Baby’s favorite foods baked into little Baby Food Oatmeal Bites that they can easily feed themselves.
I can’t believe Brookie is already eating “real” food! She’s been eating for 2 months now and she loves it…
She could care less about her bottle anymore. She’s all about the food. She caught on to feeding herself so quickly (much quicker than her brothers did). We’ve done baby-led weaning with all our babies now and have had such great experiences. All of them have been awesome eaters. They gain so much confidence and pride once they get the hang of feeding themselves and it makes mealtime so much easier and enjoyable for all.
Brookie will eat anything we put in front of her, but her favorite foods so far are baked sweet potato wedges, bananas, steamed broccoli, baked apple slices, peanut butter sandwiches, pancakes and these baby food oatmeal bites…
Girlfriend can take ’em down! She loves them! They’re so easy to make and full of healthy foods that she should be eating but that are hard for her to feed herself (since we don’t spoon-feed her) unless they’re baked into these little bites.
Oatmeal, pumpkin, applesauce, banana and avocado all come together in these yummy bite-sized muffins. Brookie will eat a few for breakfast and sometimes a few for lunch or as a snack throughout the day giving her good energy to play but also keeping her belly full for a good long nap.
She’s gotten so great at eating them and makes less of a mess every time. I’ve come to embrace the meal-time mess for a few months when they’re first learning to feed themselves knowing that once they get the hang of it, it’s so awesome!
So if you’re looking for something to bake for your baby that’s nutritious and delicious, these bites are so great. They’re easy to bake, made of simple healthy ingredients that your baby is probably already eating, and are the perfect size for them to feed themselves.
I’ll usually bake a batch at the beginning of the week to keep in the refrigerator so she has plenty to eat throughout the week. You can easily substitute your baby’s favorite pureed or mashed foods for the pumpkin, applesauce, banana and/or avocado. I’d recommend leaving the banana and applesauce for natural sweetness though.
I hope your little love(s) enjoys them as much as Brookie does…
xoxo,
Baby Food Oatmeal Bites
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 15 mins
- Yield: 24
- Category: Breakfast
Description
Baby’s favorite foods baked into little oatmeal bites that they can easily feed themselves.
Ingredients
- 2–1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup pure pumpkin
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 large banana, mashed (about ½ cup)
- 1 medium avocado, mashed (about ½ cup)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a mini muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, stir together the oats, baking powder and cinnamon.
- Make a well in the center and add the pumpkin, applesauce, mashed banana and mashed avocado. Stir until well combined.
- Scoop batter evenly among the 24 mini muffin cups, filling each one completely full. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until set. Avoid over-baking them. You don’t want the tops to be too crisp or browned. They should be set and soft enough for your baby to easily eat.
- Let the bites cool in the pan for at least 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
Notes
To freeze, place cooled bites on a cookie sheet and freeze for about an hour. Then transfer them to an airtight bag or container and store in the freezer. When you’re ready to give them to your baby, remove however many you want and let them thaw at room temperature for 20-30 minutes.
Both of my kids loved these as babies, and still love them as toddlers! Both have (or had) allergies, so it is so nice to find a healthy recipe that is egg, nut, and dairy free. It feels good giving them a snack that is filled with such healthy ingredients. Thank you for the recipe!
Hi, Lindsay! Thank you so much for sharing. I’m so happy to hear that your little ones enjoy them and that you feel good about feeding them these bites! ❤️
Hi, i made things for my baby and they fell apart when she was trying to eat it.
Hi Ellie! They are supposed to be soft and easy for babies to eat and they should hold their shape well unless your baby is squeezing them or mushing them between their hands which is certainly possible for babies that are new to bringing food to their mouths. Did you follow the exact ingredients and instructions? Did you let them cool completely?
I will try this recipe for my toddler.
I have applesauce, banana and avocado.
Could you suggest what can be some substitutes for pumpkin purée that go well in this recipe and keep the muffin moist and soft?
Thanks !
Vibha
Hi Vibha! I would suggest just adding more applesauce, banana and/or avocado to replace the pumpkin puree in the recipe. I’ve done this several times with what I had on hand and it works great. Hope this helps and that your little one enjoys!
Thank you for this recipe! How long can they be stored in the freezer?
Hi Maryam! I would suggest storing them in a freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 2 months. Enjoy!
My daughter struggles with constipation, do you think there i could purée some stewed prunes and use that instead of bananas?
Hi Justine! I would recommend checking with your pediatrician to make sure prunes are okay. If so, yes, I think they would work great. They’re just thicker than bananas so the texture of the bites might be a bit denser. Hope this helps and that your daughter loves them!
I’m trying to use up baby purees we’ve outgrown but don’t want to waste. I used pureed pumpkin, baby multi grain oatmeal. I omited avocado, but everything else the same. I used a silicone mini muffins pan. I baked more than 20 minutes. The tops set but under it’s raw. Did the purees add too much liquid and I need to add more oats to compensate? What are your thoughts?
