Your baby has reached six months and it’s finally time to start introducing their first finger foods. As a parent, I know exactly what goes through your mind and more importantly the number of searches you will do to make sure you know what you are doing.
Giving your baby their first finger food at six months, when they don’t even have a tooth in their little gums is totally nerve-racking. I can assure you though, that once you ensure you can squash food between your finger and thumb, then your baby’s gummy gums are perfectly strong enough to chew.
What is the best recipe to start baby-led weaning?
This is by far, the most asked question on my website. When I weaned my own little ones, I started with sweet potato, butternut squash, and avocado spears. However, after a few weeks of seeing their capabilities, I quickly progressed to finger foods recipes which were simply baby versions of the normal things we eat at home which included; Mini Lasagnas, Mini Pies, Baby Sized Burgers.
The only difference in the recipes was that I left out the salt. Plus the veggies in the baby’s portions were always cooked to the point that they could be squashed between my finger and thumb.
As your baby learns, and you too for that matter, you will start to become more adventurous in the recipes you make. Before my son was even 9 months old, he was eating curries, Moroccan tagines, and all the kale and beetroot hummus concoctions I could dream up. Watching your baby touch and taste different tastes and textures is magic, especially when you see that little face squish up in either delight (and sometimes disgust too).
As for the best recipe when you are starting weaning your baby, I would most definitely say this one! Well, this along with all of the other recipes in the starting baby-led weaning blog post which you can find here.
Baby Led Weaning Sweet Potato Cheesy Puffs
The entire family is going to love this recipe, from your six-month-old baby right up to the kids going to school as a lunchbox filler. These little bites are the perfect size pieces for those little hands to manage. They will also have your baby eating solid foods with zero stress in just one meal!
This recipe is made using leftover sweet potato but you can also, roast sweet potato with the skin on, then remove the skin and mash into a delicious sweet potato puree. Super easy and so much quicker too.
What started as an attempt to make a veggie variation of a choux pastry (let’s not talk about that one) actually turned into one of the best first finger food recipes I have ever made.
First Finger Foods Lunch Recipe
These Sweet Potato Cheesy Puffs as the perfect size and shape for your baby to pick up. It is important to ensure these Cheesy Puffs are made roughly to the size of your baby’s little palm. The reason for this is your baby won’t have developed their pincer grasp until they reach about 9 months. Small bite-size foods can be super frustrating for them so ensure foods are easy to grab and get to the mouth without any stress for your little one.
Step by Step Instructions
What makes this the best and easiest baby-led weaning recipe, in the world, EVER, is the lack of mess to clean up afterward! Well, who in fairness wants to clean up when you have a little baby to take care of and more importantly way better things to do.
Step One: Heat water and butter in a pan until the butter melts. Don’t bring to a bubble, you just want the butter to melt into the water.
Step Two: Add in the grated cheese. I used a mild cheddar here, but you can also use goat cheese too.
Step Three: Stir in garlic powder and flour, then stir over the heat for a few minutes. This allows the flour time to cook properly.
Step Four: Remove from the heat and allow the mixture to cool for about 5 minutes. Stir in the eggs, pureed sweet potato, and baking powder.
Step Five: Using a mini ice cream scoop or tablespoon, divide the mixture onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
Step Six: Bake for 25 minutes until golden brown. Leave to cool fully before serving.
This recipe is sponsored by the amazing folks in Dunnes Stores and it uses all of their amazing ingredients from the Everyday Savers Range. Perfect for you and your baby!
Freezing
Store these Sweet Potato Bites in a freezer box separated by a little parchment paper. Freeze, then when ready to use, pop into a toaster to defrost, or alternatively defrost fully to serve.
I hope you love this homemade sweet potato baby recipe as much as we do. If you would like to find more first finger foods for your baby, check out these recipes too.
Combine the water and butter in a pan over medium heat. Once the butter has started to melt, sprinkle in the cheese and stir until the cheese has fully melted into the sauce.
Add the garlic powder and plain flour and stir until the flour is fully incorporated and sticks together like a dough. Stir over the heat for about one minute to allow the flour to cook. Remove from the heat and allow it to cool for about 5 minutes before beating in the eggs.
Stir in the sweet potato and baking powder until the mixture is smooth and silky.
Take a baking tray lined with parchment paper, then using a spoon or small ice cream scoop, divide the mixture into baby-sized portions, roughly 1 tablespoon per portion.
Bake for 25 minutes until golden brown, then leave to cool fully before serving.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 5 days, or freeze for a quick handy finger food.
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