby.
If you do not have a microwave, you can make the oatmeal fingers in the oven. Bake, in an ovenproof dish, for around 15 mins at 190C / 375F. However, you may not wish to heat the oven for such small quantities. These fruity baked oatmeal cups or mango baked oatmeal are similar ideas that have been specifically developed for baking, I would suggest trying this recipe instead.
Yes, these fingers do have a slight gummy texture. This is a basic recipe designed to provide an easy way to serve oatmeal to a baby. The soft malleable texture is perfect for little ones. Although cut into bars they are very different to granola bars.
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Porridge Fingers
Equipment
- Microwave
- Microwavable Dish approx 13cm x 10 cm (5x4 inch)
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp Oats
- 3 tablespoon Milk Reduce this to 2 tablespoon if making the flavoured versions.
Raspberry and Coconut Porridge Fingers
- 1½ tablespoon Mashed Raspberries
- 1 teaspoon Unsweetened Desiccated Coconut
Apple Pie Porridge Fingers
- 1 tbsp Unsweetened Apple Puree (apple sauce)
- 1 tbsp Grated Apple
- ¼ tsp Ground Cinnamon
Carrot Cake Porridge Fingers
- 1 tbsp Unsweetened Apple Puree (apple sauce)
- 1 tbsp Grated Carrot
- ⅛ tsp Ground Cinnamon
- pinch Ground Ginger
- pinch Ground Nutmeg
Instructions
Plain Porridge Fingers
- Add the oats and milk to a small bowl and soak until you have a mushy mixture. (A couple of minutes)
- Press the mixture into a small, flat-bottomed dish using the back of a spoon.
- Cook in the microwave for 2 minutes on high.**
- Cut into fingers while still hot and serve when cooled.
Flavoured Versions
- Add the oats, milk (2 tbsps only) and additional ingredients for the desired flavour.
- Continue from step 2 of the plain porridge finger recipe
Video
Recipe Notes
Nutritional facts
*First Published May 2015, the post has been updated to include process shots, video and more detailed recipe information.
Renee
Can this be frozen?
Amy
Hi Renee, yes they can be frozen. Please see section above called "storage instructions" for more info. Thanks, Amy
Kat
Hi, can these be made using baby Ceres (oatmeal)?
Amy
Hi Kat, is the texture more like quick oats / four? It should work but rolled oats produce the better texture in this recipe.
Jessica
Hi I’ve tried making this as per original plain recipe. The underside is always somewhat moist and I flip over to microwave another 20sec. Is it supposed to be a little leathery/chewy in texture? I used formula milk. Thanks
Amy
Hi Jessica, they do have a bit of a chewy texture. They need to be firm enough for baby to pick up but shouldn't be overly leathery. It is very hard to describe. How do they look in comparison to my pictures/video?
Jessica
I realised maybe I have soaked the oats a little too long (I do it overnight to save prep time in the morning) as my porridge fingers do not have distinct looking oats. My baby enjoys it still despite it being leathery. Thank you for the recipe to make porridge so much easier to eat - now I just need to ensure she drinks more water
Amy
Thanks Jessica 🙂
Danielle Palomado
Is this safe for 6 month old starting out? Seems kind of grainy? Could they choke on the texture of this!
Amy
Hi Danielle, I served these to my eldest child at six months. I did baby-led weaning with him and so he went straight to finger foods rather than progressing from purees to more textured foods. Babies develop at their own pace. Before offering finger foods, your baby should be able to sit up unsupported or with little support, have good head control, reach out to grab objects and their tongue-thrust reflex should be diminished. Read more in this baby-led weaning guide.
G
Hey, mine came out super mushy still, like I'd just made oats. Any advice?
Amy
Hi G, I wonder if they just needed longer cooking? Did you flatten the mixture in a dish (like in the process shots?)
Ioana
Hi. Can these be done in the oven instead of the microwave? Thank you
Amy
Hi Ioana, you could cook them in the oven but the amounts are so small. I have a similar idea, cooked in the oven but made into little muffins or a bake that you can slice into fingers. Fruity Baked Oatmeal Cups, Coconut Mango Oat Breakfast Bites
Emily
My dish was the size you recommended but there didnt seem to be enough. It didn’t even cover the entire bottom of the dish. I’m confused.
Amy Whiteford
Hi Emily, I measured my dish again and the base is actually 12cm x 8cm, so slightly smaller than I first said, sorry. If your dish is too big that is ok, the mixture doesn't spread too much, just shape into a rectangle and cut once cooked.
Jessica
Hi, should the rolled oats be old fashioned or quick cooking? Thank you
Amy
Old fashioned 🙂
Lauran Lerman
Can you mix this with yogurt and fruit such as mango or blueberries to mix up the flavours?
Amy
Hi Lauran, I have never tried making these with yogurt so can't say, sorry. The recipe is flexible, as long as you keep the liquid/oats ratio the same you can sub in different fruits. 🙂
jaye
after defrosting in the fridge - how do you re heat them?
Amy
Hi Jaye, you can eat them cold or reheat in microwave
Julia
This is the first time an oat finger recipe worked for me! My baby loved it too!
Casey
This looks amazing and I really want to get this recipe right as it will be so convenient for busy mornings, but the texture keeps coming out very gluey. Am I over cooking or adding too much liquid?
Thank you
Amy
Hi Casey, have you watched the video/ looked at the process shots? Does your mixture look the same? The texture is quite gummy but my kids loved these as babies/toddlers.
Kate
How thick do these need to be? I wonder if I used to larger a container and spread them too thin as they came out like carpet and my 9 month old couldn't take a bite lol
Amy
Hi Kate, sorry you didn't have much luck with the recipe. I used a dish of approx. 13cm x 10cm (5x4inch) and the mixture was around 3-5mm thick. If your dish is bigger you don't have to fill the whole space, the mixture shouldn't spread much. (See process steps for more info and photos)
Dannie
Is there a way to make this if I don’t have a microwave?
Amy
Hi Dannie, If you do not have a microwave, you can make the oatmeal fingers in the oven. Bake, in an ovenproof dish, for around 15 mins at 190C / 375F. However, you may not wish to heat the oven for such little quantities. These fruity baked oatmeal cups are a similar idea that have been specifically developed for baking, I would suggest trying this recipe instead.
Sonya
What type of milk did you use?
Amy
You can use your milk of choice. I used cow's milk which is ok to serve a baby when cooking with (just not served as a drink) but you can use formula/breast milk if you prefer.
Sisca
Hi, i really want to try this since it looks so yummy and easy,
but i do have a question. Since cooked oat have some kind of sticky gummy texture, is it safe for my 6 month old? Or should i wait until he's around 8 month-ish? Quite worried about choking. Thankyou
Amy
Hi Sisca, I happily served these to my little one when he was 6 months. Has your baby had any finger food before? If so then I am sure these would be fine to have. However, as always, supervise closely.
Louise
Hi, what would you recommend for those who don't have a microwave please?
Amy
Hi Louise,If you do not have a microwave, you can make the oatmeal fingers in the oven. Bake, in an ovenproof dish, for around 15 mins at 190C / 375F. However, you may not wish to heat the oven for such little quantities. These fruity baked oatmeal cups are a similar idea that have been specifically developed for baking, I would suggest trying this recipe instead.