Easy

Baby-Led Weaning Mini Pancakes

Name: Baby-Led Weaning Mini Pancakes
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 12 servings
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 1 medium ripe banana, mashed; 1 large egg; 100ml whole milk; 100g plain flour; 1 tsp baking powder; small knob unsalted butter, for the pan

Prep 5 minsCook 15 minsServes 12£0.30/serving

Small, soft pancakes sized for little hands, made without added sugar or salt. They use mashed banana as a natural sweetener and binder, with full-fat whole milk and egg for nutrition. A good option for babies from around six months who are starting to self-feed. The banana does three jobs: it sweetens naturally, it binds in place of extra egg, and it adds potassium and fibre. Keep them small (around 5cm in diameter) so they are easy to grip.

Baby-Led Weaning Mini Pancakes — pancake pancake recipe served on a plate, photographed from above

Ingredients

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1 mediumripe banana, mashed
1large egg
100ml (3.5fl oz)whole milk
100g (3.5oz)plain flour
1 tspbaking powder
small knobunsalted butter, for the pan

Method

1
Mash the banana thoroughly in a bowl until there are no large lumps.
Use the ripest banana you have -- very ripe bananas are sweeter and mash more smoothly.
2
Add the egg and milk and whisk together.
3
Sift in the flour and baking powder and stir until a smooth, thick batter forms.
4
Heat a non-stick pan over a low-medium heat and melt a small amount of unsalted butter.
5
Drop 1 tablespoon of batter per pancake into the pan. Cook 3--4 at a time.
6
Cook for 2 minutes until the tops are set and the bottoms are golden. Flip and cook for a further minute.
7
Cool completely before serving to your baby. Check each one passes the finger-squash test.
The finger-squash test: each pancake should squash easily between two fingers. If it springs back, cook for a little longer.

Pro Tips

→Always cool to room temperature before giving to a baby -- the inside stays hot longer than the outside.
→The finger-squash test: each pancake should squash easily between two fingers.
→Use the ripest banana you have -- very ripe bananas are sweeter and mash more smoothly.
→These freeze well: cool completely, layer with baking paper, and freeze for up to 1 month.

Topping Ideas

Unsweetened yoghurt alongsideMashed avocadoSoft ripe fruit pieces

Questions & answers

From what age are these suitable?⌄

These are designed for baby-led weaning, typically from around 6 months. Always follow the guidance of your health visitor and introduce one new ingredient at a time to monitor for reactions.

Can I add toppings?⌄

For babies under 12 months, avoid honey entirely. Unsweetened yoghurt, mashed avocado, or soft fruit alongside the pancake are good options. Avoid whole grapes or anything that presents a choking risk.

My baby has a wheat allergy -- can I substitute the flour?⌄

Use a certified gluten-free flour blend instead. The recipe works with minimal changes -- the banana provides additional binding.