HOMEMADE BABY COOKIES recipe for baby led weaning and soothing a teething baby! These healthy Sweet Potato cookies are made with mashed sweet potato, banana, baby cereal and oatmeal! My favorite part is that these cookies are so delicious we can share them together!
Sweet Potato Baby Cookies
Can you believe Enceladus just turned 8 months? How time flies! With month 7 came her craving for finger food! No Mom, she doesn’t want to be fed with a spoon, she wants to feed herself!
I admit, it does get a little messy when she feeds herself but it’s lots of fun to watch! And honestly, nothing warms my heart more than to know she loves Mama’s cooking (she’s a big fan of my dairy free mashed potatoes too!).
Life has been filled with happy moments of “first foods”. The first pureed baby food, the first sticky time she ate watermelon, the slippery first time she ate avocado, the sour face lemon taste, the happy face of tasting jam on toast, etc. Sweet potatoes have been a favorite of hers for a few months, but I had to figure out a way to serve them in a way that she could feed herself since she prefers finger foods over purees nowadays.
Baby Led Weaning Cookies Recipe
I felt like her breakfast choices were lacking so I got to thinking in how I could incorporate sweet potatoes in breakfast or a snack. I came up with these soft and yummy Sweet Potato Banana Cookies, perfect for baby led weaning eating adventures!
(PS. Here’s the recipe video if you want to follow along!)
These cookies are packed with sweet potato and banana! They have a soft and chewy consistency which I find easier for a baby to swallow instead of a crunchy cookie. Because they’re soft they seem to make her gums feel better while she teeths (we have 2 teeth so far!). The cookies are made with baby cereal and oatmeal to thicken them up. Add in a few spices for flavor and you have delicious cookies that you and your baby can eat together!
How to Make Baby Cookies
The first step is to peel and chop up a medium sized sweet potato. Add it to a pot of boiling water and cook until a fork easily slides through the sweet potato.
Just like that – perfect! This takes about 10-15 minutes.
Add the sweet potato to a bowl and mash until creamy. I find that using a spoon or potato masher does the job.
Now add 1/2 of a banana to the bowl and continue mashing. What should you do with the other half of a banana? Eat it, because bananas are delicious!
Now let’s add the rest of the ingredients. You will need baby cereal, quick oats and a little bit of flour to thicken up the cookies to make sure they stay together. I like using Gerber MultiGrain cereal for our cookies.
After that you will add a teaspoon of cinnamon and brown sugar. The brown sugar is completely optional if you want to go sugar-free or not!
Mix it all together and form the dough into tablespoon sized cookies. Place the cookie dough on a nonstick cookie sheet or silicone baking mat.
Then with a fork gently press down on each cookie to flatten it.
The cookies take about 20 minutes to bake. After that, just let them cool for about 15 minutes before you and your baby dive in!
These cookies are soft, moist and delicious! Enjoy these Sweet Potato Banana Cookies, one of our favorite baby led weaning recipes!
FAQ for this recipe
I get a lot of emails and comments about this recipe so hopefully these FAQ will help you!
Can I use jarred baby food? You can try but you will need to rework the recipe as the batter will be very wet. If you’re looking for a recipe using leftover jars of baby food check out my Carrot Baby Cookies.
I don’t have baby cereal, what should I use? Just double the quick oats.
My baby is allergic to oats. Try using ground flax or quinoa flakes instead.
Anything I can substitute for the sweet potato? Try roasting a pumpkin!
Pin for later:
Other Baby Led Weaning Recipes:
Baby Pumpkin Pancakes
Sweet Potato Fries for Baby Led Weaning
Cinnamon Carrot Fries for Baby Led Weaning
Baby Avocado Muffins
Stage 2 Baby Food Recipe
Toddler Recipes:
Shredded Zucchini Tots
Eggplant Nuggets
Homemade Fruit Pouches
Christmas Cookies to Make wirh 1 Year Olds
Sweet Potato Baby Led Weaning Cookies
PrintIngredients
- 1 medium sweet potato peeled and chopped
- 1/2 banana mashed
- 1/2 cup baby cereal
- 1/2 cup quick cooking oats
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add sweet potatoes and cook until fork can easily poke through sweet potatoes, about 10-15 minutes. Drain and place sweet potatoes in a bowl. Mash them with spoon or potato masher until completely mashed up.
