Baby Lead Weaning Pancakes
Hi friends! What a wild and wonderful experience it has been introducing solids to Riley over the past 3+ months. I experienced quite a bit more anxiety over it at the beginning than I expected (especially introducing the allergens) so if you are feeling nervous or anxious you are not alone, I was too. But easing up on my worries a bit and letting Riley guide the way she soon showed me how capable she really was — and it has been a joy to feed her ever since! (For those in need of resources, Solid Starts has been really helpful for us.)
I came up with a pancake recipe for her a little while ago and have been experimenting with a few different veggies. After sharing them often on Instagram and receiving requests for the recipe I’m really happy to be bringing it to you here, finally (!). Free time to do so doesn’t come often as a full time mama, haha, I’m sure you fellow parents understand! It has been such a joy to be creative with a camera and a keyboard for a moment, though.
Here are the three recipes (all based off of the first recipe below, with just a different veggie added) as well as some platings I have done for Riley to accompany the pancakes. Please do get experimental and try different fruits and veggies! A savory pancake is something I’d love to try next as well.
I also include a simple homemade yogurt recipe I made for her when our market ran out of our favorite brand. She loves it.
x Jessie
BABY LEAD WEANING PANCAKES
Makes 10-12 small pancakes.
plain
1 cup whole soy milk EdenSoy
1/2 cup applesauce
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
1 tablespoon wheat bran optional
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 cups oats rolled or quick
green
add 2 stalks of kale, raw
pink
add 1 beetroot, steamed until fork tender
Combine all of the pancake ingredients listed (including either of the veggies, if using) in a high speed blender and blend until smooth.
(If using oat flour and making the plain pancakes, you can simple whisk everything together in a bowl.)
Pour desired batter amount into a frying pan pre-heated to medium-high heat on the stovetop.
Cook for a few minutes, checking to see if they have browned, then flip and cook for an additional few minutes until firm.
If the remaining batter thickens too much when resting, add a touch more soy milk.
Let the pancakes cool fully on a cooling rack before storing in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.
I typically freeze half and thaw as needed in the fridge or on the counter.
Serve any pancakes stored in the fridge within 5 days.
SIMPLE HOMEMADE YOGURT
Makes about 1 1/2 cups of yogurt.
1 cup raw cashews, soaked in water for 4 hours
1/2 cup full fat coconut milk
1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
20 drops of infant probiotics we use Jarrow and Metakids
Drain the cashews and place in a high speed blender with the coconut milk and lemon juice.
Begin on low, increasing the speed to high, as you blend everything together smoothly.
Stop to scrape down the sides, adding a little more coconut milk to help the mixture along, if needed.
Transfer to a jar and stir through the probiotics with a wood or silicone utensil.
Seal with an airtight lid and place in the fridge. Use within one week.
Plain Pancake Plate
Here I served one plain pancake sliced into strips with strawberries which had been lightly steamed until soft, alongside a banana mashed with a spoonful of peanut butter.
This is a helpful way for me to expose Riley to several allergens consistently as well. Wheat and soy are in the pancake, and peanuts are in the banana mash.
Green Pancake Plate
One green pancake is served sliced here alongside some diced avocado and half of a kiwi. Kiwi is a good source of vitamin C, helping Riley to absorb the iron in the pancakes.
Kale is my green of choice, however any hardy green will do. Collard greens would be lovely! As would spinach.
Pink Pancake Plate
A beetroot pancake is sliced and served here with some of the homemade yogurt I left the recipe for above, plus a tangerine. I break each of the segments of tangerine in half for Riley to easily pincer grasp and swallow safely (and to remove any seeds).
Check out Solid Starts for guidance on how to prepare foods, such as citrus, safely for your baby. We found she can handle this really well but your baby may need the tangerine segmented.
For those curious about Riley’s plate used here, it is by Mushie, and yes, she can undo the suction with ease — hah! However, we still enjoy using the plates.