Hi Lindsey! I’m thinking you needed to add more of the baby multi grain oatmeal since it’s a different consistency than quick cooking oats. Hope this helps and that your little one enjoys!
“Simply gorgeous recipe, definitely will prepare these OATMEAL BITES for your baby 🙂
judging by the photos kids like these oat balls, and I like when the baby is full and not crying :)”
Can i replace the pumpkin with sweet potato?
Hi Georgiana! Absolutely, just make sure it’s pureed well. Enjoy!
I’m so excited I found this recipe. All the other baby muffin recipes I’ve found contain ingredients I prefer not to use such as eggs, wheat flour, or instant baby cereal. My 8 month old daughter is a complete foodie like her dad so I cannot wait to make these. But I don’t have a mini muffin pan. Can I just bake on a cookie sheet or should I just make regular sized muffis and cut them?
Hi Erika! So great to hear! I would recommend either using a regular muffin pan or baking them in a baking dish and then cutting them into small portions appropriate for your little one. I hope she loves them!
Can I use almond flour instead of rolled oats?
Hi Bindi! I haven’t tried it so I can’t say for sure how they will bake up, but I think it’s certainly worth a try. The texture should still be really soft which is what matters most when it comes to the littles being able to eat them easily. I hope they turn out great! Enjoy!
Hello, my 10 month old is very constipated so I’m avoiding bananas and apple purée. Will these work without them? I’ll just add more pumpkin and avocado?
Thanks heaps xx
Hi Paige! I’m so sorry your little one is constipated. It’s heartbreaking, I know. Yes, just substitute the banana and apple with equal amounts pumpkin and avocado. I hope he loves them!
We’ve loved these with cheese as a picnic lunch! Perfect for using up baby oatmeal and purées. Thank you!
Hi!
I cooked these for even longer than the recipe calls for but they still came out pretty pastie in the middle. Stick to my daughters hands etc.
Is this normal? The top was set and they came out relatively set but still easy to squish.
Hi Christina! That is exactly how you want them to turn out so that your little one can eat them on her own. You want them to be soft enough to easily chew and swallow, but set enough so they can pick them up and feed themselves. It can get messy, but the more experience your daughter has feeding them to herself, the less messy it will become. Hope she loves them!
Hiya!
What can I substitute for the apple sauce? Could I use more banana?
Hi Lauren! Yes, more banana or avocado or pumpkin puree would all work great in place of the applesauce. Hope your little one enjoys!
Simply gorgeous recipe, definitely will prepare these OATMEAL BITES for your baby 🙂
judging by the photos kids like these oat balls, and I like when the baby is full and not crying 🙂
These are delicious and my little one loves them! For some reason the print function doesn’t work, no matter which browser I use or even if I refresh. Any suggestions? Thanks!!
Hi Kendra! So happy to hear your little one loves these! I just checked the print function on all of my browsers and on two different computers and it’s working on my end. Maybe try refreshing your browser? Fingers crossed you get it to work. Continue to enjoy!
I have Old Fashioned Oats. Is this this same as quick-cooking oats? They look bigger than the ones in your muffins but says they can cook in 5 minutes. I just worry about the size with baby led weening. Too big or should be fine? Thanks 🙂
Hi Brandi! Old-fashioned Oats are larger than quick cooking oats. It all depends on how well your little one is with chewing and swallowing. I would recommend the quick cooking oats if they are just starting to eat solids. You can always blend the old-fashioned oats a bit to break them up. Hope this helps!
I just made these today for my 11-month-old. We walk her older brother and sister to school most mornings and I was looking for a healthy breakfast she can eat on the go. These came out perfectly in a silicone pan with no oil. I just gave her one and she very much enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
That’s so great to hear, Susan! Thanks for sharing. What a sweet morning tradition you have with your kids walking to school. I hope your little one continues to love the muffins. 🙂
these smell amazing, but just a heads up…..I prepared steel cut oats and subbed it for the instant oats (per the directions in the comments) and I have had them in the oven for over 25 minutes and I could literally spoon feed this to my baby. Don’t think that these will set. Any suggestions to save them?
Hi Lauren! Sounds like the cooked steel cut oats were holding more moisture than the bites could handle therefore they couldn’t set. The instant oats absorb some of the moisture when baking which results in a soft, set bite. Hope this helps and that your little one enjoys them!
hi, you didn’t mention greasing the pan with anything. Will they come out easily without anything? Thanks!
Hi Sonia! Yes, the first instruction includes greasing the pan with non-stick cooking spray. This is a must or you could use paper liners. Enjoy!
I’m blind! Sorry and thanks!
