18 Best Baby Breakfast Recipes

You have overcome several baby hurdles only to be confronted with a new one—breakfast! Are you tired of making the same old stuff for breakfast or wondering if the baby is bored with what you keep cooking? Well, your little one has proven picky in the past and will continue to be so even with this new experience – solid or semi-solid foods.

Luckily, we have researched and combed through the best and yummiest recipes to compile a list of the best breakfast recipes for one-year-old babies. They range from purees to partial solids and even solid chunks to suit the fussiest baby’s tastes and cater to their nutritional needs. These baby breakfast ideas are both yummy and packed full of nutrition.

Importance of Breakfast for Babies

Does the adage’ breakfast is the most important meal of the day’ cover babies, too? It does! They need the day’s first meal to get themselves up and running. Your baby needs his kick-starter meal to boost his metabolic processes (3). Don’t you feel exhausted when you get up and need that first cup of coffee or a fulfilling breakfast? Well, so does baby! All baby breakfast ideas, even the variant of baby breakfast recipes, Indian in nature, offer some nutrition, some taste, and a whole filling of yumminess.

A healthy breakfast habit from the very start will set your baby up for a healthy lifestyle throughout their lives. A tip you could try to encourage them to eat family meals together, so they see the action of breakfast around them and are encouraged to try it themselves. This is particularly useful when you are teaching self-feeding (4).

Remember not to introduce solid foods too soon, as babies should only be fed slowly after six months of age (5). Instead, move from breast milk to formula to purees to chunkier purees before the natural solids are introduced. Before you introduce meat and eggs to your baby, consult the doctor.

Easy-to-Make Breakfast Recipes for Babies

Cooking for a baby is fun, suited to various tastes, dietary requirements, and even mommy’s requirements. There are breakfast recipe ideas ranging from Indian to continental to kooky, and who knows what your little boy or girl will like. Try them all! Check out the how and what of fifteen great infant breakfast ideas here.

1. Multi-Vegetable Puree

Start with a good old classic puree. It can be made of an amalgamation of a baby’s favourite vegetables and a few disagreeable but nutritious ones. The yummy combined with these less popular options will sneak them past any baby.

Ingredients

• Potatoes
• Peas
• Carrots
• Any vegetables you choose
• Water

How to make

1. Choose the vegetables
2. Dice the vegetables
3. Boil the vegetables in a pressure cooker till tender
4. Put the vegetables and stock in a blender
5. Add the water as required
6. Blend to a smooth puree

2. Banana and Rice Porridge

Porridge is yummy goodness for adults and your baby, too. It is suitable for the digestive system (6) and will keep your little one full and give them the energy needed to get through the day. Any cranky baby will smile once they gobble up this mixture of goodness and nutrients.

Ingredients

• 1 cup rice or rice flakes
• 1 cup chopped banana
• 3 cups water
• 1 cup formula

How to make

1. Boil the rice or rice flakes until cooked, soft and mashy without solid grains.
2. Add chopped bananas
3. Add formula
4. Cook together for two to three minutes.
5. Stir the mixture so the banana and rice are mixed well.
6. Add water to get the desired consistency
7. Cook for an additional three to four minutes
8. Cool before feeding the baby

3. Suji(Semolina) Upma

The Indian variant of porridge is packed full of fibre and delicious. This savoury dish might even spark the passion in a foodie-to-be. It is easy to chew, gives your baby much-needed nutrients, and has plenty of sweetness.

Ingredients

• ½ cup suji (semolina)
• ½ tsp ghee
• ½ tsp powdered almonds/cashew nuts
• 1 cup water
• One pureed date (Deseed, chop into small pieces and puree in a mixer with a bit of water).

How to make

1. Heat ghee in a pan.
2. Roast suji in ghee, stirring continuously
3. Once suji is roasted a little, add water.
4. Add pureed date for sweetness
5. Keep stirring to avoid lumps
6. Add the powdered nuts if you want (keep allergies in mind and consult your doctor)
7. Please bring it to the desired consistency. Ensure it is a little thin, as it will thicken once it cools.

4. Vegetable Kichidi

Most ages love this classic Indian favourite, and it is an easy, healthy option for mommies in a rush. You can make it as savoury as you want and as thick as the baby needs.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp moong dal (washed and soaked in water for half an hour)
• 1 tbsp rice dal (washed and soaked in water half an hour)
• pinch of turmeric

How to make

1. Pressure-cook everything with 1 cup of water
2. Cook for 3-4 whistles
3. Add hot water to thin as desired
4. Mash with a spoon
5. Feed it to the baby once it is cool

Did You Know?: Moong dal is an excellent source of protein, vitamins, fibre and nutrients. It also contains polyphenols, polysaccharides, and peptides, which promote good health (7). 

