First Oat Bars

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These filling and healthy oat bars, are so easy to make. I have added some seasonal flavours: chopped apple, cinnamon and raisins. The basic recipe is a brilliant one for weaning, if you are looking from some baby-led weaning ideas. This recipe is really versatile so add flavours you like. Here I am sharing two of our favourite versions, but like all our recipes customise with flavours you love. The key to making this recipe is cooling the oat bar in its dish/ tin, this will stop them cracking and help them hold their shape.

 

Apple, Raisin and Cinnamon

  • 100g oats (standard oats, not jumbo or rolled)

  • 100ml organic milk, or non-dairy milk

  • 1/2 apple, cored and diced, grate for small babies

  • 20g raisins, omit for small babies

  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

 

Preheat the oven to 180C fan. In a bowl then combine: oats, milk, chopped apple, raisins and cinnamon. Mix the ingredients well until everything is combined, with the fruit spread evenly throughout the mix. Take an over proof dish, or tray, line with baking paper: empty the oat mix into the dish. Flatten and push the mix to the edges of the dish using a spatula, until you have a flat oat bar. Cook in the oven for 20-25 mins until golden and toasted. Remove from the oven and allow the oat bar to cool, in the dish. Then cut into squares and enjoy. Once cooled you can store in an airtight container for a couple of days also, if they last that long.

 

Pear, Ginger and Chocolate

  • 100g oats (standard oats, not jumbo or rolled)

  • 100ml milk

  • 1/2 pear, finely diced, or if firm enough grated for smaller children

  • 20-30g chocolate* buttons, or chocolate drops

  • 1/4-1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

* chocolate contains caffeine, so ideally no chocolate under 2 years in its bought form and not before 12 months

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Preheat the oven to 190C (fan oven). In a bowl combine the oats, milk, dried ginger, finely diced pear & chocolate ~ mix well so all the ingredients are combined. Take an oven proof dish lined with greaseproof paper: empty the mix into the dish and push to the edges, pressing down flat with a spatula.Cook in the oven until golden 20-25 mins. Remove from the oven and allow the bar to cool in the dish, then cut into squares and enjoy. 

 

Quick Tips ~

  • Allow the oat bar to cool in its baking tin, or tray, before cutting and the oat bars (although crumbly) will hold their shape better

  • You can sweeten these for older children with a tablespoon of maple syrup, however I prefer them unsweetened.

allergens

dairy, wheat, gluten

n.b. for different dietary requirements ~ oats contain gluten, so you can opt for gluten free oats to avoid gluten

to avoid dairy substitute with dairy free options

 
oats, Weaning Recipe 3Miriam Cooper