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Baby Porridge in three bowls with spoons
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Favorite Baby Porridge (Nutritious, Fast, Flavorful)

Make this quick and nutritious baby porridge for a baby of any age—or share with big kids and adults, too. With under 15 minutes of cook time and many flavor options, this is a favorite baby breakfast to try.
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Diet Vegetarian
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 17 minutes
Servings 6 -8
Calories 52kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup multigrain hot cereal
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 cup milk (I prefer nondairy milk)
  • Additional milk for serving (optional)

To make a Fruit Flavor, add:

  • ½ cup mashed fruit or fruit puree (such as banana, raspberry, mango, strawberry, or blueberry(

To make a Veggie Flavor, add:

  • ½ cup vegetable puree (such as sweet potato or butternut squash)

To make a Nut or Seed Flavor, add:

  • ¼ cup peanut, almond, or sunflower seed butter

Instructions

  • Add the cereal, water, cinnamon, vanilla, and milk to a pot over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and reduce the heat to medium-low.
  • Cook for 8-12 minutes, stirring frequently, until the liquid is mostly absorbed and the porridge is very soft.
  • Stir in desired flavor option.
  • Turn off the heat, cover the pot, and let sit for 5 minutes.
  • Serve the porridge with a little additional milk, if desired.

Notes

  • Store cooked baby porridge in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also freeze this baby food in an ice cube tray and use as many cubes as you like for future servings. Reheat, stirring often, in 15-30 seconds increments in the microwave. You may want to add more milk to thin the cereal out if it's thickened during storage.
  • You can also reheat it in a pot over low heat on the stove. Stir often to prevent sticking and add a little water or milk as needed.
  • Look for multigrain hot cereal near the oatmeal from brands including Bob's Red Mill, Quaker, or your store's brand. It may be called "7-grain cereal" or "10-grain cereal".
  • You can make organic baby porridge by starting with organic baby cereal and using organic milk and add-ins.
  • Nondairy milk may be easier for baby to digest, so that is my recommendation here.
  • Stir the pot a few times during cooking to ensure the mixture doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan.
  • Add unsalted butter, coconut oil, or hemp seeds to add a dose of healthy fats.
  • Add flavor with a fruit puree, mashed fruit, peanut butter, almond butter, Sweet Potato Puree, or Butternut Squash Puree.
  • Enjoy a bowl for yourself. You may like your serving topped with chopped nuts, honey, and milk.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25cups | Calories: 52kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 23mg | Potassium: 88mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 66IU | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 1mg