8+ Quick and Nutritious Breast Milk Recipes for Babies

Breast milk is vital for a baby’s growth and development during the first six months, providing all the essential nutrients and antibodies they need. However, if you’re still producing milk after weaning or have stored breast milk frozen in packets, don’t let it go to waste. This precious liquid can be repurposed in a variety of ways, including creating breast milk recipes for infants, which allow you to continue benefiting from its unique properties. From nourishing your baby to using it in homemade skincare products, breast milk truly lives up to its reputation as liquid gold. Its benefits extend well beyond the initial feeding period, offering ongoing value to both you and your baby.

Baby Recipes That Can Be Made From Breast Milk

You can use breast milk or formula to make delicious and nutritious recipes even after you’ve weaned your baby off the breast. The following breast milk food recipes combine breast milk with fruits and veggies that are great first foods for babies.

1. Breast Milk Butter

Don’t be surprised! You can indeed make butter from breast milk.

Ingredients:

• Breast milk – 1/2 cup
• Clean jar (with a lid)

Recommended Age: 6+ months

Method:

1. Add it to a freshly cleaned jar.
2. Put the lid on and shake well for 5-8 minutes till you get butter.
3. Drain off the remaining liquid and serve.

2. Pureed Sweet Potato With Breast Milk

Sweet potatoes are one of the best first foods for babies. You can thin the puree with breast milk.

Ingredients:

• Sweet potatoes – 1 or 2
• Breast milk – 1/2 cup

Recommended Age: 6+ months

Method:

1. Wash the sweet potatoes and peel them. Cut into small pieces.
2. Boil water in a saucepan. Add the diced sweet potatoes and cook for 15 minutes till they become tender.
3. You can mash with a fork or use a mixer to blend to a fine paste.
4. Add the breast milk to the puree.
5. Serve.

3. Breast Milk Banana Ice Cream

This recipe has the wholesomeness of breast milk and also doesn’t contain preservatives.

Ingredients:

• Breast milk – 1/2 cup
• Banana – 1/2, sliced

Recommended Age: 6+ months

Method:

1. Refrigerate the banana slices for at least two hours.
2. Add the slices and breast milk to a mixer and blend to a fine paste. You can also just mash it with a fork instead of blending it.
3. Serve immediately.

4. Breast Milk Oats Porridge

If you wish to wait to introduce your little one to cow’s milk, breast milk can be used to make delicious porridge for breakfast!

Ingredients:

• Breast milk – 1/2 cup
• Rolled oats – 3 tablespoons
• Apple puree

Recommended Age: 6+ months

Method:

1. Add the rolled oats to a mixer and blend to a fine powder consistency. You can use this immediately or store in an airtight container.
2. Use 1 portion of oats and 2 portions of breast milk to make the porridge.
3. Add these to a saucepan and keep stirring for 3-4 minutes.
4. You can add the apple puree while the porridge is getting cooked.
5. Serve hot or cool, depending on how your baby likes it.

5. Breast Milk Banana Puree

This puree is so yummy that your baby will drink it all up!

Ingredients:

• Breast milk – 1/2 cup
• Cardamom powder (optional)
• Banana – 1, sliced

Recommended Age: 6+ months

Method:

1. Slice the banana and mash it with a fork.
2. Add breast milk to thin the consistency.
3. Add cardamom powder if you want.
4. Mix well and serve.

6. Beetroot and Breast Milk Puree

Beetroot is also one of the best first foods you can feed your little one.

Ingredients:

• Breast milk – 1/2 cup
• Beetroot – 1 cup, peeled and sliced

Recommended Age: 8+ months

Method:

1. Cook the beetroot until it turns soft.
2. Add the pieces to a mixer and blend till smooth.
3. Add the breastmilk for a thinner consistency.
4. Serve.

7. Breast Milk Teething Popsicle

This teething popsicle will help give your baby something nutritious to chew on when her teeth start to erupt.

