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.Â
This recipe contains dairy, a common allergen. Ensure you have safely introduced dairy to your baby before offering these fingers.Â
As will all new foods, create a safe eating environment and closely supervise your baby during mealtime.Â
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.Â
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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
- â…› 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.
Lauran Lerman says
Can you mix this with yogurt and fruit such as mango or blueberries to mix up the flavours?
Amy says
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 says
after defrosting in the fridge - how do you re heat them?
Amy says
Hi Jaye, you can eat them cold or reheat in microwave
Julia says
This is the first time an oat finger recipe worked for me! My baby loved it too!
Casey says
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 says
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 says
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 says
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 says
Is there a way to make this if I don’t have a microwave?
Amy says
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 says
What type of milk did you use?
Amy says
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 says
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 says
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 says
Hi, what would you recommend for those who don't have a microwave please?
Amy says
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.
Judith says
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 says
Thanks Judith, hope your little one enjoys some of the recipes 🙂
Maddi's Mama says
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 says
Thank you! Your version sounds delicious!