5. Vegetable Kichidi with Spices

This is the same classic Indian favourite with a twist for older babies. This beloved dish now has more oomph so that you can introduce baby recipes in Indian style to the baby’s diet.

Ingredients

• ½ cup rice
• ½ cup moong dal (green gram)
• 1 cup Mixed vegetable washed and chopped into small pieces (carrot, potato, few peas, beans, etc.)
• 1 tsp ghee
• A pinch of turmeric
• ½ tsp cumin seeds
• Chopped coriander leaves
• Pinch of turmeric

How to make

1. Clean and wash dal and rice well
2. Soak dal and rice in water for half an hour
3. Heat the ghee in a pressure cooker
4. Put cumin seeds in till it crackles
5. Add dal and rice
6. Sauté a little
7. Add vegetables
8. Add a pinch of turmeric
9. Add water and pressure cook this for 3-4 whistles till well-cooked
10. Mash khichdi lightly with a spoon
11. Feed baby when cool

6. Sweet Pears and Cinnamon Rice Mash

From what we have heard, this delicious dish has been tried by various mommies and their babies, even some daddies. It is an easy, yummy mix for small to 12-month-old babies.

Ingredients

• ½ cup of white rice
• 2 fresh pears
• 2 cups of water
• ¾ cup of evaporated milk
• Vanilla bean or extract
• Pinch of cinnamon to taste

How to make

1. Put the rice and vanilla in one bowl
2. Boil in 2 cups of water
3. Peel and chop pears
4. Add them once the rice is almost tender
5. Once the rice is done and the pears are soft, add evaporated milk
6. Add cinnamon to taste
7. Puree in a blender if required

7. Banana and Apricot Porridge

This yummy dish combines two popular elements with the goodness of porridge that will put a smile on any baby’s face.

Ingredients

• ½ cup rolled oats
• 2 cups water
• 100 gm un-sulphured dried apricots
• 1 banana, mashed

How to make

1. Soak apricots in water for an hour or two or overnight
2. Boil until very soft
3. Mash with a fork until smooth and set aside
4. Place water and oats in a pot
5. Cook and stir often until oats are soft
6. Add mashed banana and apricots
7. Cook for a further few minutes until well combined

8. Apple Anar Juice

Yup, juices are also on the breakfast menu. This is an excellent breakfast for babies as it contains antioxidants, folic acid, and iron. Additionally, pomegranate (anar) reduces high blood pressure, cholesterol, hyperglycemia, and inflammation (9). It boosts immunity, fills a little one, and cools down a fussy baby.

Ingredients

• 3 large pomegranates
• 2 large apples
• 1 small lemon
• 1/8 tsp salt
• Water as required

How to make

1. Wash and clean fruits
2. Peel apples and dice them
3. Remove pomegranate seeds and set aside
4. Put in blender with just enough water to cover the fruit
5. Blend to fine puree or use juicer
6. Strain well
7. Serve fresh

9. Banana Split Pancakes

Even the pickiest baby could not resist pancakes, especially this yummy concoction that will have them begging for more.

Ingredients

• ½ cup pancake batter (prepared from mix or scratch)
• ¼ banana
• 1/3 cup frozen dark cherries or blueberries
• 1/3 cup plain yoghurt

How to make

1. Spread 2 tbsp pancake batter on a hot greased griddle
2. Top with thin slices of banana
3. Spread 2 tbsp of batter on top of bananas
4. Cook until the tops of the pancakes start to bubble and flip.
5. Cook until pancakes are thoroughly cooked through.
6. Thaw cherries or blueberries and slice them into pieces appropriate for your child
7. Serve each pancake with a dollop of plain yoghurt spread over the pancake and a spoonful of fruit

10. Blueberry Muffin Cereal

Is there a pattern here? Babies love berries and all things sweet, and this combination of healthy and yummy will tempt parents to try it. Blueberries reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes and help maintain weight. They also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties (9).

Ingredients

• ½ banana
• ¼ cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
• 4 tbsp organic whole-grain infant cereal
• 4 tbsp organic vanilla yoghurt
• 1 tsp local honey

How to make

1. Mash or cut up a banana into small pieces
2. Add yoghurt
3. Sprinkle with cereal
4. Mix and add more yoghurt to achieve a smooth consistency.
5. Fold in blueberries and honey. (Use honey only for babies older than one and after talking to your doctor as they could contain spores deadly to babies’ weak immune systems)

11. Breakfast Cookies

So, cookies for breakfast may seem insane, but they work as they contain everything your baby should be eating anyway. A word of caution: These are for bigger babies who are used to solid foods.