Ingredients:

• Pacifier – 1
• Bottle cap/ mould – 1
• Breast milk – 1/2 cup

Recommended Age: 6+ months

Method:

1. Pour the breast milk into the bottle cap/ mould.
2. Stick the pacifier into the mould.
3. Freeze for at least two hours.
4. Your baby can suck on this teething popsicle.

8. Breast Milk Apple Sauce

A sweet and nutritious treat, perfect for your baby’s first taste of fruit.

Ingredients:

• Breast milk – 1/2 cup
• Apple – 1, peeled and diced

Recommended Age: 6+ months

Method:

1. Cook the apple pieces in a small amount of water until soft.
2. Blend the cooked apple into a smooth sauce.
3. Stir in the breast milk to achieve the desired consistency.
4. Serve warm or chilled.

9. Breast Milk Rice Cereal

A gentle and nutritious way to introduce solid foods to your baby’s diet.

Ingredients:

• Breast milk – 1/2 cup
• Rice – 2 tablespoons, cooked

Recommended Age: 6+ months

Method:

1. Cook the rice until soft and let it cool slightly.
2. Blend the rice with breast milk to create a smooth, creamy cereal.
3. Serve immediately or store in the fridge for later.

Tips for Cooking With Breast Milk

Here are some tips you should keep in mind while using breast milk in the above recipes.

1. Breast milk lasts for upto 4 hours at room temperature, 4 days in the fridge, and 6 months in the freezer before it goes bad.
2. You can thaw frozen breast milk by placing it in a bowl of warm water.
3. Thawed breast milk should not be re-frozen.
4. Don’t heat breast milk by placing it on the stove or in the microwave.
5. Ensure that the vessels used to prepare baby food are sterilised before use.

FAQs

1. Are there any safety concerns with using breast milk in recipes for babies?

Yes, there are safety concerns. Always use freshly expressed or properly stored breast milk. Ensure all utensils and containers are clean to prevent contamination. Avoid using milk that has been stored for too long or is past its expiration date.

2. How can I store breast milk recipes for later use?

Breast milk recipes should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. If you need to store them for longer, consider freezing them in small portions. Always label the container with the date and ingredients used to ensure safe consumption.

3. Is it safe to combine breast milk with acidic foods like citrus fruits?

Combining breast milk with acidic foods like citrus fruits should be done cautiously. While small amounts are generally safe, acidic foods can sometimes alter the taste or consistency of breast milk, which might not be well-received by your baby. Monitor your baby’s reaction and consult your pediatrician if you have concerns.

Once your baby is 6 months old, start with one and introduce new foods gradually, after noting whether she  develops a food allergy. If this is the case, that particular fruit or vegetable should not be fed any further, without consulting a paediatrician.

References/Resources:

1. Breastmilk Information; Infant Nutrition Council; https://www.infantnutritioncouncil.com/breastmilk-information/

2. Breast Milk Storage and Preparation; CDC Breastfeeding; https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/breast-milk-preparation-and-storage/handling-breastmilk.html

3. Breastfeeding; WHO; https://www.who.int/health-topics/breastfeeding#tab=tab_1

4. Smell of Stored Human Milk; La Leche League International; https://llli.org/breastfeeding-info/smell-human-milk/

5. Nutritional Needs of Infants; Children’s Hospital Los Angeles; https://www.chla.org/sites/default/files/migrated/Chapter1_NutritionalNeeds.pdf

6. Bransburg-Zabary. S, Virozub. A, Mimouni. F; Human Milk Warming Temperatures Using a Simulation of Currently Available Storage and Warming Methods (PLoS One); National Library of Medicine; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4465021/; June 2015

7. Eidelman. A, Schanler. R, Johnston. M, Landers. S, et al.; Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk (Pediatrics); American Academy of Pediatrics; https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/129/3/e827/31785/Breastfeeding-and-the-Use-of-Human-Milk; March 2012

Also Read:

Is Raw Milk Safe for Babies?
Almond Milk for Babies: Is It Safe?
When Can Babies Start Drinking Cow’s Milk?
Giving Packaged or Toned Milk to Babies – Is It Safe?

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