- Add mashed banana to bowl and continue mixing until combined.
- Add baby cereal, oats, flour, cinnamon and brown sugar (optional) to bowl and stir.
- Place tablespoon size drops of cookie dough on nonstick cookie sheet or silicone baking mat. Gently press down with a fork on each cookie to slightly flatten. Cook cookies for 20 minutes.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes. During this time they will harden up some. Sprinkle with additional cinnamon if desired.
- Store in airtight container for a few days, or freeze for later usage.
megan says
I can’t wait to try this.
2 questions
1- can I use all baby cereal
2- can I use sweet potato babyfood. Our baby stopped eating the babyfood and trying to find cool things to do
Pamela says
Hey Megan –
1. If you use all baby cereal the cookies will bake flat. If oats are an allergy issue try ground flax or quinoa flakes instead.
2. I worry about the batter being too wet if you use baby food so you might need to add more flour to thicken up the cookies. It’s definitely doable, you just need to rework the recipe a little bit.
Megan says
Can I use all baby cereal and no oats?
Pamela says
You could try but the cookies might end up flat. If oats is a allergy issue, try ground flax or quinoa flakes instead.
Amber R. says
I just came across your site. I LOVE that the recipe isn’t loaded up with sugar and butter like so many others that use the baby cereal. This is a recipe I can feel good about feeding to the whole family and I think they would love them!
Do you think it would work to used sweet potato baby food or do you think they are too thin? If you do think it would work, how many oz do you suggest?
Thanks in advance for your time!
Pamela says
Hey Amber, in theory you could use a jar of baby food but I worry about it being too liquid based so you might need to add more oatmeal and flour to thicken up the cookies. It’s definitely doable, you might just need to rework the recipe a little bit.
Annabel says
For the baby cereal element do you add it in as dried powder or do you mix with water to make it liquid first?
Pamela says
You add it dry. Make sure to watch the recipe video if you need visuals. 🙂 Hope this helps – enjoy the cookies.
Rossie says
Can I substitute the baby cereal? My baby is allergic to some of the additives
Pamela says
Hi Rossie, you can double the quick oats. Enjoy!
Catie says
Is there anything I could substitute for baby cereal, I’m not sure what it is as we have never used it? Thanks
Pamela says
You can double the quick oats. Enjoy!
Catie says
Thanks! Looking forward to trying it!.
Sarah says
Great recipe! My baby loves these! Especially right out of the freezer as a teething cookie.
Do you recommend any sweet potato substitutes for new flavors?
Pamela says
Hey Sarah, glad you like these! Have you introduced to pumpkin yet? They would make great cookies too!
Marybeth says
My grandson is 10 month with only 2 teeth. I would think teething cookies should be
hard so they don’t choke. Would love to try the cookies. I’ll save the cookie recipe when he gets older
Pamela says
Hey Marybeth, you do not want to give a 10 month old anything hard as this is a choking hazard. This is why baby food is soft. These cookies are perfect for babies and toddlers because of how soft they are.
Tanya says
Can you use rolled oats ?
Pamela says
You can, but to make them more kid friendly (if you are making them for that reason) I would give them a pulse in the food processor so they aren’t so big.
Sanaz says
This recipe is great and easy to make. My little son loves it. I made it a couple of times when I was catching up with the other mums and their babies loved them and they all asked the recipe
Thank you 🙂
Pamela says
Thank you so much for this comment, it made my day! I’m so happy to hear your son and others like the cookies. Thank you for stopping by!
Taryn says
I don’t have a baby but I made these for myself. I skipped the cereal and doubled oats like the comments say. They taste good and are more healthy than the average cookie recipe. I’ll make again!
Rachel says
These look so easy! We’re doing BLW for a third time so I’ll have to try this recipe out!
Lura Antonsen says
Where is the recipe with ingredients and measurements?