I used sweet potatoes instead of pumpkin. I boiled and cooked it, mashed it but the consistency is very mushy and I baked for 14 mins. What did I do wrong? I ate one and it taste good. I just want to make sure they are cooked before I give them to my one year old. Lol
Oh I also used old fashioned oats and put them in the blender before I added them.
Hi Glenda! They should definitely be moist enough for your baby to easily eat, but baked all the way through. They should be set when pressed on the top with your finger and hold together well when lifted from the muffin pan. The sweet potato could contribute more moisture than the canned pumpkin, but it shouldn’t be that much more. If it taste raw to you, then I would recommend baking longer. Hope this helps!
Hello. Do you need to steam cook the pumpkin first? Or did you just blend it raw?
Hi Melanie! I use pure pumpkin from a can. If you use a fresh pumpkin, yes, you would need to steam cook and blend it first. Enjoy!
So glad I found this recipe, my 11 month old loves these!
My baby is most likely allergic to bananas. I would love to save this recipe, but do you have a substitution suggestion instead of the banana? Can I use a 1/2c of another fruit?
Hi Jenny! Yes, I would suggest replacing the banana with another 1/2 cup of pumpkin, applesauce or avocado. I hope your little one loves them!
What should the consistency be like? I cooked them for 14 min. How do i know they are done?
Hi Bethany! The muffins should be set to the touch but not crisp on top and the inside should be moist. They’re very soft muffins so your little one can easily eat them. Hope this helps and that your little one(s) enjoy!
I sub the pumpkin with sweet potato. ( I boiled the sweet potato). Ive baked for 30minutes and the inside is still raw and the outside is browned 🙁
Hi Lillie! Oh goodness, it sounds like your muffin batter had too much moisture in it. I wonder if the baked sweet potatoes needed to be drained of some moisture first? Or you could have tried adding more oats if the batter was too runny to scoop. Did you bake them in a mini muffin pan?
I followed the recipe and instructions exactly and mine came out just pure goo. Won’t come out of the muffin tins as muffins because they are so liquid almost as if they weren’t completely cooked. Any suggestions?
Hi Rebecca! It definitely sounds like you needed to bake the muffins longer. They should look set before removing them from the oven. How long did you bake them? Oven temperatures vary so testing the muffins for doneness is important. Did you make any recipe ingredient substitutions? The batter should be very thick and it sounds like yours was too wet to start with.
Mine still seem quite mushy and didn’t rise. Is this normal? Not sure what type of consistency to expect. I baked for 12 minutes
Hi Tawnya! The texture should look like they do in the pictures in this post. They should be moist, not necessarily mushy. Sounds like yours needed to bake longer. Oven temperatures definitely vary. Did you fill each muffin cup completely full? And did you remember to add the baking powder?
Hi, I tried baking these today and it seems like 2.5 cups of quick oats is a lot and I still have quite a bit of leftover after filling up the baking tray of 24. Is there a size difference between trays? My muffins also turned out to be much lighter in colour than yours, wonderful why as I followed your exact recipe. Yours look like there is cinnamon on the side of the muffins too. Maybe it’s just the photography. Thanks for sharing your recipes, that look great and will try some of your cookies ones.
Hi June! Did you fill each of the mini muffin pans all the way full? How much batter did you have leftover? There is cinnamon in the recipe so that combined with the pumpkin is what creates the darker color to the bites. Were your muffins baked all the way through? If so, the color doesn’t really matter as long as the texture was just right for your little one to enjoy. Hope this helps!
Hi. We are just starting Baby led weaning at 6 months. Would this be an appropriate first food or should I wait until Baby is a little older? Right now he just sucks on fruits and veggies. Thanks!
Hi Megan! I let mine start gnawing on these pretty early, usually around 6.5-7 months. If he’s already had a few weeks of sucking on foods and seems ready for more, I’d give them a try. If you feel he needs a few more weeks, you can always freeze them and defrost when you think he’s ready. Hope this helps and I hope he loves them!
Hi,
I was wondering if the muffins would have a softer consistency if the oats were cooked first? Or is that necessary? I have some quick 3 minute steel cut oats from Quaker. We didn’t do blw but little one is over purees and I’m looking for meal ideas that are a good transition.
If you used cooked oats would you still need 2 1/2 cups?
Thanks so much!
Hi Jessica! I couldn’t say for sure how the recipe would turn out if the oats were cooked before because I haven’t tried it. It’s certainly worth a try and yes, I would mix in 2 1/2 cups cooked. Or you could try blending the oats into an oat flour first instead of cooking them. Hope this helps and hope they turn out just as great! Enjoy!
Hi Maegan,
I tried the recipe with oat flour. After baking for about 12 minutes the inside is still fairly mushy. Is that the consistency you get with the rolled oats? Just curious… nervous about little one being able to work it around and swallow it. Any advice is appreciated!
Thanks again!
