12 Easy Tips To Make Pancake Recipes For Babies And Toddlers

Pancakes for babies can be considered a good first food once they start eating solids due to their ease of customization and preparation. They are also known as flapjacks or griddlecakes and are light, fluffy starch-based food. Pancakes could be made sweet or savory with different flavors and other ingredients, including egg, milk, and butter.

However, there may be concerns, whether pancakes are healthy for babies with developing oral motor skills or when is the best time to offer pancakes to babies.

The following post discusses the answers to these common queries and provides ideas on how to make pancakes healthier with some simple baby-friendly pancake recipes to try.

Can Babies Eat Pancakes?

Yes, babies can eat homemade pancakes made of baby-friendly ingredients and no added salt and sugar. Experts advise feeding small pieces of soft pancakes to babies at around eight months of age as that’s when most babies can safely eat toast fingers and puffed crispbread, which have a somewhat similar texture as a pancake (1). However, if you want, you may introduce pancakes to your baby earlier after consulting your pediatrician. Most babies around six months of age who eat different solid foods to practice baby-led weaning can also eat pancakes.

Tips To Make Healthy And Baby-Safe Pancakes

Here are some simple tips that can help you make nutritious and baby-safe pancakes for your little one.

1. Make pancakes from scratch at home: You can find pancake premixes, which are easy and quick to use. However, they often contain unhealthy ingredients, such as refined flour, refined sugar, and other additives, such as artificial color and preservatives, which can be detrimental to health over time (2). Since these ingredients aren’t good for a baby’s health, making a pancake at home from scratch is good. Doing so also gives you plenty of autonomy to tweak ingredients and make customized pancakes.

2. Replace refined flour with healthy alternatives: Refined flour is a concentrated source of carbs whose regular consumption can expose a baby to chronic health concerns, such as unwanted weight gain, in the long term. Thus, you should limit or avoid refined flour intake for babies and looks for healthy alternatives. Healthy refined flour alternatives that you can opt for are oats, quinoa, millets, whole wheat, and nut flour. You can choose one or more of these alternatives to make several sweet and savory pancakes for your baby and toddler.

3. Ditch salt and sugar: Salt and sugar both aren’t suitable for babies, especially those under one year of age. Salt intake can lead to an acquired salty taste preference increasing the risk of high blood pressure in later life. Sugar can cause tooth decay and unwanted weight gain over time (3). Additionally, regular sugar intake can cause a baby to prefer sweeter foods later in life. Therefore, experts advise against feeding salt and sugar to babies under one year of age (4).

4. Replace butter with healthy oils: Most pancake recipes use butter to make the pancake rich and moist. However, it isn’t the only ingredient that can do the work. To add flavor and moisture to pancakes, you can choose various healthy plant-based oils, such as olive and avocado oil. These oils are a source of omega-3 fatty acids that can contribute to the baby’s overall development.

5. Add various healthy ingredients: Pancake is a flour-based dish that may not contain many nutrients unless it has added ingredients, such as fruits, veggies, nuts, and seeds. Ensure you add various healthy ingredients to make a wholesome pancake for your baby and toddler.

6. Don’t add protein powders: Adding protein powder to pancakes for adults is a fairly common practice. But don’t apply this practice to babies as their kidneys and digestive system are still immature. Excess protein intake can exert unnecessary stress on their gastrointestinal system, resulting in detrimental effects.

Precautions To Take While Feeding Pancakes To Babies

Here are some precautions to ensure your baby or toddler safely ingests pancakes and enjoys their benefits to the fullest.

1. Introduce homemade pancakes to babies that are made with simple ingredients that the baby is already eating comfortably. Once the baby can digest these pancakes, they can comfortably transition to multi-ingredient pancakes.

2. Follow the “three-to-five-day wait” rule before introducing any new food. It’s essential to rule out any sensitivity, intolerance, or allergy that a baby may face, especially after eating a multi-ingredient pancake.

3. Discontinue feeding if the baby looks uncomfortable after ingesting the pancake. Reintroduce after some time and monitor the baby’s reactions. If the baby still shows discomfort, sensitivity, or intolerance to pancake ingestion, immediately stop feeding the pancake and consult your healthcare provider.

4. Feed small quantities of pancake in the beginning. Then, as the baby comfortably digests it, gradually increase the amount to the desired level. Most 12 months old babies can consume a whole (small) pancake.

5. Don’t use salt to make savory pancakes. Instead, use saltless herbs mix to make the savory pancake flavorful and nutritious. Similarly, don’t add sugar to sweeten pancakes. Instead, use fruit mash, puree, or pieces as natural sweetening agents that are also nutritious.

6. Serve pancakes to babies in age-appropriate ways to ensure the baby relishes the dish safely. For instance, for babies between six and nine months, serve pancake cut into small pieces, whereas for babies between nine and 12 months, you can offer pancake cut into thin strips.

7. Prevent gagging or choking by adding finely chopped, grated, mashed, and pureed veggies, fruits, nuts, and seeds, to pancakes. Alternatively, you can add nuts and seeds powder to pancakes to add versatility to the pancake recipe.

