I was hired by The Women Bloggers and Kendal King Group to participate in this #CookingWithGerber campaign. Opinions (and excitement for the fun uses for baby cereal) are mine.
Having children means life will continually change. The baby will grow and change so quickly, sometimes you just blink and your newborn is starting to transition to solid foods. Then that baby grows so fast that you end up with extra baby cereal as your baby moves on to more food options. There’s good news, though: Gerber baby cereal is a perfect staple to be used in other delicious meals. Keep reading for some fun and easy recipes using baby food.
These four varieties of Gerber cereal can be picked up at Walmart, and have more uses than just as a first food for baby. They are full of great vitamins and can be utilized as a primary ingredient in various fun recipes – for kids and adults! So here are some ideas for using leftover Gerber baby cereal.
Let’s explore some of these baby oatmeal cereal recipe ideas, shall we?
Frozen Dino Yogurt Bites
Frozen yogurt is a favorite dessert for just about everyone. I know my toddler is a huge fan whenever we go out and get some after dining out. I thought it would be fun to make some for him at home and add some extra enjoyment by making it in fun shapes. I made my little boy some frozen yogurt bites in the shape of dinosaurs because dinosaurs!
Ingredients:
- One part Gerber baby cereal (I used Lil Bits)
- One part Gerber yogurt blends flavor of your choice
- A mold of choice, or container.
Directions:
Mix cereal and yogurt, fill the mold and freeze.
Peaches and Cream Baby Cereal Pancakes
One of my toddler’s favorite breakfast dishes is pancakes. It is seriously one of the few things I know he will eat without fuss and won’t toss on the floor. So while I’m not super talented at flipping them to make them extra pretty, I am happy to make them for his breakfast. So here’s how to make baby cereal pancakes!
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup Gerber Oatmeal and Banana Cereal
- 1 container Gerber Yogurt Blends carrot peach mango flavor
- I container Gerber 2nd foods peach puree
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 cup water
Directions:
Make batter: In a bowl, mix cereal, flour, baking powder, and baking soda together. Stir in yogurt, peach puree, egg, and water until combined.
Make pancakes: Pour 1-1 1/2 tablespoons of batter mix into hot skillet for each pancake. Cook for 2-3 minutes, then flip and cook for additional 2-3 minutes.
Mini Veggie Muffins
As a parent of a picky toddler, I need to come up with unique ways to get my baby to eat healthy foods. Lately, meal times have been a bit (well, more than a bit) of a challenge. Will my child ever eat anything other than bread? I’ve learned that you can hide quite a bit of good stuff inside a muffin, and the silly boy will eat it. In order to get this one to eat his veggies, I’ve been hiding pureed vegetables inside other foods. We moms need to get sneaky. So I made him a batch of these yummy mini-muffins full of good vitamins.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Gerber cereal (I used Lil Bits)
- 2 containers Gerber 2nd foods vegetable puree
- 1 ripe banana
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 cup flour
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 2 tablespoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- mini muffin tray
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 °F.
In a bowl, mix cereal, flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar together. Stir in puree, banana, milk, and egg until combined.
Pour batter into the mini muffin tray.
Bake in 400 °F oven for 16-20 minutes.
Teething Biscuits
This toddler of mine loves crackers, the crunchier the better. So why not bake my own batch of biscuits that have some great ingredients?
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Gerber Oatmeal and Banana Cereal
- 2 containers Gerber 2nd foods puree (I used apple flavor)
- 1 cup flour
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 3 tablespoons water
- cookie cutters
- cookie sheet
- wax or parchment paper
Directions:
In a bowl, mix together flour, cereal, and cinnamon. Add in oil, fruit puree, and water.
Mix until dough is firm and not sticky, adding water or flour (1 tablespoon at a time) if needed to get the desired firmness.
Preheat oven to 425 °F.
Spread wax or parchment paper over cookie baking tray. Sprinkle flour over the paper. Roll out the biscuit dough on the wax or parchment paper and cut into shapes.
Bake in 425 °F oven for 10-15 minutes, depending on thickness.
The great thing about using Gerber baby cereal is that it’s packed with wonderful vitamins and minerals. I mean, it was great as a first food for baby, so why not continue using it in meals for older babies and even adults? Gerber cereals are iron-fortified and contain calcium, and vitamins C, E, zinc, and 6 B vitamins.
It isn’t easy getting my toddler to eat something healthy, so any mom hacks I can have up my sleeve are a major win for me. Making something fun and yummy for him that’s full of great nutrition doesn’t have to be too difficult. Thanks Gerber cereal for being so versatile and letting us come up with fun uses for baby cereal to make at home.
What fun baby oatmeal cereal recipe ideas will you create?
Birdiebee says
I would love to give this a try.
natasha Lamoreux says
My kids would think these were the coolest! Super excited to try these out.
Tina W says
Super excited -I use baby food purees to increase my Dad’s veggie input, so I love any new ideas.
