A healthy breakfast, a quick snack, a nutritious dessert or a baby's first food. These blueberry and banana porridge bars are perfect for so many occasions. They're very easy to make and can be on the table in under 30 minutes.
Are these porridge bars suitable for babies?
Porridge bars are the perfect finger food for babies. I've made a lot of different oat recipes for babies over the years and my healthy flapjacks and my porridge fingers recipes are two of the most popular recipes on Sneaky Veg.
Many babies start out with some form of porridge as their first food. Their first taste of oats could be the very fine baby porridge that comes in packets or a classic porridge or oatmeal cooked at the stove.
Oats are nutritious, filling and full of energy - perfect food for little ones.
The only (minor) problem with porridge is the mess. If you're spoon feeding your baby this is manageable but if you're following baby led weaning it's quite the opposite.
Porridge gets everywhere!
In fact my four year old still gets porridge smeared up his cheeks, all over his trousers, underneath the table surface and on the floor EVERY SINGLE DAY.
Enter porridge bars! I can't guarantee that they'll be mess free.
However, your baby or toddler will be able to pick them up and feed themselves without spoons and gloopy porridge flying everywhere.
They're soft enough to be perfect for baby led weaning. Older babies and toddlers love them too.
However, there's no reason why the rest of the family can't enjoy them just as much. They're great in lunch boxes for older kids or as a healthy snack for adults too. Use plant-based milk and they're suitable for vegans.
What ingredients do you need to make blueberry and banana porridge bars?
For full recipe, ingredients and quantities go to the printable recipe card at the end of this post.
You will need the following ingredients to make these baked porridge bars:
- 250g oats
- 250ml milk of your choice
- 2 small bananas - the riper the better
- 200g blueberries
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup - optional. Omit for a young baby.
Do you need any special equipment to make baked porridge squares?
You can make these porridge squares with equipment that you probably have in your kitchen already.
All you need is:
- weighing scales
- mixing bowl
- wooden spoon
- 20cm x 30cm baking tin
- non-stick baking paper.
How to make blueberry banana porridge bars
Please do not reproduce this recipe without permission.
If you've made this recipe please a star rating and comment below. Thank you!
Blueberry and banana porridge bars
Ingredients
- 250 g porridge oats
- 250 ml milk I use oat or hemp milk
- 2 small ripe bananas peeled and mashed
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup optional, omit for a young baby
- 200 g blueberries
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 180°C (fan)/200°C/gas mark 6. Grease a 20 x 30cm baking tin and line with non stick baking parchment.
- Place 250g oats, 250ml milk, 2 small mashed bananas, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 2 tablespoon maple syrup (if using) in a mixing bowl.
- Mix well with a wooden spoon until all the oats are coated in the milk and banana mixture.
- Add the blueberries and gently mix in.
- Scrape the mixture into your prepared baking tin and press down well so the surface is flat. Press in any blueberries that are too close to the edge.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until turning golden brown on top.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the tin before cutting into 12 bars. If your baby is very young you may want to cut into smaller bars but make sure they're big enough to be gripped.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days or in the freezer.
Notes
Nutrition
If you like this you might like this banana and blueberry breakfast parfait or this Caribbean coconut banana curry traybake.
Pin blueberry banana porridge bars for later
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Dani
Do I cook the porridge before I go putting this together
Mandy Mazliah
Hi Dani - no it'll cook in the oven as you bake the bars.
Rachael Thomas
I started making these for my daughter when she was about 8 months, she’s now 18 months and she absolutely loves them.
They have been a lifesaver when travelling or going out and about as a snack, they also freeze and defrost perfectly for childcare.
This recipe has actually made my life so much easier. Thank you.
I just wish I could find something else she likes as much!
Mandy Mazliah
I'm so pleased that she loves them Rachael!
H
Fantastic recipe. My 8 month old and my 3 year old both live them. Going to try with some different fruits and see what happens!
Mandy Mazliah
So glad you enjoyed them Heidi
Meriel
Super easy to make, and the kids devoured them! We used frozen raspberries instead and they worked v well.
Mandy Mazliah
So happy to hear that you loved them! Using raspberries instead is a great idea.
mandy
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Mandy Mazliah
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Jess H
Amazing! It was so simple and quick to make. My 9 month old and my very picky 2.5 year old devoured them. We even left out the maple syrup! But, we added some frozen mixed berries to make up for our lack of fresh blueberries. Thank you for the recipe!
Mandy Mazliah
Thanks so much Jess! I'm so glad you loved them.
Nikki
This is the first "baby flapjack" recipe I've tried that actually works! The texture is great for my 8 month old and I've even nibbles a few myself!! They freeze perfectly and I just defrost a few at a time. Great for using up old bananas and blueberries that are going bad! Planning to make these again and try some chopped apple! Excellent recipe!
Mandy Mazliah
Thanks so much Nikki - I'm so happy that it worked well for you!
Helene Goldnadel
Well, look no further, because this blueberry recipe tastes great and is also filled with antioxidant power that naturally occurs in blueberries.
anna
This looks great! I will prepare it for my children........Thanks for sharing
Mandy Mazliah
Hope you enjoy them!