Healthy Pancake Recipes For Babies And Toddlers

Below are some easy-to-make and nutritious pancake recipes you can make for your baby and toddler.

1. Simple whole-wheat pancake

You will need:

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2tbsp olive oil
• 1tbsp nuts powder (walnut, almond, and cashew)
• 1tbsp baking powder
• 1tsp pure vanilla extract

How to make:

1. Put all the ingredients into a blender and blend well into a smooth, lump-free batter of flowing consistency. Pour the batter into a bowl and set it aside for ten minutes.
2. Then, heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. As the oil begins heating, pour a ladleful of batter into the pan and cook each side for three to four minutes until it turns golden brown.
3. Transfer the pancake to a plate and cut it into thin strips. Serve immediately to your baby for baby-led weaning.

2. Coconut and banana pancake

You will need:

• 1 frozen ripe banana (mashed)
• 2 eggs (whisked)
• 2tbsp coconut flour
• 2tbsp unsalted butter
• 1tbsp coconut milk

How to make:

1. Put mashed banana and eggs into a bowl. Mix them well using a fork until they are well-combined into a smooth paste.
2. Add coconut flour and milk to the banana mixture and mix well until you get a smooth batter. Add more milk to adjust consistency if needed.
3. Then, heat some unsalted butter on a skillet over low heat.
4. Once the butter begins bubbling, put a small cup of batter on the pan. Don’t spread the batter. Cook each side until the pancake turns golden brown.
5. Transfer the pancake to a plate and cut it into small pieces. Serve the pancake pieces to your baby to enjoy the food while practicing self-feeding.

3. Almond and banana pancake

You will need:

• 2 frozen ripe bananas
• 1 cup rolled oats (powdered)
• 1 cup almond milk
• 1tsp olive oil

How to make:

1. Place all the ingredients into a blender and blend them into a smooth batter. Pour the batter into a bowl and set it aside.
2. Heat olive oil on a skillet over low-medium heat.
3. As the oil begins bubbling, pour a ladleful of pancake batter on the pan. Cook both sides for three to four minutes until they turn golden brown.
4. Serve pancake pieces to the baby with apple or mango puree.

4. Peanut butter pancake

You will need:

• ½ cup whole wheat flour
• ½ cup unsweetened Greek yogurt
• ¼ cup peanut powder
• ¼ cup whole milk
• 2 large eggs
• 2tbsp rice-bran oil
• 1tsp vanilla bean paste
• 1tsp baking powder

How to make: 

1. Blend yogurt and whole milk into a smooth-flowing liquid using a blender.
2. Add eggs, vanilla, and baking powder to the blender and blend the mixture for three to four seconds.
3. Next, add peanut powder and wheat flour to the blender and blend until you get a lump-free, smooth batter.
4. Once done, keep the batter aside and heat oil in a pan over medium-low heat.
5. As the oil heats, pour a ladleful of batter on the pan and let it cook on each side for three to four minutes until each side is golden brown.
6. Serve pancake pieces to babies to help practice self-feeding.

5. Banana pancake

You will need:

• 1 cup low-fat buttermilk (unsalted)
• ½ cup wheat germ (toasted)
• ¾ cup refined flour
• 2 eggs (lightly beaten)
• 1 banana (mashed)
• 2tbsp jaggery powder
• Clarified butter

How to make:

1. Put flour, jaggery powder, and wheat germ in a bowl. Mix all the ingredients well and set the bowl aside.
2. Pour the egg, buttermilk, and banana into a small bowl and beat them together until it begins foaming.
3. Now, pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and stir until everything gets mixed. Set the mixture aside.
4. Heat a teaspoon of clarified butter on a skillet over a low flame.
5. As the butter begins heating, spread a ladleful of batter on the skillet and cook both sides until they turn golden brown.
6. Serve warm with fresh fruit puree or a cup of homemade lemonade.

6. Carrot pancake

You will need:

• 1 cup oats flour
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup carrots (shredded)
• ¼ cup unsweetened almond milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1½ tsp cinnamon powder
• 4tbsp coconut oil
• 1tsp dried fruit powder
• 1tsp vanilla bean paste
• ¼ tsp nutmeg powder

How to make:

1. Put all the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Set the bowl aside.
2. In another bowl, add eggs, almond milk, and vanilla bean paste. Mix well until everything looks well combined.
3. Transfer the dry ingredients into the wet and mix well. Finally, add two tablespoons of coconut oil and remix everything to make a smooth mixture.
4. Now, heat a teaspoon of coconut oil on a skillet over medium-high heat.
5. As the oil begins heating, pour a ladleful of batter on the skillet. Cook each side for three to five minutes until they turn golden brown.
6. Cut the pancakes into thin pieces and serve to your baby for finger feeding.