Ingredients

• 3 bananas
• ¼ cup olive oil
• ½ cup cashew butter (or peanut butter) (beware of nut allergies)
• 2 cups oats
• 1 tsp Baking Soda
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp sugar-free vanilla essence
• 4 tbsp raspberry chia jam

How to make

1. Pre-heat oven to 160ºC
2. Add the bananas, oil and nut butter to the blender
3. Blend until smooth and gooey
4. Place all remaining ingredients (except for chia jam) into a bowl
5. Pour banana mixture into
6. Stir to make sure all of the oats and banana is thoroughly combined.
7. Spoon a heaped tablespoon of the mixture onto a lightly oiled baking tray or a non-stick mat
8. Leave a little space between each one
9. Use the back of the spoon to press the centre down on each cookie to make a little well
10. Put a teaspoon of raspberry chia jam into each one
11. Bake for 12-15 minutes
12. Keep an eye on them for 12 minutes so they do not get too hard for little mouths
13. Remove from oven and cool before serving

12. Overnight Chia Oats Bowl

A bowl of pink sweetness—what baby could resist this? This bowl of yumminess will leave them begging for more, and you’ll sneak a spoon now and then, too.

Ingredients

• 85 cup oats
• 85 cup milk
• 85 cup Greek yoghurt
• 2 tbsp chia seeds
• ¼ tsp natural vanilla powder
• 100g fresh or frozen raspberries
• Honey to taste (only for older babies and after consulting a doctor)

How to make

1. Put all ingredients (except honey) in a blender
2. Blend until smooth for 1 to 2 minutes
3. Taste and add honey if needed
4. Pour the mixture into breakfast bowls and place in the fridge overnight
5. In the morning, eat as such or add fresh berries, nuts or granola on top

Did You Know?: Chia seeds contain vitamins, minerals, unsaturated fatty acids, fibre, amino acids, and polyphenols and have antidiabetic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties (10).

13. Rice Flour and Vegetable Porridge

Returning to yummy baby starter food, this porridge is a quick fix for hungry people and a healthy option. Toss all the ingredients together, and you’ll have a delicious meal ready.

Ingredients

• 2 cups rice flour
• 1 cup chopped carrots and peas
• 3 cups water

How to make

1. Mix the rice flour and water in a cooking pot
2. Cook the mixture for five to seven minutes, stirring continuously to prevent the formation of lumps
3. Keep cooking till the rice flour thoroughly mixes with water and becomes soft
4. Simmer the flame and let the mix cook slowly
5. Boil peas and carrots till soft separately
6. Once done, blend using the vegetable stock as thinner
7. Add this vegetable puree to the rice flour and water mixture
8. Continue boiling the mixture until it mixes well
9. Cool well before feeding it to your baby

14. Mango and Rice Porridge

It sounds good enough for mommy and daddy’s dinner. This little combination is another favourite among parents on the move looking for a healthy option for their babies.

Ingredients

• 1 cup sliced and diced mangoes
• 2 cups rice
• 3-4 cups of water
• 1 cup formula or expressed milk (optional)

How to make

1. Boil rice and water
2. Blend mangoes into a puree separately
3. Once the rice water begins to boil, simmer the flame and let the rice cook for four to five minutes
4. Add the mango puree and the optional formula or expressed milk to it
5. Cook them together for two to three minutes while stirring the mixture
6. Serve upon cooling

15. Suji (Semolina) Halwa

Another tremendous Indian option you could introduce baby to, and we can guarantee he will love it, is this halwa. It boasts the rich sweetness of all Indian sweets.

Ingredients

• ½ cup suji (semolina)
• ½ tsp ghee
• ½ tsp powdered almonds/cashew nuts (optional).
• 1 cup water
• 1 pureed date

How to make

1. Heat ghee in a pan
2. Roast suji in ghee, stirring continuously, or else it can burn
3. Add water
4. Add pureed date for sweetness
5. Keep stirring to avoid lumps
6. Add powdered nuts (optional, but has an allergy warning)
7. Please bring it to the desired consistency and keep it a little thin. It will get thicker once it cools down.
8. Once cool, serve to baby

16. Berry Smoothie

Berries are a favourite among adults and toddlers alike. They are healthy and tasty, and a smoothie is the perfect breakfast for babies and a way to pack in the nutrition while making it easy to consume.

Ingredients

• Handful of mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
• ½ a banana
• 1 cup milk (preferably breastmilk)
• 2 teaspoons oats

How to make

1. Add the berries, banana, milk, and oats to a blender
2. Blend until it reaches a smooth consistency. Ensure it is not too thick
3. Add a splash of milk if it does get too thick
4. Sieve the mixture to ensure no lumps or seeds could cause a choking hazard
5. It is ready to serve!

