Last week I made porridge fingers from the Baby-led Weaning Cookbook. I’m not a huge fan of porridge so it isn’t something I often make. In fact, I never make it. My Grandad used to eat large bowls of it for breakfast and it was just so aesthetically unpleasing. Milky breakfasts and puddings just turn my stomach……
So what made me try porridge fingers?….
I decided to try out the porridge finger recipe for a few reasons.
1. They are super quick to prepare and cook
2. They are finger formed making it easy for Rory to pick up. (Resulting in a much quicker clean up at the end of breakfast.)
3. Finn had come home from Nursery one day and told me he had porridge for snack and it was delicious. I realised that just because I don’t like something doesn’t mean that my kids will be the same.
Gone in seconds….
I followed the recipe to the word and both Rory and Finn devoured them in seconds. I was even brave enough to try them myself but that is where it ended. I wasn’t tempted to take a second bite! To me they were bland and had a strange texture. However, as they proved popular with the boys I thought I’d try a few variations. Raspberry and Coconut, Carrot Cake and Apple Pie. Finn helped me with the recipe development and, as usual, was the perfect taste tester. The addition of some spices along with some fruit and/or vegetables has added a little more flavour but it isn’t over powering. I didn’t want to make them too sweet but if you would prefer them to have a sweeter profile then you could add some dried fruit. The addition of a few raisins would work well with these recipes.
Each recipe is only altered slightly from the original. I replaced some of the milk with pureed fruit and then added some extras.
Raspberry and Coconut Porridge Fingers
Ingredients
- 3 level tbsp of porridge oats
- 2 tbsp milk of choice
- 1.5 tbsp of crushed raspberries
- 1 tsp unsweetened desiccated coconut
- Dried fruit (if you would like a sweeter finger)
Instructions
- In a bowl, soak the oats in the milk and raspberries until you have a mushy mixture.
- Stir in the coconut (and dried fruit if using).
- 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.
Recipe Notes
** Cooking times may differ with type of microwave.
Adapted from Baby-led weaning cookbook
Carrot Cake flavoured Porridge Fingers
Ingredients
- 4 level tbsp porridge oats
- 2 tbsp milk of choice
- 2 tbsp apple puree
- 1 tbsp grated carrot
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- pinch of ginger
- pinch of nutmeg
- a few raisins (if you would like a sweeter finger)
Instructions
- In a bowl, soak the oats in the milk and apple puree until you have a mushy mixture.
- Add all the remaining ingredients and stir through
- Press the mixture into a small, flat bottomed dish using the back of a spoon
- Cook in the microwave for 2 mins on high **
- Cut into fingers while still hot and serve when cool
Recipe Notes
** cooking times may differ with type of microwave
Adapted from The Baby-led Weaning Cookbook
Apple Pie flavoured Porridge Fingers
Ingredients
- 4 level tbsp porridge oats
- 2 tbsp milk
- 2 tbsp apple puree
- 1 tbsp grated apple
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- a few raisins (if you would like a sweeter bar)
Instructions
- In a bowl, soak the oats in the milk and puree until you have a mushy mixture.
- Add the remaining ingredients and stir through
- 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 cold.
Recipe Notes
** Cooking times may differ with type of microwave
The flavours added to the basic recipe sure made a difference! Lovely!
I’m glad you liked the different flavour profiles. I made another batch of porridge fingers this morning and added blueberries. It worked really well and was so quick, you should try it!
Hi, I’m new to blw. Is this porridge oat fingers meant to be soft?
I’ve made this for my 6 months old. Just wasn’t sure if it’s cooked enough
They are a funny texture, hard to describe. Yes they are soft but you should be able to slice it into a finger to pick up.
I dont like to microwave the babies food. Can I bake these or cook some other way
Hi Deborah, Yes you could bake these but without trialling I can’t say for sure the timings. You could try these fruity oats breakfast muffins (https://www.healthylittlefoodies.com/fruity-oat-breakfast-bites/) or these Mango Coconut breakfast bars (https://www.healthylittlefoodies.com/coconut-mango-oat-breakfast-bites/) 🙂
My 13th month gobbled these up! Carrot cake one was a particular favourite. Easy to do as well, fab.
I’m glad that they were a success!I also like the fact that they are so easy to make. Yesterday I made some porridge fingers with blueberries pushed in them. Both boys loved them and they are even quicker to make!
Hi if u use formula milk to make these how long will they last in the fridge as obviously a bottle of formula only lasts 2 hrs?! Thanks
Hi Nicola, thanks for your question. I’m presuming they would be ok in the fridge but I have not had much experience with formula and I can’t really answer your question, sorry. I’ve only ever made them with cows milk.
Hi thanks amy. So will be 6 month old be ok making them with cows milk as i know u can cook with cows milk from 6 months?! Thanks x
Hi Nicola, yes I made these with cows milk for Rory at six months.
