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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.
Judith
I made the carrot cake version, my 11 month old is quite difficult, picky and eats very little. She took 3-4 bites which was really good!! I will definitely make it again and try more of your recipes.
Amy
Thanks Judith, hope your little one enjoys some of the recipes 🙂
Maddi's Mama
A less messy way to serve oatmeal to my toddler! I added grated green apple, cinnamon, and after cooked, but before cool, I topped with peanut butter and cheerios. She loved them!!!
Amy
Thank you! Your version sounds delicious!
TZ
I just discovered your website and I am so glad I did! My 9 month old is really enjoying your recipes! I have made these twice and he really enjoyed them and I love how easy these are. I’m not sure if I have the texture right. They form into fingers but they are kind of delicate and crumble when he picks them up. I just pick up all of the crumbs and mush them back together for him but is this how the consistency should be? Am I doing something wrong?
Amy
Hi TZ, I think you could try another 30 seconds in the microwave, they should firm up a bit more. Thank you for all your lovely comments, I'm delighted you are enjoying the site and have made so many recipes 🙂
Melinda
Ok, help me figure out what I'm doing wrong... Every time I've tried to make porridge fingers, they come out...well, like oatmeal. They're not hard or solid enough to cut into bars, and they fall to pieces in baby's hands. I follow the recipe perfectly. What should I do? Microwave an extra minute?
Amy
I'd keep microwaving for an extra 10 seconds at a time until you can cut it. Have you watched the video? Does your mixture look anything like mine?
shontra hibbler
I was running out of meals that my little one will eat. He doesn't want oatmeal, purees, avocados, toast, or eggs. He ate several pieces of the carrot cake porridge fingers. I did use sweatened apple sauce because i tried unsweetened apple sauce in some muffins and he did not like them. It didn't make them to sweet, but will try dates and raisins with them next time.
Amy
Thanks for the feedback, Shontra. I'm so happy your little one liked them. 🙂
Meg
I made the carrot cake fingers for my little Hazy, she is 7 months old. She LOVED them and I stole some too! We are big fans. Definitely will try the others as well. Thank you for one mama to another
Amy
Great! Love that Hazy loved them 🙂
Syeda Ahmed
Thank you for sharing this, my toddler is going through a picky eating stage and he cleaned his bars in a few minutes 😀 the chewy texture is also a nice variation
Amy
That is great news, thanks Syeda 🙂
Millie
How many servings does this recipe make? And what is the nutritional information for the carrot cake fingers?
Amy
Hi Millie, I'm sorry this is a really old recipe and although I now add all this information, I didn't in the past. It is designed to make 1 -2 portions, I don't have the nutritional information but you can pop it in an online calculator to find this out. I do have this scheduled to update and will include all this information once I remake them.
Bec
My bub is dairy free, could I substitute water instead of milk? Or would coconut milk work?
Amy
Hi Bec, dairy-free milk should work, you could also use breast/formula.
Chloe
These are a favourite of our 10 month old as are many of your recipes (especially banana pancakes)! Thank you for making BLW a lot easier 🙂
Amy
I love comments like this, they always make my day. Thanks for taking the time to let me know that your little one is a fan of the recipes, Chloe. 🙂
Mette
How long will these last in the fridge? I have a husband who isn't keen on preparing food (in general), so I do most of the cooking at home. It would be nice for him to have something to grab in the fridge or freezer for our son when I'm at work.
Amy
Hi Mette, I'm sorry for the delay in getting back to you. These can be frozen but the recipe doesn't make much (designed for a baby). I have a similar recipe made in muffin trays and baked in the oven. They freeze really well and I often take them out for a quick and easy breakfast. Fruity Baked Oatmeal Cups.
Laura
I can’t get the consistency right and this is the second time I’ve done it it seems to be too mushy and doesn’t hold together?
Amy
Hi Laura, I wonder if it is the microwave settings - maybe you need a little extra time? These fruity oatmeal muffins are similar (sort of), made in the oven and freezable. Make in mini muffins trays and they are easy for little ones to pick up.
Michaela
Hi Amy, thanks so much for these recipes. My LO has decided not to eat anything, unless she can put it in her mouth herself. These are a lifesaver, and a great way to use up the many different fruit purees I had prepared for her. I substituted blueberries for the raspberries and it came out wonderfully!!
Amy
Thanks for the 5 stars, Michaela. So happy your little one like them 🙂
Veronica McElroy
15 tablespoons of raspberries in the raspberry porridge fingers! Isn't that a bit much?
Amy
Hi Veronica, 1.5 not 15! Sorry if the point was not clear 🙂
Millie
I’ve made porridge fingers a few times using cows milk but today I mixed cows and formula- am I able to refrigerate and offer the remainder tomorrow? Are they still freezable too? Not used formula in cooking before!
Amy
Hi Millie, I'm so sorry for the late response and I know I am too late to answer your question now. I don't have a lot of experience with cooking using formula and to be honest, I am not sure of the answer. I don't want to give my opinion, without properly researching, in case it is wrong.
Dawn I
Can you freeze these for later and reheat them?
Amy
Hi Dawn, I'm so sorry for the late response. Yes you can freeze 🙂