17. Banana French Toast

As we already established, kids love a good, sweet brekkie! This 6 month baby breakfast is a nutritious treat that will keep them returning for seconds! Plus, bananas contain potassium, calcium, and sodium, important nutrients infants require for growth (1)! 

Ingredients

• 1 ripe banana
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons milk (breastmilk preferably)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter
• 2 slices of bread
• Knob of butter

How to make

1. Mash the banana until it is smooth and has minimal or no lumps
2. Add the milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and peanut butter and mix well
3. Whisk the two eggs into the mixture and combine all the ingredients
4. Take your bread and soak it in the mixture for 10 seconds on each side
5. Heat a pan and add the butter to it
6. Add your soaked bread to it once it has melted and started to bubble
7. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown
8. Let it cool, then cut it into bite-size pieces or small strips
9. Serve to your baby as is, or add some maple syrup and serve

18. Veggie Mash

As your little one grows, this breakfast for one-year-olds is an excellent way to introduce healthy veggies into their diet. Research notes that introducing a variety of vegetables together also helps children accept a new vegetable as part of their meals (2).

Ingredients

• 1 medium potato
• 5 florets of cauliflower
• ½ a beetroot
• 1 medium-sized carrot
• 1 cup of water
• tiny pinch of salt and black pepper powder

How to make

1. Wash and peel the potato, carrot, and beetroot.
2. Soak the vegetables and the cauliflower florets in hot water to ensure all dirt has been removed
3. Drain the vegetables.
4. Add all the vegetables to a pressure cooker along with the water
5. Let it cook for 2 whistles
6. Remove from the pressure cooker and add to a bowl
7. Use a fork to mash all the softened veggies
8. Add a tiny pinch of salt and black pepper powder and mix well
9. Once cooled, serve to your toddler.

FAQs

1. How can I make breakfast time enjoyable for my baby?

To make breakfast more enjoyable, start by eating together as a family. Offer your baby a variety of food with different flavours, consistencies and textures. Allow them to make a mess, explore and pick up their food to eat. Make fun songs about food and sing them to them while feeding them. Use aeroplane sounds and hands to feed them!

2. How much food should I give my baby for breakfast?

At six months old, your baby can have half a cup of soft food for breakfast (11). If your child is one year old, they can have three-quarters or one cup of food three to four times a day, making it about one cup for breakfast. You can also feed them one to two snacks between meals (12).

3. Are there any foods that I should avoid for breakfast when introducing solids?

When introducing solids to babies, ensure they don’t contain honey until they are 12 months old. Also, avoid canned and processed foods, raw or undercooked eggs, and raw meat or shellfish (13). 

These recipes are just the start of the massive choice of recipes for a parent looking to expand a baby’s culinary experience. It does not have to include something 5-star and intricate, but it will be some nutritious deliciousness.

References/Resources:

1. Kabeer, S., Govindarajan, N., Radhakrishnan, P., Alharbi, H.F., Essa, M.M., and Qoronfleh, M.W.; Formulation of fortified instant weaning food from Musa paradisiaca (banana) and Eleusine coracana; Front Nutr; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10311212/; June 2023

2. Barends, C., Weenen, H., Warren, J., Hetherington, M.M., de Graaf, C., and de Vries, J.H.M.; A systematic review of practices to promote vegetable acceptance in the first three years of life; Appetite; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30794819/; June 2019

3. Breakfast Basics; Nemours Kid’s Health; https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/breakfast.html

4. Toddler development: Learning to feed themselves; Pregnancy, Birth and Baby; https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/toddler-development-learning-to-feed-themselves

5. When Can My Baby Start Eating Solid Foods?; Nemours Kid’s Health; https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/solid-foods.html

6. Hou, D., Yousaf, L., Xue, Y., Hu, J., Wu, J., Hu, X., Feng, N., and Shen, Q.; Mung Bean (Vigna radiata L.): Bioactive Polyphenols, Polysaccharides, Peptides, and Health Benefits; Nutrients; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6627095/; May 2019

7. Zarfeshany, A., Asgary, S., and Javanmard, S.H.; Potent health effects of pomegranate; Adv Biomed Res; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4007340/; March 2014

8. Feeding your baby: 6–12 months; UNICEF; https://www.unicef.org/parenting/food-nutrition/feeding-your-baby-6-12-months

9. Feeding your baby: 1–2 years; UNICEF; https://www.unicef.org/parenting/food-nutrition/feeding-your-baby-1-2-years

10. Balancing introducing solids with milk feeds; Pregnancy, Birth, and Baby; https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/balancing-introducing-solids-with-milk-feeds

Also Read:

Porridge Recipes for Baby
Kheer Recipes for Infant
Indian Dinner Recipes for Baby

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