You can make any food using cows milk as long as its being heated, porridge, pasta, eggs etc
Love love love these! My 20 month old is going through a phase of eating hardly any fruit and veg. Made the carrot cake version and he loves them! Oh how it makes me smile to see him tucking in to all that is healthy. Keep the recipes coming, we’re enjoying eating them too!!
Oh thanks for your positive feedback! It is so lovely to hear. I’m glad your 20 month is enjoying the recipes 🙂
quick question; how long would these last? I made a bit of a rookie mistake and left them on a tub on the side and my son has been eating them over a few days (I made a few batches as he loved them so much) realised today that they’d started growing a bit of mould! Should have thought about the milk maybe! Would you keep them in the fridge?
I would definitely keep them in the fridge. I actually made a large batch and then frozen them. I took a couple out the night before or quickly defrosted them in the microwave in the morning. Worked ok. Wasn’t as good as freshly cooked but the boys didn’t complain.
These look fab but I don’t have a microwave. Can these be made by another method?
Thanks
I haven’t tried them in the oven but do make similar oat cookies in the oven. I’d cook for 15 mins at 190c/375f/Gas5. Let me know how they go!
Looking forward to trying these for my six month old…I’m sure my 3 year old will be more than happy to test out as well! Thanks for posting info for oven-made option as I don’t have a microwave either.
Thanks Leanne, I hope they are a success! (with your 6 mth and 3 yr old!)
Probably a dumb question but what are porridge oats?
Hi Erin, Scottish porridge oats are rolled oats. 🙂
How long do you soak the rolled oats for? Overnight, or just a few minutes?
Did you use a fine-grain rolled oat, or the chunky type?
HI Sandy, I just soaked them for a few minutes. I used fine-grained oats.
Hey there, I just made these but mine are mushy. I ended up putting them in the microwave for 2 mins 30 secs as our microwave is fairly old. Are they supposed to be mushy or more like the consistency of a soft granola bar?
My baby is eating them anyways 🙂 but not sure how well they’ll store.
Hi Kelly, they shouldn’t be mushy – you should be able to pick them up as in the picture. Maybe spread the mixture out a bit more, they were maybe too thick? I have a pretty powerful microwave but the timings were the same as given in the Baby-led Weaning book. Alternatively you could bake in the oven. I’ve popped them in the freezer before and re heated before serving and they worked well.
LOVE THESE!! I didn’t have any apple puree and couldn’t be bothered to make any so i just used grated apple and breastmilk and my 7mo is gobbling them up. She hasnt really gobbled up anything yet so this is a first.
Hi Ash, I’m so please she loves them and thank you so much for your feedback. I hope she gobbles up plenty of these recipes for you in the future!
I don’t have microwave, is there any other way to do these porridge fingers?
Hi Ana, I haven’t tried these in the oven but I’m sure they would work well as I make similar products to these in the oven. You could try my fruity oat breakfast bites – https://www.healthylittlefoodies.com/fruity-oat-breakfast-bites/ or my mango and coconut oat bars – https://www.healthylittlefoodies.com/coconut-mango-oat-breakfast-bites/
Hello! Are raisins really okay for under a year? I’m afraid of choking of course. My little eating machine is 8.5 months old. Thank you!
Hi Lexi, I was happy to give my little ones raisins at 8.5 months (not too many due to the sugar content) I think they are small enough not to be a choking hazard. If it makes you more comfortable then you could always chop them up a bit.
How deep do you make these? And how many fingers do you get out of a batch?
Really keen to try these out
Hi Danielle, Sorry I am just seeing this now. I make them around 1 cm thick. I use a very small dish and the mixture fits perfectly. You only get around 4 small fingers from each mixture. ??
Could you make a bunch and keep them in the fridge for say the week? Or is it a make on the day kind of thing?
Hi Alicia, I found they didn’t keep that well in the fridge. I preferred to freeze them and take them out as needed.
Hi. I have a question!! My little one will be 6 months on the8th. He has only has carrots, baby rice cereal and now oatmeal baby cereal. What age are these good for? Does BLW method actually work? I’m a new first time mom and I plan to make all his food. Thank you
I was happy to serve these to my 6 month old. I did baby led weaning with him so he was not used to swallowing purees. I think baby led weaning is great for some and purees better for others. I guess it depends on the baby and parent. I have written a post discussing my experience of both if you want any more information.https://www.healthylittlefoodies.com/traditional-weaning-or-baby-led/
Any ideas on how to make these dairy free? Do you think just water would work?
Just made them and subbed out the milk with water and they were great! Thanks, adding this to my go-to recipes for the little one 🙂
Great! So happy that they they worked for you even with the substitution. Thanks for letting me know too.
Use almond milk!
Love these!! As do my two lill ones ?
Thanks Ruth, so glad they were a hit!