Hi Jessica! I haven’t tried these with oat flour, but when using quick-cooking oats the middle should very moist, but I wouldn’t say mushy or raw. I would recommend baking yours a little longer if they are still raw in the middle. Hope this helps and that your little one enjoys!
My 9 month old loved these! Was thinking about adding almond butter to the next batch, have you tried that? Thanks!
Hi Shannon! Yay, so happy to hear your little one loves them. I did start adding peanut butter to them when mine started eating it and it worked great. I would recommend replacing 1/2 cup of the pumpkin, applesauce, banana OR avocado with the almond butter. Hope this helps. Enjoy!
Hi Maegan,
Is the baking powder required or can I omit these? I’m a bit scared because I haven’t introduced anything with baking powder to bub yet. She’s 10 months old but has eczema and peanut allergy.
Thanks!
Hi Cara! Yes, you can omit the baking powder. The bites will turn out flatter, but they’ll still taste great for your little one. Enjoy! 🙂
Hi. Can I use fresh carrots or butternut squash instead of the canner pumpkin? Thank you.
Hi Azenith! Absolutely, either one should turn out great. Just mash and measure to 1 cup. Enjoy!
Liking the look of this recipe but wish to substitute the pumpkin what would you recommend? I was thinking either sweet potato or butternut squash would either of those work?
Hi Wendy! Yes, both of those would work great as substitutes for the pumpkin. Enjoy! 🙂
I love this recipe – making my 2nd batch right now! I have 1 year old twins and they gobble these up. I try to use what I have on hand – so I sub the pumpkin for sweet potatoes.
Hi,
My daughter does do well with bananas for some reason. How would you recommend I make these without the banana?
Thanks,
Lauren
Hi Lauren! I would suggest substituting the 1/2 cup mashed banana with 1/2 cup more of the pumpkin, applesauce or avocado. Hope this helps and I hope your daughter loves them! 🙂
Are they soft enough for a 7 month old? He doesn’t have teeth yet but he’s good at using his jaw to mash while he’s eating.
Hi Kara! Yes, none of my kids got teeth until they were 9+ months old and they started eating these around 6-7 months. The bites should be very soft. I hope he loves them! 🙂
Thanks. I’m sure he will and I’m really glad I found this recipe 🙂
Just came across your site and I’m excited to try this recipe and a few others! One random question- who makes her adorable bib?! Thank you!
Hi Jaime! Thanks so much! The bib is from Make My Day. Here’s the link: https://makemydayproducts.com/collections/bibs/products/for-a-lil-sparkle
New to pumpkin. When you say pure pumpkin, do you bake it before scooping out?
Hi Orlene! I use pure pumpkin that’s sold in a can at the store, but you could certainly bake your own pumpkin and scoop out the middle instead. Enjoy!
Hello again!! Sorry for wrong post. Actually I wanted to ask the same question for your another recipe named ” 5 ingredient flourless pancake “. And the question is what else can I use instead of eggs as I am a pure vegetarian. Also show me the method of using it, if any.
Thanks !
Hi Rishi! I would recommend substituting 1/4 cup applesauce and 1/4 teaspoon baking powder for each egg in the 5 Ingredient Flourless Protein Pancake recipe.
What if I don’t have a mini muffin pan?
Hi Turina! You could use a regular muffin pan and cut them into smaller pieces for your baby. Just divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups and watch the baking time until they’re set. Enjoy!
How long should it cook in a regular muffin tin? Did you try it out?
Hi Yosefa! I have not tried it, but I usually recommend increasing the baking time by about 1/3. I’m thinking they’ll take from 16-18 minutes to bake in a regular muffin pan, but check them often toward the end. Enjoy!
Thanks for sharing! Your daughter looks so cute munching on these little bites! I made my son a batch yesterday, but I left out the avocado since I didn’t have any on hand. He really liked them, and it’s so fun giving him meals he can eat on his own!
Would it work to use baby oatmeal instead of the quick cooking oats?
Hi Lindsey! I’ve never used baby oatmeal so I couldn’t say for sure. If it has a similar texture to quick cooking oats, then I think it should work just fine. Let me know if you try it and how it turns out!
Thanks for sharing the recipe wil
Will it be okay if I use steel cut (grounded) or rolled oats instead?
Hi Priscilla! You can use rolled oats, but I’d cook the steel cut oats before using them unless you use instant steel cut oats. Hope this helps. Enjoy!
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These look awesome! Just starting BLW with my daughter and these will be perfect. Question – can they be frozen? I’ve never froze anything with avocado before so never known the answer?
Hi Lesley! Copying my response here too so others can see. 🙂 Yes, they freeze great! Once they’ve cooled, place them on a cookie sheet and freeze for about an hour. Then transfer them to an airtight bag or container and store in the freezer. When you’re ready to give them to your baby, remove however many you want and let them thaw at room temperature for 20-30 minutes.