Pamela says
Hi Lura, the recipe is at the end of the post in a blue card. Enjoy the cookies!
Mary says
Wish I knew how to post a picture of my 10 month old loving these!! Bonus that they’re easy enough for toddler big sister to help make = afternoon activity. Thanks!
Pamela says
Feel free to email me a picture if you want – I love seeing little ones enjoying my recipes! Thanks for the sweet comment! 🙂
Marquita Medley says
Hey thank you for this! I was wondering if I could bake the sweet potato instead of boiling it?
Pamela says
Absolutely! Enjoy the cookies!
Destiny says
Do you have to use a banana or can you just double up on the sweet potatoes?
Pamela says
Hey Destiny, I’d substitute the banana with some applesauce if possible. The banana adds a bit of creaminess which softens up the cookies.
Casey says
I may have missed this, what temperature do you bake them at?
I think my 9 month old would love them!
Pamela says
375 degrees. Enjoy!
Michelle says
Made these tonight for my 9 month old she loved them 😊😊great recipe thank you so much.
Pamela says
Hey Michelle, thanks for commenting! I’m so happy your little lady loved the cookies! Keep on enjoying! 🙂
Christine says
What can I substitute baby cereal with?
Pamela says
You can double the quick oats. Enjoy!
Miranda says
Thank you for the recipe, making for my almost 9 month old now x
Pamela says
Hope you both enjoy these cookies!
Megan says
Great recipe , can’t wait to try it. I am wondering, for the oatmeal and baby cereal do I have to cook that first though? Like cook the oatmeal on the stove and then add it (and the baby cereal)? Thanks! 🙂 Megan
Pamela says
Hey Megan, nope – you don’t have to cook the oatmeal or baby cereal prior. Since you’re using quick oats it will cook while it bakes! Enjoy the cookies!
Lourdes says
I just made these loved them and my daughter (10 months) did too. I served them with you further/tahini sauce for some protein. I had a question: could I store them at room temperature or refrigerate them? Do they turn hard within 24 hrs of storage? Thanks!
Pamela says
Hey Lourdes, so happy to hear you both liked the cookies! Love the additional protein you added! I usually refrigerate the cookies and they last a few days. You can even make a double batch and freeze the other batch, then I like to defrost the cookies and pack them for daycare for my daughter. It’s a quick healthy snack! Hope this helps!
Callista says
Could you substitute puree baby food for the sweet potato and banana? My son gets a lot of baby food from wic but isn’t big on the purees, so looking for ways to use it up.
Pamela says
Hey Callista, I’ve never tried using purees. In theory you could, the only thing I worry about is the purees being too liquid based so you might need to add more oatmeal and flour to thicken up the cookies.
Shiann Thompson says
Can I use other foods such as the jared baby food ?
Pamela says
Hey Shiann, are you referring to the baby cereal? If so you can double the quick oats. Enjoy!
Claire says
Is there something I can sub for the baby cereal?
Pamela says
You can double the quick oats. Enjoy!
Allison says
For baby cereal, do you use baby oatmeal or baby rice cereal? Thanks!
Pamela says
Hey Allison, here’s what I use: http://amzn.to/2CObqOO
April J Harris says
Love this recipe, Pamela! It’s so good to introduce real foods like this early on – and your little one really does look like she is enjoying these weaning cookies! Thank you for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party.
Abbey says
Hey Pamela!! 🙂 I am one of the co-hosts for Fiesta Friday this week and so I am stopping by to check out everyone’s yummy goodness, tidbits, or crafty things! I love the idea of these cookies!! They are the perfect way to get your baby, and you, fruits and veggies while tasting yummy. AND they can feed themselves!
Thanks for sharing and being apart of Fiesta Friday!! 🙂
Katelynn|hampersandhiccups.com says
Love this. My second baby is 5 months old (today), so we’ll be starting BLW shortly. I’m excited to try these for him and his sister (and maybe mama, too).
#wineddown
Katelynn, hampersandhiccups.com
Debra Eliotseats says
Interesting….I like that the entire family loves these! 🙂
Pamela says
Yes! Everyone loves these baby cereal cookies!