They look yummy! What age could you feed them from? We have just started weaning at 5 months (don’t tell me off!))
I served these to my second baby from 6 months but he was doing baby led weaning so he wasn’t used to swallowing purees. If doing purees I would wait until your baby is used to finger foods. ??
Im eager to try these for my 7 month old!! I only have Quaker oats (quick oats) on hand. Would those work? Also, when you made them with blueberries, what food combination did you use? Just the blueberries?
Thank you 🙂
As I haven’t tried it I can’t say for sure, I’m not sure how it would hold together to be honest. I love citrus with blueberries so maybe some lemon zest? Alternatively spices like ginger, cardamom or cinnamon might work well. Enjoy!
Just wondering if you have frozen these? I have a very clingy 9 month old who LOVES them but I find it hard to make things during the day so pre make thing on weekends when her dad is home
Hi Sophie, I have frozen them and my two were more than happy to eat them. So happy your little one loves them!!
Hi do you know if these recipes would work with baby porridge ( the fine powder for beginner eaters) I have a bag left over and don’t want to waste it, do you think it would work the same
I have no idea, sorry. It is worth a try! I take it that baby porridge is oats ground to a flour? I never actually used it so can’t say for sure.
I’ve been making them using the recipe and then adding about 1/8 to 1/4 cup oat baby cereal and adding a little more baby food puree (which is what I used for the fruit portion). They come out sort of solid and more moist than with just oats I imagine, but they are delicious in my and my kid’s opinion!! I hate to waste any baby food so I’ve been trying to add them in everywhere I can! Haha My kids from 20 months to 7 years old can’t get enough. 🙂
How do I know when they are cooked. I did 2 minutes in the microwave they seem somewhat firm? I can wait to see if my fussy 10 month old will actually eat them!
Hi Rachel, They should be set and firm enough to pick up. How did they go?
My 6month old loved these, however they were abit floppy? Why is that? What am I doing wrong. I had them in the microwave for 3 minutes! A big hit though! X
Hi Sharon, they are a bit floppy in texture. If you are looking for something similar but firmer then you should try my fruity oat breakfast bites…..https://www.healthylittlefoodies.com/fruity-oat-breakfast-bites/ Hope your 6 month enjoys these too!
Hi from what age would you hive raisins? I have a 9 months old baby led weaner! Thanks
Hi Deborah, I was happy to give my two them from an early age, I never gave them too often due to the high sugar content. I served these to my youngest at around 6 months.
I do eat a lot of oats, sweet and savoury.
These fingers are so unusual and really lovely addition to my recipe books
Thank you! I have a couple big oat fans too!
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe…we struggle for breakfast ideas that my 12month old can eat his self. He’s very independent and dosnt like being fed off a spoon, so we normally end up giving him toads and fruits but these are great. He has just made 3 finger disappear in no time at all and he realy enjoyed them, picking up each and every crumb. Thank you
Brilliant! So glad these worked out for you and your little one approved! Thanks for taking the time to give feedback, it really does mean a lot.
What if you don’t have a microwave??? Could you put them in the oven? How long for? Would love to try these out 🙂
Hi Fezi, these fruity oat muffins have similar ingredients and are oven baked. https://www.healthylittlefoodies.com/fruity-oat-breakfast-bites/
Is there anything I can replace the apple puree with? We don’t have any purees at our place?
Hi Leah, you can just replace it with milk and maybe grate some apple in. Or you could replace with mashed banana.
Can this be made using an oven toaster?
Hi Patty, I have never used an oven toaster so I can’t say, sorry. You can make them in the oven so I am sure that it would work in a toaster oven.
any cooking reccomendations for those of us that choose to have a non microwave household??
Hi Tanya, sorry for the delay. I’d bake these for around 15mins at 190C. I have some other oat-based recipes, similar to these, that I have trialled in the oven. https://www.healthylittlefoodies.com/fruity-oat-breakfast-bites/ https://www.healthylittlefoodies.com/coconut-mango-oat-breakfast-bites/
Hi what dish do you put them in? Cos I find a bowl makes them hard to get out and cut and a plate isn’t good to hold the porridge together!
Thanks.
Hi Kirstie, I used a small, flat bottom dish with sides. I could then push it to one side and it held together. My new recipes all have process steps and I can see how this recipe could benefit from some too. I hope you find a dish that works for you.
Hi, I just made these for my 6 mo old, using breast milk (he has a cow’s milk protein allergy).
A question regarding the texture- mine turned out.. rubbery (for lack of a better word). Does that sound right to you?
After microwaving for 2 minutes, they seemed soft and a bit on the mushier side. So I popped them back in for 30-40 seconds.
I’m wondering if I messed something up and these are now unsafe to give to my baby?
Hi Batool, I’m not quite sure how to describe the texture, they are soft but should be able to slice and be able to pick up. I’m sure they are safe to give baby if all the food was fresh.