Porridge fingers (oatmeal fingers) are a really easy 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!
Reasons to Love this Recipe
You probably won't be rushing to make these for yourself but they are perfect for babies.
- Super quick to prepare and cook
- Being finger formed they are easy for babies to pick up (resulting in a much quicker clean up at the end!)
- Serving food in different ways allows babies to get used to different textures and food experiences.
- You still get all the nutritional benefits of oatmeal, just in finger form.
- Customisable -flavour this easy breakfast with all sorts of ingredients!
Video Tutorial
Ingredient Information
Two simple ingredients is all you need to make porridge fingers
- Oats - Rolled (porridge) or quick oats work. Steel-cut oats are NOT suitable.
- Milk
However, you can flavour oatmeal fingers with a range of fruits, vegetables and spices. Three flavours that my boys enjoyed included
- Raspberry and Coconut (addition of crushed raspberries and desiccated coconut)
- Carrot Cake (addition of grated carrot, apple puree, ground cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg)
- Apple Pie (a particular favourite) (addition of grated apple, apple puree and cinnamon)
Step By Step Instructions (with Images)
- Mix Porridge Finger Ingredients Together. For the plain version this will just be milk and oats, for the flavoured versions it will include all the other ingredients. Allow the mixture to sit for a couple of minutes, until mushy.
- Press the mixture into a small, flat-bottomed microwavable dish. Use the back of a spoon to do this until the mixture is flat. I used a dish 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.
- Cook in Microwave for 2 mins on high. The timings will vary depending on the microwave. The first time you make them you will want to keep checking it. The cooked mixture will be soft but you should be able to cut through it.
- Cut the fingers while still hot and serve once cooled. I find that I need to "tidy up" the fingers as I cut.
Can You Make These in the Oven?
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.
Storage Instructions
- REFRIGERATE: Store in an airtight container for 1-2 days.
- FREEZE: Freeze on a tray until frozen, transfer to an airtight container / freezer bag and freeze for up to a month. Defrost in the refrigerator.
Other oat breakfast ideas that you may like...
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Porridge Fingers
Equipment
- Microwave
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
- ½ tsp Ground Cinnamon
Carrot Cake Porridge Fingers
- 1 tbsp Unsweetened Apple Puree (apple sauce)
- 1 tbsp Grated Carrot
- ½ 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.
Raspberry and Coconut Version
- Add the oats, milk and mashed raspberries to a small bowl and soak until you have a mushy mixture. (A couple of minutes). Stir in the coconut.
- Continue from step 2 of the plain porridge finger recipe
Apple Pie Version
- Add the oats, milk, apple puree, apple and cinnamon to a small bowl and soak until you have a mushy mixture. (A couple of minutes)
- Continue from step 2 of the plain porridge finger recipe
Carrot Cake Version
- Add the oats, milk, apple puree, apple, carrot and spices to a small bowl and soak until you have a mushy mixture. (A couple of minutes)
- Continue from step 2 of the plain porridge finger recipe
Recipe Notes
Nutritional facts
*First Published May 2015, the post has been updated to include process shots, video and more detailed recipe information.
Jessica says
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 says
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?
Danielle Palomado says
Is this safe for 6 month old starting out? Seems kind of grainy? Could they choke on the texture of this!
Amy says
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 says
Hey, mine came out super mushy still, like I'd just made oats. Any advice?
Amy says
Hi G, I wonder if they just needed longer cooking? Did you flatten the mixture in a dish (like in the process shots?)
Ioana says
Hi. Can these be done in the oven instead of the microwave? Thank you
Amy says
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
Jessica says
Hi, should the rolled oats be old fashioned or quick cooking? Thank you
Amy says
Old fashioned 🙂