Janice Cooper says
This is awesome! This is worth telling friend and family that use Gerber. I would make muffins and pancakes.
Allison Swain says
I’m pretty excited! I would like to try making waffles with this 🙂
Thank you for having this giveaway!
Jennifer Marie says
I am super excited. I would love to bake with my sons.
Angela K Hill says
What an awesome idea! These are some fantastic recipes! I never thought of using leftover baby food to make delicious things like muffins and pancakes. I love these combinations too, especially peaches and cream.
Julie says
Thanks Angela 🙂 The cereal has such good nutrition for the littles so why not keep on using it and even put it in dessert recipes for adults too 🙂
sarah s says
I never really thought to incorporate baby food into recipes like this, it sounds like a great way to add some extra vitamins/nutrients.
Tracey Bowden says
This is a great idea to use baby food for. It’s nice to see it being used for something other than the usual way #kcacols
Nicole @ The Professional Mom Project says
Great ideas! I think I’m going to try the veggie muffins for my son. He’s so picky and really doesn’t like eating veggies so this might be a great option. Thanks for sharing #kcacols
Heather Hayes Panjon says
I’m Super Excited!Can’t Wait To Use Gerber Cereal Is Some Of My Favorite Recipes!
HS says
I’m very excited about this. My kids are going to love these creative Gerber recipe.
Bread says
Some cool ideas here, good way to use up the baby food that everyone can eat. #kcacols
Evie B. says
I am very excited about this, thanks!
kelly tupick says
I am really excited about this. There are so many neat ways you can use gerber.
[email protected] says
I would never have thought to use baby cereal in so many different ways. Had only honestly ever mixed it with baby food or yogurt in the morning to make my sons breakfast a little more filling. These ideas are all so creative. I think my favorite idea was the yogurt bites. Thanks for sharing! #KCACOLS
Julie says
Hey even that is a great use. That’s what I used to do also, mix it with purees to make them thicker if I over-blended 🙂
Ashley Shippy says
I love the ideas and creative uses! I never would have to thought to bake with Gerber 🙂 Thanks for the lovely inspo!
Julie says
Thanks, Ashley 🙂
Barbara Montag says
I am really excited about this.
So many creative ways to use Gerber foods!
thank you
Laurajj says
Oh so awesome! I love the homemade teething biscuits!! I cannot wait to try the Frozen Dino Yogurt Bites! Oh all such great ideas!
Elle says
I’m very excited..love using food products in new and interesting ways.
Healing Mama says
This is so cool! I love all of the recipes you posted!
Julie says
Thanks, Nikki 🙂
Kelly D says
I am excited because this looks like a recipe my kids would enjoy.
Natalie says
I am very excited to try using baby food in many recipes! I would love to make the Frozen Dino Yogurt Bites!
Julie says
I think I appreciated the dino shapes more than my one year old haha.
shelly peterson says
This is such a great idea. I wish I would have known to use Gerber baby food to cook with a long time ago.
Glen Hough says
If find this interesting. Normally we just donate our unused supplies.
Julie says
Good to hear you’re able to donate so others can use it 🙂 That’s a fun use also.
Rachelle Rosenblit says
These are great ideas!
Lauren says
I am super excited. The possibilities are endless!
Julie says
They really are endless – lots of room to get creative 🙂
Steve Weber says
I am so so so excited about this!
Elena says
I am excited about this. Thank you for the giveaway!
Nicole Banuelos says
Wow I’m really loving all these great recipes! Thanks for sharing!
kelly tupick says
This is awesome and i am really excited to give this a try.
Samantha @ Momma Wants Java says
These are such great ideas! When my littles got too big for the cereal I had so much left over, but I didn’t think I could do anything with it. Now I wish I would have saved that!
Julie says
Haha I had a lot I didn’t know what to do with too and someone shared an idea on FB and I got excited. Then with this project I got to explore even more ideas. Now I have a tool belt of ideas for making this boy eat!
Krissi says
Ok now im actually excited to play with baby food. these are such greats ideas. my mom is just starting on the cereal now but ill be sure to come back to these in a couple months!!
Julie says
We never realized playing with baby food ideas would be fun huh? 🙂
Kristen says
This is a fantastic idea! When little E transitioned to solids we just gave away all of our unused food. Thanks for the inspiration!
Julie says
Well giving it away to someone else who can use it is also a good use for it and friendly too 🙂
Betsy Barnes says
Your teething biscuits are a very creative idea! I never realized so many uses for leftover Gerber cereal. 🙂
Julie says
Thanks, Betsy. The baby is a fan of those too.
Bridgett Wilbur says
I am very excited about this:).
Julie Wood says
I want to make my Banana Oat Muffins with this oatmeal cereal! And what an awesome giveaway! Thanks. Your teething biscuits are a great idea!
Julie says
This is a great ingredients for banana oat muffins! Totally try it out 🙂
Suzanna @ One Hoolie Mama says
What a great way to utilize baby food once they’ve grown out of the baby stages!
Julie says
Thanks Suzanna 🙂