7. Apple and walnut pancake

You will need:

• 1 cup almond flour
• ½ cup unsweetened oat milk
• ¼ cup unsalted walnuts (finely chopped)
• 1 apple (cored and finely chopped)
• ¾ tsp cinnamon powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 2 large eggs (lightly beaten)
• 1tbsp avocado oil

How to make: 

1. In a large bowl, mix almond flour, cinnamon powder, and baking soda.
2. Stir in whisked eggs, oat milk, walnuts, and apple. Mix the ingredients well until you get a smooth, lump-free batter.
3. Now, heat avocado oil in a pan over low-medium heat. As the oil heats, pour half a cup of batter into the pan and cook each side for four to five minutes until the pancake turns golden brown.
4. Transfer the pancake to a plate, cut it into thin strips and serve it to your baby for finger feeding.

8. Spinach and oats pancake

You will need:

• 2 cups fresh spinach (chopped)
• 1 cup instant oats (powdered)
• 1 frozen ripe banana
• 2tbsp olive oil
• 1tsp sesame seeds

How to make: 

1. Blend oats, spinach, sesame seeds, and banana into a smooth-flowing batter using a blender. Add water to adjust consistency if needed.
2. Pour the batter into a bowl and set it aside until use.
3. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. As the oil heats, pour a ladle of batter on the pan.
4. Cover the pan with a lid and cook the pancake for five minutes until the pancake rises and turns golden brown on both sides.
5. Transfer the pancake to a plate. Cut it into small pieces and serve immediately.

9. Blueberry pancake

You will need:

• ¾ cup rolled oats
• ⅔ cup frozen blueberries (chopped)
• ⅔ cup dried fruits and nuts (finely chopped)
• ¼ cup whole milk
• 2 eggs
• 1 overripe banana
• 1tbsp pumpkin seeds (finely chopped)
• 1tsbp avocado oil

How to make: 

1. Blend all the ingredients except the blueberries into a smooth batter using a blender.
2. Pour the batter into a bowl and stir in chopped blueberries using a spoon. Set the bowl aside for some time.
3. Meanwhile, heat a teaspoon of oil on a skillet over medium heat.
4. As the oil heats, pour half a cup of batter into the pan and cook until it turns golden brown. Now, flip the pancake and cook the other side until it also turns golden brown.
5. Once done, transfer the pancake to a plate and cut it into small pieces. Serve it as healthy finger food for your baby.

10. Foxtail millet pancake

You will need:

• 2 cups foxtail millet
• 1 cup water
• ½ cup green peas (shelled)
• ½ cup onion (grated)
• ½ cup coriander (chopped)
• 1tbsp soy flour
• 1tsp sesame seeds
• 1tsp ginger (grated)
• Sesame oil

How to make: 

1. Add foxtail millet, soya flour, sesame seeds, onions, ginger, and water in a large bowl. Mix the ingredients well to make smooth pancake batter.
2. Next, heat a teaspoon of oil on a skillet over medium heat.
3. Spread a ladleful of batter on the skillet and cook until both sides turn golden brown.
4. Repeat the process with the remaining batter to prepare the pancakes.
5. Transfer one pancake to the plate and feed it to your baby with homemade hummus.

11. Pumpkin pancake

You will need:

• ¼ cup wheat flour
• ¼ cup quick oats
• ½ cup pumpkin puree
• 2 eggs
• 1tbsp unsalted butter
• 1tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp cinnamon powder
• ½ tsp vanilla bean paste

How to make:

1. Put all the ingredients into a bowl and mix well using a spoon.
2. Heat one-fourth of a teaspoon of butter in a pan over medium heat.
3. As the butter begins bubbling, pour a ladleful of batter in the pan and cook until its bottom turns golden brown.
4. Then, flip the pancake and cook it until the other side also turns golden brown.
5. Once done, transfer the pancake to a plate and set it aside for some time to cool.
6. Cut the pancake into thin strips and serve to your baby for finger feeding.

12. Veggie pancake

You will need:

• 1 egg
• 3tbsp vegetable mix (chopped spinach, boiled corn, grated carrots, cooked broccoli)
• 1tbsp whole milk
• 1tbsp whole wheat flour
• 1tsp flax seeds powder
• ¼ tsp herbs mix
• ½ tsp oil

How to make:

1. Beat eggs and milk together until the mixture foams. Then, add all the other ingredients and mix well to form a smooth, lump-free batter.
2. Heat oil in a pan over low-medium heat.
3. As the oil begins warming, pour the batter into the pan and cook until it turns golden brown. Flip the pancake and cook the other side until it also turns golden brown.
4. Once done, transfer the pancake to a plate and set it aside for some time to cool.
5. Cut the pancake into different shapes using a cookie cutter. Serve it to your baby or toddler to relish with a cup of homemade lemonade.

References

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Dr. Sonal DhemlaPhD

 

Dr. Sonal Dhemla, a gold medalist with four years of experience, is working with a pediatric hospital as a consultant dietitian/clinical nutritionist. She founded ‘Dr. Sonal’s Nutrittude’, a diet clinic specializing in child nutrition, complementary feeding, juvenile diabetes, celiac disease, autism, ADHD, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, growth issues among children, different deficiencies, and much more.

Read full bio of Dr. Sonal Dhemla