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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.
More Breakfast Recipes
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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.
Fezi
What if you don't have a microwave??? Could you put them in the oven? How long for? Would love to try these out 🙂
Amy
Hi Fezi, these fruity oat muffins have similar ingredients and are oven baked. https://www.healthylittlefoodies.com/fruity-oat-breakfast-bites/
Rebecca
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
Amy
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.
Pongodhall
I do eat a lot of oats, sweet and savoury.
These fingers are so unusual and really lovely addition to my recipe books
Amy
Thank you! I have a couple big oat fans too!
Deborah Lipszyc
Hi from what age would you hive raisins? I have a 9 months old baby led weaner! Thanks
Amy
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.
Sharon
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
Amy
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!
Rachel
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!
Amy
Hi Rachel, They should be set and firm enough to pick up. How did they go?
Samantha
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
Amy
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.
Lisa
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. 🙂
Sophie Theodoros
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
Amy
Hi Sophie, I have frozen them and my two were more than happy to eat them. So happy your little one loves them!!
Vivien
Hi. I made it with rolled oat and milk but it turned out hard and crumbly. Is this the correct texture? Seems difficult for baby to chew on it.
Amy
Hi Vivien, Sorry you didn't have success with the recipe. I wonder if it was to do with microwave settings. I never found them crumbly.
Danielle
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 🙂
Amy
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!
Julie
They look yummy! What age could you feed them from? We have just started weaning at 5 months (don't tell me off!))
Amy
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. ??
Ruth
Love these!! As do my two lill ones ?
Amy
Thanks Ruth, so glad they were a hit!
Kate
Any ideas on how to make these dairy free? Do you think just water would work?
Kate
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 🙂
Amy
Great! So happy that they they worked for you even with the substitution. Thanks for letting me know too.
Val
Use almond milk!
Jazmine
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
Amy
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/
Alicia
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?
Amy
Hi Alicia, I found they didn't keep that well in the fridge. I preferred to freeze them and take them out as needed.